My bathroom was no less impressive than my bedroom.

My very own bathroom – with indoor plumbing! My own toilet, shower, a real bath with hot and cold running water!

Beautiful pale green paint coated the walls up above pearly green tiles which took my breath away. The fixtures and taps were all golden adding a genuine air of decadence to the space.

Another mat, this time a mix of light and dark green lay at my feet over tiny, shiny white tiles which covered the floor.

I had tears in my eyes as I gazed around with wonder; truly this was one of the most moving moments of my life. I just felt something so strange about that room.

Happy but not happy, sad but not sad something indescribable.

I couldn't wait to try a real shower, having a shower would bring some reality into this surreal moment.

Quickly I stripped off, making sure to hang my beautiful dress on the golden hook at the back of the door.

I turned the shower taps on and watched in amazement as the water rushed out towards me warm warm almost intoxicating, I closed my eyes and felt my body succumb to total relaxation and I moaned with true delight.

There was soap beautiful rich soap which smelt better than any flower I had ever picked on the mountainside, I rubbed it gently over my body and I truly felt so special – everything I was experiencing now was changing who I was. I was moving away from the harshness, the coarseness and unending physical suffering that I was long accustomed to.

Eventually I stepped out of the shower to find a shelf filled with fluffy neatly folded pale green towels. As I rubbed the water away I noticed lovely pink flowers and teeny green leaves embroidered through the towels edges, the effect was absolutely magical, it was as if this house was trying to overwhelm me with veneration.

Finally, I dusted my body over with soft pure white talcum powder which I found in a cupboard below the sink.

I redressed slowly, savouring every moment, closing my eyes and imagining myself in my minds eye as one of those lucky, lucky wives who had a loving husband who bought her to live in a lovely house with a real bathroom just like this one.

I opened my eyes, cleaned my bathroom, hung my exquisite towel on the golden towel rail and re-entered my bedroom.

It was 20 minutes until dinner, I suddenly felt nervous. Emma had been very welcoming, nice and friendly. But what would her husband be like? Would he accept me? Like me?

I pulled the small upholstered chair close to the mirror in the cupboard and began brushing my hair while gazing at my reflection.

My hair was still damp from my shower and I brushed and brushed with more interest than I had had in years, my hair was long, longer than I realised. It was nearly at my waist, thick dark red hair with lighter streaks around my face which framed it becomingly.

I tucked my hair behind my ears neatly and began to touch my face lightly with the compact I had brought that day, my skin was smooth and unblemished and I could see that deep within my eyes that a hopeful sparkle was returning to them.

I finished by running the pale golden brown lipstick over my lips.

I felt satisfied with the result, more than satisfied. I knew I now looked more beautiful than most Winnerrow housewives at that moment.

Once upon a time I had been a great beauty, a real catch among the girls of the town. I knew I was special then.

Luke, I think had truly loved me then, we had spent many happy times together the golden couple of the hills.

We had been lovers for months and all the girls were so very jealous of our romance then.

I was his special girl for long enough to fall hard for him, I knew other girls had tried to steal him away from me – many others and he had never succumbed.

Until that fateful day he had suddenly and unexpectedly married another girl our relationship was guaranteed to end in marriage and happiness.

The young rich girl from Boston stole his heart away from me and never returned it.

I was snapped out of my reverie by a soft knock at my door, I hurriedly moved the chair back into its original position and quickly smoothed my dress.

"Yes?" I said in a quivering voice.

The door opened a crack and Anna peeped in.

"It's only me, my dear. Are you ready for your dinner?"

"Oh, of course," I said "I'm ready, thank you."

"Well you do look very lovely," she smiled. "I'm glad you are wearing that dress again as I suggested, Charles is eager to meet you. Lets go down together."