Page 18 of Enslaved
When Prudence pleaded exhaustion, Diana and Biddy helped her upstairs, where she proceeded to issue orders from her bed until midnight. She asked so many questions of the staff that the butler finally produced a map that laid out the entire city, row by row. She couldn’t understand it, of course, and kept Diana at her bedside for two more hours while she pointed out the Grand Parade, the Pump Room, the Assembly Rooms, the Baths, and the Octagonal Chapel.
When Prudence did not appear for breakfast, Diana seized the moment and set out to explore Bath on her own. She was interested in learning the location of the shops, the subscription libraries, and where the hot springs began down by the river. Diana felt free as a bird escaped from its cage. Excitement tingled along every nerve at the thought of being able to choose clothes for herself.
She sauntered along Milsom Street, gazing into shop windows, carefully reading the signs above the doors, trying to decide which establishment would receive her custom. The largest shop was La Belle Mode; its proprietress, Madame Madeleine, who greeted Lady Diana warmly as she opened the door and stepped inside.
“Is there something in particular you are interested in, mademoiselle?”
“Oh yes, everything really.” Diana was entranced at the gowns on display. The shop also had slippers, fans, and every feminine accessory to complete a lady’s wardrobe. She glanced about, noting the fine French furnishings, and then she saw it. Easily the loveliest gown she had ever seen, and she knew she must have it or die. It was jade velvet with a heart-shaped neckline and gathered waist. It had classic lines that would have been fashionable in any age.
Diana’s imagination pictured herself at Elizabeth’s Court wearing the gown, with a magnificent ruff added, of course. It was the vivid color, however, that drew her fancy. “The jade gown—may I try it on, please?”
Madame Madeleine led her into a dressing room and helped her remove her insipid pink daydress. Diana felt compelled to explain to the fashionably gowned Frenchwoman, “I don’t care for pastels. I prefer gowns in jewel tones that set off my fair coloring.”
“I agree—the jade will be perfect.” She stared in disbelief at the old-fashioned corset. “Ah, you will need a new corset perhaps, mademoiselle?”
“Oh no, I hate corsets, but my aunt insists I be fitted for the nasty things.”
“No, no—you misunderstand. I refer to the latest fashion, the half-corset. A pretty little garment that merely nips in the waist and uplifts the breasts.”
“Really? Well yes, it certainly sounds like an improvement on the garment I’m wearing. I’ll try one on.”
“Bon!What about color—you prefer naughty or nice?”
Diana blinked. “I prefer naughty, every time!”
Madame Madeleine came back carrying a lacy froth of scarlet and began the task of untying the strings of the rigid, cagelike contraption Diana was laced into.
Lady Diana took a gasp of air as her ribcage was allowed to expand and her breasts sprang up from their unnaturally flattened state. She donned the new garment and stared in amazement at the apparition in the mirror. It couldn’t possibly be her. The red half-corset made her waist almost disappear, yet her breasts were lush. They were pushed up so that her curves swelled from the top of the lacy garment in the sauciest and most provocative way.
The bell on the shop door tinkled merrily. “Excuse me, mademoiselle, I will be back in a moment.”
Diana, completely enchanted with her new look, hardly heard her. She twisted this way and that, posing before the glass. Even her legs clad in her silk stockings looked longer. This corset did not encase her hips, but ended just before the natural swell of her derriere curved outward, exposing her white linen drawers.
Diana looked and felt wicked as original sin and she absolutely relished it. What a pity no one would see such ravishing undergarments. She felt more female than she had ever felt before and longed for the entire world to see how stunning the New Lady Diana Davenport had become. Iwonder if it comes in black?she asked herself. Then she slowly became aware of people talking.
“Mark, darling, I’d like to try this one.”
“By all means,” a man replied.
Diana was brought out of her reverie by the familiar male voice. She would know it anywhere! Its deep timbre sent a shiver up her spine. She was annoyed that he had such an effect upon her.
“Ah, mademoiselle, another lady wishes to try this gown.”
“Oh, Mark, only think how the jade will compliment my hair,” the plummy voice cajoled.
Diana’s anger flared instantly. The Earl of Bath had picked up a woman and was already buying her gowns. Well, one thing was certain—he wasn’t going to buy the bloody womanhergown!
“Talk the other lady out of it; I’ll make it worth your while,” Hardwick said smoothly, as if he were used to ordering the world.
Diana hesitated because of her deshabille, then a wicked smile curved her lips as she realized the she-devil inside her was running rampant again. She threw open the dressing room door, stalked into the showroom, and swept the jade gown from the redhead’s possessive hands.
“Oooh, how dare you!” Vivian screeched.
“This gown is mine,” Diana asserted regally.
Mark Hardwick’s eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared in pure male appreciation of the ravishing beauty clad in the provocative scarlet corset.
“I beg to differ!” Vivian hissed.
