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Sassy was taken aback by the woman’s waspish tone “First, I should like a room—”

“Ho! A roo none here We don’t run that sort of house” The woman sneered

A s froued woman

but said nothing

Sassy’s eyes flashed as she sucked in her teh I take leave to advise you I take exception to the tone you use withjourney from Tanderlay I require a clean and comfortable room, hot water, and later some dinner, in my room”

“Gawks, listen to the“Out wit ye,” she ordered, waving her hand “A mort with airs—out!”

“How dare you!” Sassy was both outraged andShould she use et what she needed? No, her mother and father had told her to only use it when all else failed She should, instead, use her wits

“Listen to the fancy piece, will ye …” continued the shrew looking at her derisively before she turned to the man at her side “Talks like a lady born and raised” She returned a spiteful gaze to Sassy “Doxy, I won’t say it again—out”

The word doxy resounded in Sassy’s ears, and the urge to usein her head The ate’s carriage arrived on the scene

He gasped and then in shocked accents said, “Harebrained ye be, ye old hag! Miss Winthrop is a guest of Lady Margate’s You know her ladyship well, as we have often stopped here, as ye know hter, ye dolts! So what ye need to do now is ate to hear of this incident and start telling her friends this is not the place they want to patronize?” He nodded “Aye, I see ye understand Right then, I think ye best put a hot brick between Miss Winthrop’s sheets and attend to her needs without any le”

Sassy shot the driver a grateful look, and he tipped his peaked wool cap “I aht this was a respectable place”

“It is a respectable place,” squeaked the innkeeper’s wife “It isn’t m’fault … Hoas I to knohy, she doesn’t even have a maid with her”

“That be none of yer business Yer business is to serve wit’ a sy”

The innkeeper finally opened his mouth “That sorry we are, Miss Winthrop … didn’t realize” He turned to his wife “Off with ye, Stella Tell Sue to set a nice hot brick between the sheets …”

Sassy’s cheeks had burned during the entire episode, and she noted it as another lesson learned Nohat she needed, besides the privacy of a rooood cry