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Good evening and welcome to the sleepy bookshelf where we put down our worries from the day and pick up a good book.

I'm your host, Elizabeth.

It is a pleasure to be with you this evening. Tonight we are continuing with Bilad.

But before we do that, take a moment for yourself to relax and settle in for the night. Give yourself a nice big stretch and get comfortable

where you are.

Feel the tension release from your muscles

and your limbs sink heavily into the bed.

Clearing your mind now,

inhale deeply into your belly, allowing your head to be free of any worries or concerns before exhaling, feeling completely at peace. Once more now.

Inhale, and exhale.

Follow the sound of my voice now and try to refocus your mind on the story if you do feel any thoughts drifting back in.

Lucy entered the nursery her first night with Madame Beck and observed a woman asleep in a chair next to an empty glass of whiskey.

Mrs Sweeney had told Madame Beck a number of apparent falsehoods in order to gain her position as

governess.

The next aim, Mrsley had been dismissed and escorted out before breakfast.

Lucy noticed that Madame ran her boarding school and home with this seeming ease,

never displaying any anger, but quietly replacing staff members if she was dissatisfied.

All this, it seemed, was enacted

using a complex system of espionage. The school appeared more relaxed to Lucy than an English

...