Hawkins arrives after some delay

Hawkins was delayed for some time after the scene where Lucy and Cook had caught him in flagrante with two railway crew, buggering Cordelia, the plump-bummed young lady shipping clerk, while receiving the prick of their beefy male conductor, making female and male railway officials spend in connexion with him, then claiming his own pleasure, turnabout, within the conductor's arse. Indeed, it was not until after their coaling stop that Hawkins put in an appearance. Providentally, Mister Ruddigore Fitch had taken his leave of Lucy and Chop-Chop, as it was also his connecting stop, and no one had joined them in Compartment Three.

"Miss Lucy, Miss Cook?" Hawkins' voice came through the door.

"Come in, Hawkins," Lucy said.

Lucy knew Hawkins well enough that the colour in his face and the faintly slumped shoulders were a mark of shame.

"None of that, Hawkins," Lucy said. "I need the underbutler of Old Netherwood. Edmund Netherwood was as much the sodomite as yourself, upon myself and his footman Jack, so you are in good company. Indeed, you are the young lord's superior, having ensured that your partners reach their peak of pleasure. Edmund did not. Sit."

"I had no idea, Miss Lucy," Hawkins said. "Upon yourself?"

"And on me!" Cook added, "After I wouldn't let his fancy prick into my cunt. Thinks that because his mum likes to kiss up on my parts that he can take his liberties."

Some things were even too much for Hawkins' practised smoothness.

"Cook? Lady Catherine?" His eyes widened, seeing the bluff, stout old cook in a new way, imagining Cook bare-arsed in the refined old mistress' carnal embrace, Lady Catherine's cameo profile buried between Cook's fat naked thighs.

"Never you mind, Hawkins. Now," Lucy said, clearing her throat. "Underbutler, I have news. Most immediately, Cook and I are coming to take charge of Old Netherwood. That's why I asked you to attend us."

Hawkins listened with full attention. "Miss Lucy," he acknowledged.

Lucy read the question in his lifted eyebrows.

"As to why, I am taking charge, that is the other part of the news. Lord Jeremy's sealed codicil was read, along with Lady Catherine's will." She clasped Cook's hand and took a deep breath, taking strength from Carlotta's firm grasp on Lucy's glove. "I am Lord Jeremy's acknowledged eldest, now. Miss Lucy Netherwood, bastard daughter and bastard mother. My Annie is Edmund's get. Unacknowledged, yet a Netherwood, through my father Jeremy, who is also Edmund's. Annie is half-sister to young Miss Sabrina, not merely a favoured playmate. I am your mistress, Hawkins, and Old Netherwood is my inheritance."

"Miss, ah," Hawkins took a breath. "Miss Netherwood, I am at your service."

Lucy extended a hand, gloved in white leather. Hawkins bent to kiss behind the knuckles. Cook snickered.

"Thank you, Hawkins," Lucy said. "I appreciate your attention to the niceties. I will need you at your best as I arrive. I would arrive as mistress of my house, not as an usurper."

Cook wiggled, her broad bum pressing against Lucy's. Lucy imagined that Carlotta was suppressing another snicker. Cook was not a reader of novels. Lucy was. Downstairs, upstairs. Hawkins was upstairs, as was Lucy. Cook was downstairs.

"Now, Hawkins, here is how I want to proceed. Cook and I have a plan, and I need you to help us correct it, and to get it moving forward. I have a list of the staff of Old Netherwood. Help me check through it."