Page 18

Victoria

B efore I knew it, the night of the ball had arrived, and it was time for me to prepare.

As Lily performed her magic, I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

It was a daily ritual since she’d become my maid.

She’d proven adept at creating elaborate yet tasteful coiffures.

So, it was a shock when Lily stepped back and informed me she was done.

I frowned at my reflection. “But my hair is still down.”

Lily smiled. “It is artfully undone .”

“What does that mean?”

Her smile was indulgent, as though she knew what was expected better than I did—which, frankly, I didn’t doubt. She was only a few years older than I was, yet she carried herself with the confidence of someone who’d seen and experienced far more.

“I started pinning it up here,” she explained, gesturing to sections near my temples.

“Fortunately, your hair has a natural curl to it, so I didn’t have to do much.

The way it falls at the back gives the impression that someone—Lord Moreland in this case—ran his hands through your hair while in the heat of passion and started unpinning it. ”

I stared at her, appalled. “And I’m supposed to let people see me like this?”

Her grin widened, her amusement evident. “Trust me. When you see how everyone else is dressed tonight, you’ll think this hairstyle modest.”

I was alarmed by her assertion but decided to take her at her word since I knew nothing about the manner of ball I was about to attend.

She dabbed a small amount of color onto my lips. Not enough to look garish, but it did darken my natural hue.

She nodded, pleased with her efforts. “When you’re in the carriage, pinch your cheeks. That’ll add to the effect.”

I didn’t want to know what “effect” she was referring to, so I simply nodded.

She moved to the wardrobe and fetched the gown that had been delivered earlier.

It was almost midnight, and I’d been told the ball wouldn’t truly begin until the stroke of twelve.

I’d caught a brief glimpse of the gown when it arrived, but now, as she laid it out for me on the bed, I was struck by how immodest it was.

“Step out of your chemise,” Lily said briskly.

I did as she instructed. She’d seen me without clothing often enough, so I wasn’t shy. When she produced another chemise—a shorter, almost sheer one—I tilted my head to one side.

“Why the change?”

She answered with an enigmatic tightening of her lips as she helped me step into it. It barely reached the top of my thighs, and it didn’t even cover my breasts.

My mouth dropped open. “Where’s the rest of it?”

Lily laughed as she brought out a half corset. “Be patient.” She wrapped the corset around my waist and began to lace it.

“Lean forward,” she instructed.

Heat rose to my cheeks as I followed the command, lifting my modestly sized breasts as she further instructed. She tightened the laces behind me, and when I straightened again, my mouth fell open in shock.

“What kind of sorcery is this?” I murmured, staring at my reflection in the mirror above the dressing table.

The corset had transformed my figure entirely. I now had a décolletage I could only describe as scandalous.

Lily nodded in satisfaction, then helped me into the gown—my red gown, which was a color my father never would have allowed me to wear. It wasn’t a bright shade, however, but a deeper color. It would draw the eye while still appearing elegant.

The effect was striking. The red contrasted sharply with my pale skin and dark hair and somehow emphasized the touch of color on my lips. But it wasn’t just the color that shocked me—the neckline was so low, I feared I might fall out of the dress entirely.

“I don’t think I can go out like this,” I whispered, turning to Lily in a panic.

Lily studied me for a moment, her expression filled with understanding. “You can change your mind,” she said softly. “We’re not here to force you to do anything against your will.”

Her words grounded me. She was correct, of course. This was my choice.

I nodded, resolving to follow through with our plan. It was the only way to gain my freedom. “I’m ready.”

There was a knowing gleam in Lily’s eyes. “Did his lordship see the dress when you visited Madame Argent?”

I shook my head. “She made him wait in another room.”

Her smile widened. “I think he’ll be pleased.”

When I descended the stairs and entered the drawing room, Moreland was already standing, his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes widened, and his gaze swept over me, taking in the details of my dress. Then he cursed under his breath.

Alarm filled me. “Should I go back upstairs and change into something else?” I knew the dress was a bit much, but Lily had convinced me that he would like it.

He shook his head. “You’re perfect. Too perfect, in fact. I’ll have a devil of a time making sure no one tries to steal you away tonight.”

I shouldn’t have been flattered by his words, but I would be lying if I said they didn’t send a thrill through me.

Moreland thought I was beautiful. Others had said as much, but his appreciation meant so much more to me.

And if he was concerned about keeping me by his side, I had no reason to fear his head would be turned by another woman at the ball.

“Should we set off now, my lord? Or is it still too early?”

He glanced at the clock. “It’s just before midnight now. We’ll have the carriage drive around for a bit since we don’t want to appear too eager. Besides, when you make your grand entrance, we want an audience.”

I nodded, uncertain how to respond. I took his arm, and he led me outside to the carriage.

Once we were settled inside and on our way, I whispered, “I’m afraid.”

He leaned forward and took my hands in his. “This is new to you. To be honest, I admire your courage.”

His eyes held mine, and I couldn’t look away.

“I don’t feel very courageous.”

“You will.” He reached into a pocket to withdraw something and held it out to me. “This is for you.”

It was a mask, made from the same rich red fabric as my gown. I reached for it, and a shiver went through me when my fingers brushed against his palm. Neither of us was wearing gloves.

“Madame Argent sent it along. She said it would match the dress. I wasn’t sure I wanted to believe her.” He shook his head. “Every eye at the assembly will be on you.”