A Lady's Plight (Lords of Sussex) Read Free Page B

there she was peeling the bandages from her breasts. He married her by special licence.'
    Venetia grinned. 'They say he fancied her when he thought her to be a boy. Maybe that was one of the reasons he went to the stables.'
    'Poor man, he must have been so confused.'
    Both girls laughed, their faces glowing in the firelight. Venetia murmured, 'I only worry that I become with child whilst abroad.'
    'La, tis a point. Most of us increase within the first year of marriage.'
    Isabella grimaced. 'True - and we can hardly deny them the marriage bed, not that I would want to. However, I shall use the douche.' She demurred from saying more on such intimate subjects. Yet her body quivered at the thought of what was to come.
     

 
 
Four
    Isabella tutted, as she took off the divorce, a metal contraption that divided her breasts. 'A lethal thing is it not? The steel cuts in, even though it is covered and softened. I've a good mind not to wear one ever again. It leaves welts on my skin.'
    Smoothing down the jade silk dress before hanging it in the wardrobe her maid said, 'It does wondrous things for the bosom milady, lifting and parting the breasts. It draws the men's eyes to gaze upon your person more readily.'
    'Hmm, methinks they prefer us naked Sarah.'
    The girl giggled, pushing a strand of light brown hair behind her ear. 'La - you make me blush milady.'
    Isabella grinned. 'Well at least we don't have to wear those wretched corsets. Mama still insists on donning them. No wonder she is always swooning at the slightest mishap. However, she can hardly order me to do so at my age.'
    'The countess does have the tiniest waist; she is beautiful yet.'
    'Aye, and after rearing four children. Oliver is now nine and Letitia will enter finishing school this September. I know she hates the idea of it, but I had to go through it. I must say we had some droll times - we were quite wicked to the mistresses. La, such jokes, putting dead mice in their sheets.'
    'Oh milady, I would die if I found a mouse in my bed.'
    'Sadly they did not.' Isabella grinned wickedly. 'Such demure creatures, I think they sighed with relief when I and my little party of vixens left.'
    'It must have been an exciting time for you milady.'
    'Exciting? It was a prison, a prison of singing, the pianoforte, embroidery, and etiquette. Oh, at least we had French, which was not so mind numbing. I just couldn’t wait to escape that wretched place. As for the food, it was atrocious – la, they expected us to eat porridge for breakfast every morning and masses of boiled potatoes with each meal.  It was a farce, then the beds – they were abysmal, I declare they were made of horsehair. ' Putting on the lace edged nightrail she said, 'Would you put out the pink silk tomorrow and my pale grey cottage of wool and lace, that should be decorous enough. Papa is arranging for us to see the vicar in the morning, and his rectory is like an icehouse. She sighed, 'Mama is having a fit about the change in the wedding plans. Thank goodness, papa agrees. I could really see myself playing the role of spinster aunt to Horatio’s children. You'd really think mama would be glad we are to marry however soon.'
    'You must be so happy milady. To wed is any girl's dream.'
    Isabella stopped, seeing the wistful expression on her maid's face. 'Come now, I know the first footman casts many an amorous glance in your direction.'
    'I know, at least the Earl allows us to marry . We are so grateful for that; my cousin is in the employ of Lord Grafton, and she fears she will be a spinster; no-one is allowed to marry.'
    'I know tis a dreadful ruling, destroying many lives. At least, papa is liberally minded. But, come now, James will soon make an approach.'
    'There is no hope milady, he’s that stubborn you know. I fear I too will be some old maid, cooing over other people’s children. I’ve tried everything to talk him round like, but he won’t give in. He says he won’t be marrying me until he gets to be