Story: From Lady to Maid and Back Again.

By Peter242

Sarah was forty-six and the full-time maid for Lady Veronica Walker, who was twenty-four. Sarah had always worked as a full-time maid, always being a submissive to her Mistress, and a hard worker. What surprised her at the interview with Lady Veronica, was that her Mistress gave her permission to spank her whenever she felt like doing it. In fact, it was stated in the contract that she should do so four times every four weeks, so on days chosen by Sarah rather than pre-set days, and with multiple spankings during that day. 

The actual process would be that Sarah would issue the instruction that control had changed to her for up to the next twenty-four hours, and during that time it would be Lady Veronica who would take on the role of full-time maid to Sarah. As well as the start time, it would be Sarah who would announce exactly when control would revert back to Lady Veronica. 

Lady Veronica wanted it to happen that way, as she wanted Sarah to have that full control over her. 

It turned out that the reason for this, was that Lady Veronica was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and whilst she lived in a mansion in grounds, she was actually quite bored with her life. 

Lady Veronica knew she was an alpha female, but the fantasy had built up in her mind that she would like to be disciplined from time to time. Who better, she told herself, than her own full-time maid, who she would pay extra money to every single time she did it? 

Sarah didn't see anything wrong with taking control, even if it was just for twenty-four hours or so, and on average just once a week. She enjoyed having Lady Veronica as her full-time maid, particularly as she was being paid more to do exactly what Lady Veronica actually wanted to have happen to her, which was for her to be submissive to Sarah, carry out cleaning and other household chores that Sarah would normally do, and suffer more than one severe thrashing during the day. 

During those times when control changed, Sarah would continue to wear her maid's uniform. It was a lovely black short-sleeved dress with a white collar. Sarah had several of them, in fact one for each day with a couple of spares. She loved wearing it. 

During those times when Sarah was in control, Lady Veronica would have to be naked. That was the show of submission that Lady Veronica wanted to make. After all, being naked, when the other person was fully dressed, certainly did show which of the two of them was in charge. 

Whenever Sarah took control, the first thing she would do was thrash Lady Veronica. Sarah would give the very firm instruction, "Take all of your clothes off, Veronica, fetch me the hairbrush, and go and stand by the dining table." Addressing her Mistress by just her first name was part of the transfer of control. 

Lady Veronica never knew exactly when Sarah would take control. It was never on the same day each week, but that added to the excitement that Lady Veronica felt as she knew she was getting closer and closer to the next time control would be taken away from her by her full-time maid. 

Sarah knew that Lady Veronica got excited at the prospect of losing control and being severely thrashed, because as she collected Lady Veronica's clothes at the end of each day, she could feel how damp her Mistress's knickers had become. 

Today, Sarah simply announced, "I am taking control, Beatrix. Fetch me the hairbrush in the dining room and get undressed." 

Lady Veronica never argued, even for a second, as she wanted it all to happen, including being thrashed two or three times during the day. 

Wooden-backed hairbrushes were placed all around the house, because Sarah didn't use the same room every time to thrash Lady Veronica. So, all that Lady Veronica had to do, was go to the side cabinet, open the top drawer, take out the wooden-backed hairbrush, close the drawer, go towards the dining table, and put the hairbrush down on it so that it would be within easy reach for Sarah. Lady Veronica would then proceed to get undressed, removing her dress, bra, and knickers. 

Lady Veronica knew she was getting more and more excited as she got undressed, knowing that Sarah would thrash her well beyond what she could cope with, but she relished those times when she would be crying uncontrollably. She saw it as almost lovemaking, although there would more often than not be actual lovemaking later on. It wasn't definite, and was Sarah's sole decision if the thrashings were followed by lovemaking, but that uncertainty helped Lady Veronica obey Sarah to the letter. 

Lady Veronica was also taken by the age difference between her and Sarah. It meant that Sarah was pretty much old enough to be her mother, and so those times when control was transferred to Sarah, for Lady Veronica it was like a naughty girl having to obey her mother. 

Once Lady Veronica was naked, Sarah went and sat on the dining chair, and gave the very firm instruction, "Right, Veronica, get across my lap." 

Lady Veronica also loved that Sarah would address her by her first name. In return, Lady Veronica would show respect for her full-time maid by addressing her as, Ma'am. That was what she did this time, by saying, "Yes, Ma'am." 

Both Lady Veronica and Sarah knew the control was fully transferred as Lady Veronica obeyed that comment, and immediately bent down across Sarah's lap. 

Sarah knew that Lady Veronica was up for this completely, and didn't hold anything against her, no matter how hard a thrashing Sarah gave her. That was why Sarah immediately rubbed Lady Veronica's bare bottom a few times, and then proceeded to spank her really hard, loving how Lady Veronica's bottom cheeks flattened under her very hard spank, and, after just a short time, Lady Veronica was letting out gasps of pain and squirmed around on her full-time maid's lap. 

As much as Sarah saw thrashing Lady Veronica as part of her job, she knew that she enjoyed doing that and being the mistress of the house herself for most of the day. She also knew that Lady Veronica wanted to be thrashed, and also wanted to be the full-time maid herself. Lady Veronica had explained to Sarah how she relished the hard work involved in being a full-time maid, and the attention that she had to give to her mistress all the time. Lady Veronica had admitted that it gave her a purpose that she never had in her real life as the silver-spooned mistress. 

So, as Lady Veronica struggled to cope with the spanking, her eyes welled up with tears, and her bottom and the tops of her legs stung like they always did when Sarah spanked her, she knew it was what she needed, and wanted, time and again. 

It all got much more intense for both of them when Sarah stopped spanking Lady Veronica with her hand, turned, and picked up the wooden-backed hairbrush, and then Sarah started to use that on the still beckoning bare bottom lying across her lap. 

Lady Veronica was now yelping as what she saw as that horrible hairbrush was spanked down on her bottom time and again, just one spank after the other, constantly, and so painfully. Even when she was reduced to crying uncontrollably, she knew that Sarah would continue to thrash that wooden-backed hairbrush down on her bottom, to make sure that her bottom stung for hours to come. 

It was only when Sarah had counted out two hundred very hard spanks with the hairbrush, that she stopped the spanking, but she knew from the way that Lady Veronica was continuing to cry that the spanking had been exactly what was wanted. 

Sarah left Lady Veronica lying across her lap, although did rub her bottom, feeling just how warm those bottom cheeks were. Then, she instructed, "Right, Veronica, you can get up now. You will first of all make my lunch, and I'll have mushrooms on toast with a side salad of cucumber, tomatoes, and lettuce. I'll also have a coffee. You will serve me at this dining table, wait on me whilst I eat, and then clear everything away. Then, when I tell you, that is when you can make your own lunch, which you will eat in the kitchen. After that, it is work time. Both bathrooms need to be thoroughly cleaned, and the bedrooms. So, get on with it." 

As Lady Veronica eased herself off Sarah's lap, and stood up, she showed her submission by saying, "Thank you for spanking me, Ma'am." Lady Veronica didn't have to say anything else, but turned, left the dining room, and went straight to the kitchen. Lady Veronica knew where everything was in the kitchen because she had had to make lunch and dinner, and even breakfast, for Sarah so many times already, and actually felt happy as she got on with preparing her full-time maid's breakfast. She hadn't realised that she would enjoy cooking until the change of control first happened. Until then, it was always her maid who did the cooking and clearing away, and Lady Veronica who did the eating. The change was quite refreshing for Lady Beatrix. The fact her bottom was stinging from the spanking added to the enjoyment that she was having being the full-time maid for Sarah. 

Sarah went and stayed in Lady Veronica's bedroom whilst the cooking was being done, knowing that as soon as Lady Veronica was ready, she would use the internal telephone to tell her. That was exactly what happened, and as the phone rang and Sarah picked it up, Lady Veronica said. "Your lunch is ready, Ma'am." 

Sarah knew that she only needed to answer with, "Thank you," and then hang the phone up. She then made her way downstairs and into the dining room. After all, Lady Veronica never ate in the kitchen, as that was for staff only. 

Once Sarah was seated, noting that Lady Veronica was still fully naked, and Lady Veronica had unfolded the cloth serviette and placed it on Sarah's lap, Lady Veronica went into the kitchen and brought back with her, on a tray, Sarah's lunch. She served it just as Sarah would have served it, in silence, and ever so carefully. Then, as soon as she had served it, she placed the tray on a side cabinet, and then went and stood with her back to the wall, just a little while away from the wall, so her arms were folded behind her back, because, when naked, it was right that Sarah should be able to see the whole of Lady Veronica's naked body, not just her full breasts, but also her hair mound. Sarah noticed that Lady Veronica's nipples were normally taut, showing how she was enjoying being the maid. 

Lady Veronica stayed respectful, even to the extent that she always focused on the floor, knowing not to make eye contact with Sarah, who was now the lady of the house. 

Sarah happily ate her lunch, and, when she wanted it, she asked, "Please pour my coffee, Veronica." 

Lady Veronica immediately went up to the table, poured the coffee and milk into the cup, and placed the cup in just the right place for Sarah. Lady Veronica then went back to the wall, and once again made herself seem as invisible as possible, just as Sarah always did. 

Once she had finished lunch, Sarah stood up, and said, "Okay, Veronica, please clear these things up. Then have your lunch in the kitchen, and then, when finished, start cleaning." 

Lady Veronica waited for Sarah to leave the dining room, knowing that Sarah would go and sit in the living room, and read. Veronica then cleared everything up, took it all into the kitchen, and put it in the sink. She washed it all up and cleared it away before making her own lunch, which was a far simpler cheese sandwich and fruit juice. 

Once she had eaten and cleared all of her own things up as well, so everything was away, and the kitchen was again neat, she immediately went upstairs, went to the cupboard where lots of cleaning materials were kept, took what was needed, then made her way to her bathroom, knowing the hard work that was needed to properly clean everything. She always cleaned her own bathroom first, because she knew that, whilst Sarah was in control, that was actually her bedroom and bathroom, and, whilst most times they shared the bed, it was always Sarah's decision whether Lady Veronica would sleep with her, or in one of the spare bedrooms. To be fair, there had never yet been a time when Lady Veronica slept in a spare bedroom, but the choice was still Sarah's. 

Lady Veronica always found cleaning hard work, and could never quite understand how she also found it satisfying. Maybe it was because there was a purpose to it, which was to keep the house clean. Whatever the reason, she happily set about cleaning the ensuite bathroom and then the family bathroom. She cleaned everything so well, even the toilets as she kneeled on the floor and scrubbed away. After that, she set about cleaning the main bedroom, Sarah's bedroom, and the other four bedrooms. By the time she was finished all of that, she knew that it was about an hour before she would need to prepare dinner, and, before then, she knew that Sarah would be giving her another thrashing. 

Sarah had spent the time mainly in the living room, reading, but she also had access to the computer during those times that she was in control. She sent plenty of emails off to friends, as well as seeing and speaking to them on the screen, which, as always, was the next best thing to actually being face-to-face. She never told any of her friends why she was able to do this, and just left it that it was her having some time off. After all, she didn't want to have to explain all the details which, if it got out, might well have embarrassed Lady Veronica, because Sarah knew that she was so happy with this life. 

Sarah checked the time, and she knew she now had to deal with her Mistress again, although, this time, whilst she would be giving her another bare bottom spanking, she was also going to use a rather thick leather belt. She knew that she would enjoy it, but fully intended that her Mistress didn't, at least not the thrashing itself. 

Sarah picked up the telephone that was on the desk where she was on the computer, knowing that Lady Veronica would pick it up as soon as she heard her ring. When she did, Sarah instructed, "Go to my bedroom, Veronica, pile the pillows up in the middle of the bed, put the leather belt on the bed, turn the dressing table chair around into the room, and wait for me by the wall." 

Lady Veronica knew that she got more and more excited as she was told what to do prior to each thrashing. She was more than happy to be thrashed more than once in a day, the second thrashing always being more painful, but equally more exciting. Today, she fully expected a third spanking as well, and knew that each time she would dissolve into uncontrolled crying, and be unable to cope with the awful pain. However, it was still what she wanted, every time. 

So, Lady Veronica once again immediately and obediently did what she was told. She went upstairs to her bedroom, although she knew that Sarah quite correctly referred to it just then as her own bedroom, and piled the pillows up in the middle of the bed, knowing that she would be perching her bottom right on top of those pillows, and have to stay there as Sarah thrashed her with the leather belt. She didn't lie across the pillows just then, but got the leather belt out from the cupboard, put it on the bed, and then went and turned the dressing table chair round into the room. Finally, she went to what she knew was defined as her naughty spot, and stood once again with her arms folded behind her back but with her back as close to the wall as possible, looking towards the floor. 

Sarah had listened out for the movements, and as soon as they had stopped, she made her way upstairs and into the main bedroom. She saw, as expected, Lady Veronica standing with her back to the wall, once again with her full breasts and hair mound on show. Sarah knew that Lady Veronica was a fit-looking woman, with not much of a tummy, nor fleshy thighs, so was actually rather attractive. Mind you, Sarah would be doing exactly the same if Lady Veronica wasn't so attractive, as Sarah still saw all of this very much as part of her job, albeit a very enjoyable part. 

Sarah went and immediately sat on the dressing table chair, looked across at Lady Veronica, and instructed, "Right, Veronica, get back across my lap." 

Lady Veronica knew that she was already excited at the prospect of another spanking. Her bottom was still stinging from the earlier thrashing, but she knew that just meant that this thrashing would hurt even more, particularly as the leather belt certainly hurt more than the hairbrush. 

Moments later, Lady Veronica was again across Sarah's lap, having her bottom rubbed a few times, and then each bottom cheek spanked alternately with Sarah's hand. Just as Lady Veronica had expected, the spanks seemed to be harder than when Sarah spanked her earlier, but all that meant was that the tears welled up in her eyes much more quickly, then ran down her face, and all the time Lady Veronica told herself this was just what she wanted to have happen to her. 

Sarah continued to spank Lady Veronica's bare bottom, knowing the harder that she spanked, the more that Lady Veronica would enjoy it. Well, not enjoying the actual spanking so much, but certainly enjoying the excitement of knowing she was across the lap of her own full-time maid, who was reducing her to tears so quickly. 

Sarah knew that she wasn't going to use the hairbrush this time, but the leather belt. So, when she was ready to, she instructed, "Okay, Veronica, get off my lap, and go and perch your bottom on top of those pillows. Clasp hold of the far end of the mattress, and make sure you stay in place until I am finished with you." 

Lady Veronica was already crying, but wanted to show her respect, not just by doing exactly what she was told to do, and immediately, but verbally as well. Lady Veronica therefore said, between sobs, "Yes, Ma'am." 

Sarah enjoyed watching Lady Veronica crawl on the bed and perch herself on top of the pillows. It was a lovely sight for Sarah, and she always did look forward to using the leather belt on that bare bottom perched on those pillows. Thinking that, as soon as Lady Veronica was in place, Sarah picked up the leather belt, folded it in two, positioned herself, and rested the belt on Lady Veronica's bare bottom, but didn't say anything because that wasn't necessary. Instead, she raised the belt and then brought it down with a loud thwack on Lady Veronica's bare bottom, and loved how her bottom surrendered to the leather belt. Sarah then proceeded to land the belt time and again, all over Lady Veronica's bare bottom, and loved how Lady Veronica gasped and then yelped with the pain, but all the time was clasping hold of the far end of the mattress to force herself to stay in position. Sarah knew it couldn't have been easy for Lady Veronica because she didn't allow any particular gap between each time she brought the belt down. However, Sarah did focus on counting how many times she spanked the belt down, and knew it had to be two hundred times, just as she had done with the hairbrush earlier on, but knew that this time the pain would be far greater. 

Lady Veronica was finding it so hard to cope, the stinging pain cascading around her bottom, and the tears flooding down her face. Had it been anyone else thrashing her, she would have felt so humiliated, but, because it was Sarah, her full-time maid, this type of thrashing was exactly what was in the contract. There was no need to feel humiliation, but just the continuing desire for Sarah to discipline her in this way. 

It didn't take very long at all for Sarah to land two hundred lashes with the leather belt. After all, both she and Lady Veronica knew that, by thrashing her in this way, the cumulative pain was even greater. Of course, Lady Veronica could never count the number of times the leather belt landed on her bottom, but she trusted Sarah to carry out the punishment correctly. 

As soon as Sarah had completed landing the leather belt two-hundred times, she stopped, and still savoured how Lady Veronica remained perched on top of those pillows, bawling her eyes out. Of course that was expected, given the severity of the thrashing, but Sarah always found it so satisfactory to see it actually happen. 

Lady Veronica did, as usual, take a while to calm back down. Once she was just sobbing, Sarah instructed. "Okay, Veronica, you can get up now. Go down and make my dinner. Vegetable soup, beef stew, with peas and beans, and fruit salad." 

Lady Veronica was once again instantly obedient as she pushed herself off the bed, said the fully expected, "Thank you for thrashing me, Ma'am," and then made her way downstairs to the kitchen, rubbing and clutching her very sore and stinging bottom cheeks as she did. 

The process that Lady Veronica followed for dinner was the same as for lunch, preparing dinner for Sarah, serving her the dinner in the dining room, and waiting on her, with her arms folded behind her back very close to the wall, looking down at the floor, so their eyes didn't connect, and remaining silent. She did react immediately to any request by Sarah, who she continued to treat as her mistress, and continued to refer to her each time as, Ma'am. 

After Sarah had finished her dinner, she went back into the living room and watched TV on the very big screen that was there, which she certainly found more enjoyable than the small television screen in her own room. It was another benefit of having control. 

Whilst Sarah was watching TV, Lady Veronica cleared away all of Sarah's dinner things before making her own dinner, which she once again ate in the kitchen. She then cleared all of that away. 

Once the kitchen was clean and tidy, Lady Veronica went to the living room and stood by the doorway, looking at the floor, until Sarah looked up and said, "All fine here, Veronica. I will be up in one hour for a bath, which you will help me with. I will then stay in the bedroom whilst you go and bathe in the family bathroom. I will then be giving you a third spanking, after which you will join me in bed. Neither of us will need any bedclothes. We both know you will be crying again by then, and you will have been put properly in your place, although you will still have to make sure that I have huge orgasms, just as I want to give you huge orgasms. 

Once again, Lady Veronica was getting excited as she was told what would happen for the rest of the day. She knew to expect another spanking, which was what she wanted. She was also sexually aroused by the fact that she had been told that she would be joining her mistress in bed. That normally meant giving each other huge orgasms, 

The first thing that Lady Veronica did was go up to the main bedroom, and turn back the covers. She knew that she didn't have to put any night clothes out, and so, after that, went back to the spare bedroom where she sat and watched a bit of TV. What she thought about, though, was what was going to happen, both the third spanking, and the lovemaking. 

Just before the hour was up, Lady Veronica went and ran the bath at just the right temperature, and waited for the water to be at the right level. She then made her way downstairs to the living room, once again stood silently in the doorway until her mistress looked up at her, and then she asked, but by way of a reminder that Sarah often had to give her Mistress, "Please let me know, Ma'am, when I can help you with your bath." 

Sarah was ready, used the remote control to switch off the TV, and got up. She didn't bother saying anything to Lady Veronica but did smile as she walked past her, went up the stairs, and into the main bedroom. Sarah was aware that Lady Veronica was following her up the stairs, not too closely, but acting quite correctly and respectfully as the maid. 

Once in the bedroom, Sarah stood there, still in her maid's uniform, clearly indicating to Lady Veronica to help get her undressed. Of course, Lady Veronica was still naked, as she had been ever since control transferred from her to Sarah. Now, Lady Veronica obediently undid Sarah's maid's dress, and slid it down her body, right to the floor. As Sarah stepped out of it, so Lady Veronica scooped up the dress, already had a hanger ready, which she put the dress on, and lay it on the bed, ready to take it into Sarah's actual bedroom. She then undid Sarah's bra, slipped that down her arms, caught it, and put that on the bed with the dress. Finally, kneeling in front of Sarah, she lowered Sarah's knickers, loving how close her face was to Sarah's hair mound, knowing, at least hoping, that she would get even closer when they were in bed together. 

Sarah then went into the bathroom, assumed the water was the right temperature, and got into the bath. The water was the right temperature. 

Lady Veronica knew that what she always enjoyed was Sarah actually washing her when she was in the bath. She loved how Sarah would wash her breasts, under her arms, and in fact the whole of her body, including when she knelt so that Sarah could wash her very private pussy and bottom. Today, Lady Veronica did that for Sarah, making sure that she washed every inch of Sarah's naked body. They both knew that wasn't actually what happened normally between a Mistress and her maid, but it was something that Lady Veronica had asked Sarah to do right from the start, and Sarah was happy to do that. 

Sarah loved sitting there as Lady Veronica washed her. She knew that she was going to make love to Lady Veronica in bed, and always saw this as part of the foreplay. The added bonus was to have her mistress being so submissive just like every full-time maid needed to be, and when Lady Veronica washed her breasts and her pussy lips, it excited her just like any foreplay to lovemaking would do. 

Once the bath was over, Lady Veronica held out the towel for Sarah to step into, and had dried Sarah, then Sarah instructed, "Go and have your bath, Veronica. Afterwards, I will be giving you another spanking, but then we can both look forward to some huge orgasms." 

Sarah was smiling as she said that, knowing that she would have the fun of once again spanking Lady Veronica. She even enjoyed seeing the momentary look of concern on Lady Veronica's face, although there was no resistance whatsoever because they both knew this was still what Lady Veronica wanted. 

Lady Veronica knew how she loved the pain of being spanked again followed by the pleasure of being given huge orgasms by her full-time maid, so was never going to resist. 

Sarah stayed in the main bedroom as Lady Veronica went into the family bathroom and bathed herself. Of course, Lady Veronica had some experience now of bathing herself, but whenever she was the one in control, she loved it when Sarah washed her, all over, and then dried her. What was better today, and whenever that control was reversed, was the lovemaking afterwards. 

Soon enough, Lady Veronica was still naked as she walked back into the bedroom, remained submissive, and acted properly as the full-time maid. 

Sarah got up and sat on the dressing table chair again, and ordered, "Get across my lap, Veronica." 

Lady Veronica obeyed immediately, as she relished being spanked just before lovemaking. This time, when across her mistress's lap, she wondered whether other alpha females enjoyed being spanked. She knew from the sites she looked at on her computer that it wasn't so uncommon, and, as she quickly dissolved into uncontrolled crying with her third spanking of the day, she knew why she loved being submissive as well as alpha. 

Sarah once again made sure that it was a hard spanking, given just with her hand, but the crying told her that her Mistress was once again unable to cope with the pain. It was fabulous foreplay, Sarah knew, judging from the quivers flying around her own vulva and her own taut nipples. 

Once the spanking was done, Sarah ordered, "Get up, Veronica." 

Lady Veronica got up and, whilst still crying, watched her mistress come full-time maid get into bed. She waited to be asked to join her mistress in the bed, and, once lying next to her mistress, immediately cuddled up to Sarah, and within moments they were kissing and hugging each other, Sarah's tongue deep into Lady Veronica's welcoming mouth, their tongues entwined. That soon changed to them each kissing each other's breasts, sucking each other's taut nipples, then working down the other's body, kissing each other's tummies, the other's inner thighs, and, so wonderfully, kissing and licking and fingering the other's already very wet pussy lips and taut clits. They both exploded in a huge orgasm at pretty much the same time. 

The lovemaking didn't end there. Lady Veronica knew that she found making love with a seriously stinging bottom far more exciting than without having been thrashed. It was that pain, followed by pleasure again, that told her how much she needed to be thrashed. 

Sarah found the lovemaking exciting because she was making love to her Mistress. It wasn't something that she was forced to do, but she did it freely. 

After three huge orgasms each, they fell asleep in each other's arms. They were just like two lovers, although one was the Mistress and the other the full-time maid. 

Come the morning, it was Sarah who got up first. She quickly went to her bedroom and got dressed in her maid's uniform. 

As soon as she was dressed, Sarah went back into the main bedroom, and knew that now she was back to being the full-time maid. She stood there, silently, her back to the wall, and it was a little while before she heard Lady Veronica waking up. Even then, she waited for Lady Veronica to see her. 

When Lady Veronica did open her eyes, she still wasn't sure whether the control had reverted back to her. However, as soon as Sarah saw her Mistress was awake, Sarah said, "Control is back with you, Mistress." 

Sarah waited a few moments, and then asked, "Are you ready for breakfast, Mistress?" 

The memories of the previous day flooded through Lady Veronica's mind, and, in a way, she was sad because today her life was reverting to being boring once again. That was when she played with the idea of actually swapping places with Sarah, but she supposed she was a little way away from that. 

In the event, Lady Veronica replied, "Yes please, Sarah, the usual, please." 

Sarah replied, "Yes, Mistress," walked out of the bedroom, and went downstairs to prepare breakfast. 

Sarah felt comfortable back in her role as the full-time maid, and, as she was making breakfast, she heard her telephone ping. She saw a notification from her bank, went into the app, and saw that £1,000 had been added to her account. A second ping came, which was a message from Lady Veronica. It simply said. "Thank you." 

At that moment, both Sarah and Lady Veronica knew how lucky they were to have each other, and both hoped that would continue for a long time to come.