difference. It would do you no harm to pay closer attention to our fashion plates, and my fashion reports. Now, as to your figure, you are delicate-boned and slender, which means you can carry your clothes with more flair. Let me see…”
Pru squealed when Flora grabbed the back of her muslin bodice and pulled it tight.
“Pru! You have a bosom!”
“Flora!”
“Well, one would never know it with all the fichus and tuckers and handkerchiefs you use as disguise. Most definitely an asset. Here, let me unpin this and see what we have.”
Pru reached up to clasp the whitework fichu crossed over the bodice of her dress. “Flora, please!”
“For heaven’s sake, girl, don’t be such a ninny. If you won’t remove a simple fichu in front of me,how do you ever hope to bare all in front of Nicholas?”
Pru gulped.
“You did ask for my help,” Flora said. “I just want to see what we have to work with. Now, take your hands away and let me unpin this thing.”
Pru did as she was asked. There was little choice with someone like Flora. The lace pins were removed and the fichu unwrapped. The bodice edge, cut low to allow a shirt or tucker, skimmed the top of her stays, exposing a great deal of bare skin. Pru shivered. She started to lift her hands to cover herself, but Flora took them and held them out to her side.
“My dear Mrs. Parrish, you have been hiding your light under a bushel. Mr. Parrish has a surprise in store. With the right dress, you could have him eating out of your hand.”
“But I feel quite naked.”
“Get used to it, my dear. Your husband will want to see a great deal more of you, I’m sure. Now, we must contrive some sort of evening affair where you can wear something suitably revealing.”
“There is no need to contrive. My niece is coming out this Season, and my sister has a long list of events I will be expected to attend. A ball for Arabella is being held next week.”
“Excellent. And do not tell me you already have a dress to wear. I am sure it is not at all the right thing. We must visit Madame Lanchester at once so she has time to make something up for you.”
“Is she terribly expensive?”
“She can be. But we do have some influence with her, since we so often mention her creations in the Cabinet . I am sure we can work something out. Besides, I thought you said you had an inheritance.”
“I do, but I hadn’t thought to fritter it away on clothes. There are…other things I had hoped to do with it.”
“Then I shall see that we don’t fritter away too much of it. But you absolutely must have a decent ball gown. Think of all those cousins whose noses you could put out of joint. A beautiful gown, a beautiful husband. They will be pea-green with envy.”
Pru chuckled. She had to admit, it would be rather nice. “All right. I defer to your judgment, Flora. Only please, nothing too revealing. I am not at all comfortable being so exposed, regardless of how fashionable it is.”
“We shall see. But let us return to your assets.”
Pru took a step backward. “I’m not taking off anything else.”
Flora laughed and hitched one hip onto the edge of the desk. “Of course not. Whatever assets are hidden beneath your skirts will be for Nicholas to discover. No, I am talking about other assets. You will need every ounce of confidence you can muster if you truly want to engage your husband’s affections. I daresay he is not the sort of man to appreciate timidity.”
“I am sure you are right,” Pru said. She crossed the fichu over her bosom once again, and began tosecure it with the lace pins. “That is one reason I have been so anxious. I fear I can never be the wife he wants. I can’t help being shy.”
“There is nothing wrong with being shy. It, too, can be an endearing asset, if used properly. But to be too self-effacing, too meek, too timid, will not endear you to him. You can retain your public shyness, which he may find charming, but I do think you must make an
Pru squealed when Flora grabbed the back of her muslin bodice and pulled it tight.
“Pru! You have a bosom!”
“Flora!”
“Well, one would never know it with all the fichus and tuckers and handkerchiefs you use as disguise. Most definitely an asset. Here, let me unpin this and see what we have.”
Pru reached up to clasp the whitework fichu crossed over the bodice of her dress. “Flora, please!”
“For heaven’s sake, girl, don’t be such a ninny. If you won’t remove a simple fichu in front of me,how do you ever hope to bare all in front of Nicholas?”
Pru gulped.
“You did ask for my help,” Flora said. “I just want to see what we have to work with. Now, take your hands away and let me unpin this thing.”
Pru did as she was asked. There was little choice with someone like Flora. The lace pins were removed and the fichu unwrapped. The bodice edge, cut low to allow a shirt or tucker, skimmed the top of her stays, exposing a great deal of bare skin. Pru shivered. She started to lift her hands to cover herself, but Flora took them and held them out to her side.
“My dear Mrs. Parrish, you have been hiding your light under a bushel. Mr. Parrish has a surprise in store. With the right dress, you could have him eating out of your hand.”
“But I feel quite naked.”
“Get used to it, my dear. Your husband will want to see a great deal more of you, I’m sure. Now, we must contrive some sort of evening affair where you can wear something suitably revealing.”
“There is no need to contrive. My niece is coming out this Season, and my sister has a long list of events I will be expected to attend. A ball for Arabella is being held next week.”
“Excellent. And do not tell me you already have a dress to wear. I am sure it is not at all the right thing. We must visit Madame Lanchester at once so she has time to make something up for you.”
“Is she terribly expensive?”
“She can be. But we do have some influence with her, since we so often mention her creations in the Cabinet . I am sure we can work something out. Besides, I thought you said you had an inheritance.”
“I do, but I hadn’t thought to fritter it away on clothes. There are…other things I had hoped to do with it.”
“Then I shall see that we don’t fritter away too much of it. But you absolutely must have a decent ball gown. Think of all those cousins whose noses you could put out of joint. A beautiful gown, a beautiful husband. They will be pea-green with envy.”
Pru chuckled. She had to admit, it would be rather nice. “All right. I defer to your judgment, Flora. Only please, nothing too revealing. I am not at all comfortable being so exposed, regardless of how fashionable it is.”
“We shall see. But let us return to your assets.”
Pru took a step backward. “I’m not taking off anything else.”
Flora laughed and hitched one hip onto the edge of the desk. “Of course not. Whatever assets are hidden beneath your skirts will be for Nicholas to discover. No, I am talking about other assets. You will need every ounce of confidence you can muster if you truly want to engage your husband’s affections. I daresay he is not the sort of man to appreciate timidity.”
“I am sure you are right,” Pru said. She crossed the fichu over her bosom once again, and began tosecure it with the lace pins. “That is one reason I have been so anxious. I fear I can never be the wife he wants. I can’t help being shy.”
“There is nothing wrong with being shy. It, too, can be an endearing asset, if used properly. But to be too self-effacing, too meek, too timid, will not endear you to him. You can retain your public shyness, which he may find charming, but I do think you must make an
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