At Sable's residence...

Sable stood in front of a full-length mirror, admiring himself. The girls were sleeping in their dog beds behind him.

He heard the door open and Ashley come into the room. He saw her through the mirror. She was still in the maid dress, carrying laundry, and was barefoot to keep the noise to a minimum.

‘Ah, Ashley,’ he said. She froze. ‘I’m having a guest over tonight. I want you to serve us.’

Ashley waited and stared fixedly at her master for a long time. Her expression was an unreadable mask.

‘Is there an issue?’

‘No, master,’ she said eventually, in steely tones.

‘Good, good,’ said Sable. ‘I don’t want to overwhelm the poor girl, so have the girls and the more… exotic decorations taken to the other house. And try to find something more… appropriate to wear. We wouldn't want to give her the wrong idea.’

‘Yes, master.’

‘Wonderful. I expect your best behaviour tonight.’ There was a glint in his eye, and an altogether shark-like element to his smile when he said this.

‘Yes, master.’

‘I know I won’t have to worry. What do you think?’ He gestured to the shirt he’d just put on.

His maid’s gaze was steady. She spoke with a precipitous levelness.

‘I think you’re a wicked, evil creature,’ she said. ‘Master,’ she then added after a pause.

The house creaked, breaking the pristine silence, and Sable subjected her to a long, cool look before raising an eyebrow. Then he chuckled.

‘I suppose that’s on me for not being specific in my question,’ he said, walking over. He took her by the chin and held her face in place. ‘But its attitude like that makes me worry. I'm rather excited about this new quarry and I wouldn’t want anything jeopardising my efforts.’

He then proceeded to steer her by the chin, turning her this way and that, appraising her face like china, as if looking for a fracture, a chip, a fault. Her breathing became suspenseful.

He pouted at her. ‘Oh, but I know how it feels to no longer be the favourite. I wonder if some more behavioural correction would be pertinent. What do you think, dear? Would you like to have another trip down to the cellar?’

Ashley shook her head, the movement stiff.

‘No, Master,’ she said demurely. ‘I’ll be good.’

‘I know you will.’ He returned to the mirror and held up two more shirts. ‘Now what do you think, black or dark blue?’