Lucy surprises Clarissa

"This is where we bid farewell," Clarissa said coolly to Lucy. She extended her leather-gloved hand in a gesture of gracious condescension.

Lucy took Clarissa's hand. Her nose tickled, and she raised Clarissa's hand to her face. Cunt. Clarissa's own, which she'd smelt on Edmund's prick, on Edmund and Clarissa's sheets, and on Clarissa's underthings. But fresh and hot, not an hour old.

Lucy looked Clarissa in the eye and smiled faintly. Clarissa blanched, her face paling under Lucy's regard. Clarissa made to pull away, but Lucy held Clarissa's wrist with her other hand and kissed the soft, beautiful leather of her glove. Clarissa flushed bright pink.

"Lady Clarissa," Lucy said, and released her hand. Lucy looked at Edmund. "Lord Netherwood?"

He parted his lips and spoke. "Lucy is coming with us, Clarissa," he said. "Porter, take her things with ours."

"Right, sir," the porter replied.

Edmund said, "It will be all for the good. Lady Downs must learn the ways befitting her station. She shall share in Annie's delight upon the airship, and help us see the girls off. And we shall discuss how things will be ordered, now that Lucy is mistress of the house."

Clarissa could not speak, indeed seemed nearly unable to breathe. Her face had paled again.

At Edmund's request, space was made for Lucy on the airship. Lucy, Edmund, Sabrina and Annie sat in the viewing salon awaiting departure, while Clarissa retired to the cabin.

Annie smiled as the airship loosed its moorings and sailed gently upwind on droning propellers. Rain streaked the windows of the viewing salon. At length all was obscured by thick grey cloud, but finally the airship broke through into a brilliant wonderland of white cloud-castles lit by a bright sun westering in the blue. Annie scampered to the side opposite the sun and pointed down into the clouds. "The glory, there it is, look!"

Sabrina pointed. "Like we're angels!" she crowed.

Lucy joined Annie and Sabrina at the window. A rainbow ring circled the airship's shadow on the cloud.

"Oh, we'll have so much fun!" Annie said. "We will!"

Lucy smiled indulgently. "Do settle, Annie," she told her daughter. "The other passengers are unused to such cheer, and you're not a little girl anymore."

"But Sabrina..."

"As I said, that's why she's off to finishing school," Lucy said. "With you, so you two won't be so lonely. Be properly grateful, and set her a good example."

"I'm sorry Mum," Annie said.

Lucy returned to sit beside Edmund, who was looking thoughtful. It was an unusual look for him, but it would likely do him good. They watched their daughters for a while as the young ladies vocally admired the view, more quietly after Lucy's intervention.

They looked at each other, studying one another's faces, until one of them broke the silence.