As the days and weeks passed by, Billy got used to pussyfooting around the domineering Mrs Postlethwaite, aiming to please and never complaining. When she wanted water, he fetched the water. When coal was needed he fetched the coal. He scrubbed the floors and cleaned the fires, washed potatoes, carrots and turnips, and whatever else his guardian needed doing. But he wasn’t alone as Alice was put to work too and they soon got used to the routine. He also got used to wearing dresses and a big floppy ribbon in his hair day after day after day… but he never got used to being laced back into his corset after his thrice-weekly bath each Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday.

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