Milly sagged onto the four-poster bed, sinking into the soft mattress. Her feet stung and she was exhausted enough that she could have fallen asleep right there, if her stomach would stop grumbling.
“Milady?” Constance put a gentle hand on her forehead, as though testing her for a fever. “Are you well?”
With a heavy sigh, she responded, “Yes, well enough. Our cab ruptured a tire and we had to walk seven miles to get here.”
Her maid winced and immediately reached for Milly’s booted feet. “Shall I remove these for you?”
“Please,” she almost begged, but it was so out of character for her that she didn’t miss Constance’s little smile. When the boots come off and she peeled her stockings down, she winced and hissed as she discovered blisters on her heels. A few places were rubbed bloody and
