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. I
wonder 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 familiarmale 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 woman
her
gown!
“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.
“You can beg ’til your hair dye tarnishes,” Diana said blandly.
“Do you know who this is?” Vivian spluttered, indicating the nobleman who accompanied her.
“Indeed I do,” Diana drawled. “The Earl of Bath and I are old adversaries. Do you know who I am, by the way?”
“No, I do not!” Vivian
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. I
wonder 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 familiarmale 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 woman
her
gown!
“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.
“You can beg ’til your hair dye tarnishes,” Diana said blandly.
“Do you know who this is?” Vivian spluttered, indicating the nobleman who accompanied her.
“Indeed I do,” Diana drawled. “The Earl of Bath and I are old adversaries. Do you know who I am, by the way?”
“No, I do not!” Vivian
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