Adeline became popular again. She saw it as a way back into her group and as one last chance to get a rich husband. She needed to be here tonight to meet Malcolm.”
“She used me.”
“I am truly sorry, Cassian. I am as guilty as she. Can you forgive me for not telling you? I am so ashamed.”
“That is a subject to ponder, Paul. Nauls called me an animal. That all of my people were animals! He provoked me, I
responded.” He dabbed at his bleeding mouth with a handkerchief. “I suppose Adeline will receive even more invitations now.”
Breathing hard, he ripped off his wig and tore open his shirt collar. The carriage pulled up. Adeline emerged from the Nauls’, Malcolm Taylor trailing behind, drink in hand.
“Cassian, where are you going?” she cried.
“I will send the coach back.”
“Please stay!”
“No.” He swung up into the conveyance. Once seated, he banged on the roof with his walking stick. “Drive!” Leaning back against the seat, he reached inside his waistcoat and retrieved Kindred’s head wrap. “You were right, love,” he sighed, as lavender
permeated the coach’s red velvet interior.
Chapter Fifteen
“Don’t just stand there. Help me with this.” Adeline struggled with her gown.
“Miss, I don’t know how it ties. How does it go on?”
“It’s a dress you idiot! It goes on like any other. Use you head.”
Adeline stood in the center of her room, arms outstretched while the maid encased her in her dress for the ball. She had pleaded with her aunt to pay their seamstress the extra the woman had requested to make the thing. Adeline needed to be noticed, to stand
out from the other girls. Adeline and the woman scoured sketch after sketch and finally decided on a robin’s egg blue and plum polonaise . Its plum colored overskirt billowed out from a narrow waist over enormous paniers. Split down the front, this gold tassel tipped skirt folded back on itself on either side like curtains, exposing the pale blue petticoat underneath. The tight, laced bodice possessed a recklessly low, square neckline and secured at the cleavage with a pink bow. The snug waist ended in a deep point in the front from which dangled a gold tassel. The elbow length sleeves terminated in puffed round cuffs which were accentuated with pink bows. Her elaborate hairstyle was a mix of real and fake hair. The high, powdered, pomatum plastered coiffure was a construction of curls and ringlets stretched over a wire frame. Random plumes reproduced the colors in her frock.
“There, I think I got it right this time, Miss.” The maid pulled the last lace through the bodice front, retying the bow. She powdered Adeline’s chest again and eyed her mistress’ bosom. The only portion not revealed were her nipples. “Miss, won’t you be needing something to fill in the …. ”
“No.” She snapped her fingers. “Shoes.” She took a seat at her vanity. The maid knelt and eased the satin pumps onto the girl’s feet. “My fan, too.” Another chamber maid knocked and entered, carrying a cloak.
“Miss, your aunt says to hurry. She hates being late.”
“I am behind because I helped her get dressed. Arrgh! Does not that crone know that one is never late to these affairs? One makes a fashionably tardy entrance.” Adeline snatched her wrap from maid number two and headed out into the hallway.
“Miss, you are a vision,” maid number one called after her.
“More like a sight, if you ask me,” whispered maid number two.
****
“Thank you, Great Spirit,” Cassian said aloud, relieved that tonight’s affair at Taylor House would be the last time he’d be obligated to go “out amongst ’em” as Rozina would say. Cassian stood naked before the clothes form, contemplating the costume he had been donning off and on for two weeks. He frowned. His eyes strayed to the powdered periwig on its stand. He frowned again.
“Torture device,” he mumbled, scratching his head as he turned the
“She used me.”
“I am truly sorry, Cassian. I am as guilty as she. Can you forgive me for not telling you? I am so ashamed.”
“That is a subject to ponder, Paul. Nauls called me an animal. That all of my people were animals! He provoked me, I
responded.” He dabbed at his bleeding mouth with a handkerchief. “I suppose Adeline will receive even more invitations now.”
Breathing hard, he ripped off his wig and tore open his shirt collar. The carriage pulled up. Adeline emerged from the Nauls’, Malcolm Taylor trailing behind, drink in hand.
“Cassian, where are you going?” she cried.
“I will send the coach back.”
“Please stay!”
“No.” He swung up into the conveyance. Once seated, he banged on the roof with his walking stick. “Drive!” Leaning back against the seat, he reached inside his waistcoat and retrieved Kindred’s head wrap. “You were right, love,” he sighed, as lavender
permeated the coach’s red velvet interior.
Chapter Fifteen
“Don’t just stand there. Help me with this.” Adeline struggled with her gown.
“Miss, I don’t know how it ties. How does it go on?”
“It’s a dress you idiot! It goes on like any other. Use you head.”
Adeline stood in the center of her room, arms outstretched while the maid encased her in her dress for the ball. She had pleaded with her aunt to pay their seamstress the extra the woman had requested to make the thing. Adeline needed to be noticed, to stand
out from the other girls. Adeline and the woman scoured sketch after sketch and finally decided on a robin’s egg blue and plum polonaise . Its plum colored overskirt billowed out from a narrow waist over enormous paniers. Split down the front, this gold tassel tipped skirt folded back on itself on either side like curtains, exposing the pale blue petticoat underneath. The tight, laced bodice possessed a recklessly low, square neckline and secured at the cleavage with a pink bow. The snug waist ended in a deep point in the front from which dangled a gold tassel. The elbow length sleeves terminated in puffed round cuffs which were accentuated with pink bows. Her elaborate hairstyle was a mix of real and fake hair. The high, powdered, pomatum plastered coiffure was a construction of curls and ringlets stretched over a wire frame. Random plumes reproduced the colors in her frock.
“There, I think I got it right this time, Miss.” The maid pulled the last lace through the bodice front, retying the bow. She powdered Adeline’s chest again and eyed her mistress’ bosom. The only portion not revealed were her nipples. “Miss, won’t you be needing something to fill in the …. ”
“No.” She snapped her fingers. “Shoes.” She took a seat at her vanity. The maid knelt and eased the satin pumps onto the girl’s feet. “My fan, too.” Another chamber maid knocked and entered, carrying a cloak.
“Miss, your aunt says to hurry. She hates being late.”
“I am behind because I helped her get dressed. Arrgh! Does not that crone know that one is never late to these affairs? One makes a fashionably tardy entrance.” Adeline snatched her wrap from maid number two and headed out into the hallway.
“Miss, you are a vision,” maid number one called after her.
“More like a sight, if you ask me,” whispered maid number two.
****
“Thank you, Great Spirit,” Cassian said aloud, relieved that tonight’s affair at Taylor House would be the last time he’d be obligated to go “out amongst ’em” as Rozina would say. Cassian stood naked before the clothes form, contemplating the costume he had been donning off and on for two weeks. He frowned. His eyes strayed to the powdered periwig on its stand. He frowned again.
“Torture device,” he mumbled, scratching his head as he turned the
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