Crossed Quills by Carola Dunn

Lisle, will you come with me?”
     They all went up another pair of stairs, then Bina led Mrs Lisle to the back of the house while Pippa and Kitty followed Millicent to the front. Millie chattered the whole way.
     “At the rectory I shared a chamber with Bina until she grew up and married, then my next sister moved in with me, but when Wynn’s great-uncle died and we removed to Kymford we each got a chamber of our own. I asked Bina if you might share with me now, only she thought you would like to be with your sister. She said I would never get a wink of sleep if I had someone to talk to all night, and nor would you. I know I talk a lot, and it is not the least use telling me to stop, because once I have started I cannot, but you must just interrupt when you feel like it. Everyone does. Miss Lisle, pray interrupt when you will. Here is your chamber and mine is next door so as soon as you have put off your bonnet—”
     “I shall come to see your new gowns, Miss Warren,” Kitty promised.
     “Oh, ‘Miss Warren’! You really must call me Millie. Let me see, yes, here is hot water for you already, and this is my maid, Nan,” she continued as a smiling, round-faced girl in a grey stuff dress and white apron bobbed a curtsy. “Imagine, an abigail of my own! Nan will unpack for you and you must tell her what else you wish her to do. Nan, this is Miss Lisle, and Miss Catherine. I shall wait for you in my chamber, Kitty. I have all the latest fashion magazines, too. Do not be too long!”
     As Millicent whisked out, seemingly afraid she would be tempted to stay if she did not remove herself quickly, Pippa surveyed the room. It was decorated in white and pale rose pink, with curtains and counterpanes patterned with wild roses. Larger than her and Kitty’s chambers at home combined, it was more than spacious enough for the two beds, two wash-stands, a dressing table, and a huge clothes press. Banked coals glowed in the tiled fireplace.
     “What luxury,” Kitty marvelled, untying her bonnet ribbons. “Which bed would you like, Pippa? I am glad we are together. I like Millie, but...” She paused as Pippa glanced warningly at the maid. “But you and I know each other’s ways.”
     When Nan had carried off their pelisses to be brushed, Pippa said, “We shall have to grow accustomed to having servants about and taking care what we say.”
     “Yes, thank you for stopping me.” Kitty giggled. “In any case I am quite certain you can guess exactly what I was going to say.”
     “I daresay Nan guessed, too,” Pippa said dryly.
     “The trouble is, some of what Millie says is worth hearing, so one must listen all the time so as not to miss anything.”
     “She seems good-natured and well-intentioned, so do try to bear with her prattle.”
     “I mean to, but how fortunate that she is not offended by interruptions, or I might lose my voice through disuse!”
     They washed faces and hands in the rose-sprigged china basins. Kitty tidied her hair at the dressing-table mirror and went off happily to examine Millicent’s gowns. Pippa sat down at the dressing-table. Her hair needed little attention, the advantage of straight tresses and a severe style. She wondered what to do next.
     Someone tapped on the chamber door. Servants bringing up their boxes, she thought. Nan would want to unpack, so she had best get out of the way.
     “Come in.”
     Albinia appeared. “Pippa, are you comfortable? Is all as it should be? You will have to accustom yourself to asking the servants for whatever you need, all too easy, I promise you. It took me no time at all to grow spoiled.”
     “No doubt,” Pippa said, laughing. It was impossible to feel awkward with Bina. “You are certainly doing your best to spoil us. This room is charming, and very comfortable.”
     “Good. Millicent’s maid will help you two, and my dresser will take care of your mama. She is shockingly toplofty—Bister, I mean, not Mrs Lisle—and I was