Mary Georgina’s POV
In the late afternoon of the second day after her arrival at Bancroft, the countess returned from a ride and found me in her sunlit bedroom tidying up, as befits a lady's maid. I noticed she was moving stiffly and enquired as to the problem.
'I almost fell off my horse in the woods on the far side of the lake,' she answered, her slight German accent noticeable in the quiet room. 'He stumbled and I have strained the bottom of my back. It is quite painful.'
'Perhaps a warm bath might soothe it, my lady?' I suggested.
'A bath? Yes, perhaps. Very well, Mary, you may run me a bath,' she replied.
I made another suggestion. 'My previous mistress suffered from back pain and taught me to how use Swiss massage to alleviate it. After your bath I would be happy to treat your b
