Ladies of Deception 03 - Betraying the Highwayman Read Free

anything they pleased, excited her beyond measure. And besides, she had an aunt there who might be willing to take her in .She just had to figure out how to contact her.
    Taking her silence to mean she wasn't fully convinced, Olivia was quick to add, “You'd also have this room for the night. I had a small amount of money saved away, and I had to use some to get this room, while I figured out how I would continue. I think it's no coincidence that we ran into each other today. Please say you will help me. I've got to get going soon if I'm going to meet Ryan.”
    Elenore looked into pleading, blue eyes, and throwing caution to the wind said, “Of course I'll help.”
    “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Olivia sang out, dancing around in delight. “Hurry, let's change so I can be on my way.”
    Olivia scurried behind the small dressing screen that was set up in one corner of the room, leaving Elenore standing out in the open by herself. She debated whether she should just retrieve her fresh, white muslin dress out of her valise, but she selfishly decided that of the two dresses, she much preferred the white one. She sat in silence, the only sound in the room, the muffled sound of clothes being rustled while Olivia undressed. As she self-consciously debated how she'd get undressed without assistance, she begrudgingly changed her mind and decided to offer Olivia the white dress instead. She cringed, as she once more put weight on her feet and turned to retrieve her valise.
    Looking around the room, she didn't see the small bag, and panic gripped at her heart. “Did you perchance take my valise Olivia?”
    “No,” came the one word reply.
    “Drat, I must have left it outside by the bench. I'll have to go fetch it to get you a dress.”
    Olivia peered her head around the curtain. “I don't have time for you to hobble down there and back. Just give me the one you have on.”
    Elenore blushed, as Olivia scampered out from behind the curtain, dressed in only a thin shift, apparently comfortable with her immodesty. She reached up and undid the back of Elenore's dress to aide her with her undressing. Grabbing the front of her dress so it wouldn't fall, Elenore commanded Olivia to get back behind the screen so she could remove the dress in privacy. She slid the dress behind the partition with one hand, while the other arm gripped at the front of her bodice, in an attempt to cover herself more fully.
    Olivia tossed her discarded robes carelessly out to land in a heap before Elenore. “Put these on so you can go retrieve your valise.”
    “Can't you be so kind as to go get it for me?”
    Olivia laughed, hearing the hesitancy in her voice. “Don't be silly. Just put on the robe. You must get used to wearing it, if you are going to attempt to flee to America disguised as a nun. Besides, this way I can show you the proper way to put everything on.”
    Elenore walked over and quickly began putting the foreign clothing on, anxious to acquire some modesty. The robe was thick and heavy and much looser than any of her dresses. She highly doubted she'd have to wear a corset under the billowy thing, which was one benefit of dressing as a nun, she thought somewhat gleefully.
    Olivia slipped out from behind the screen and turned her back towards Elenore so she could do up the long row of buttons on her dress. Though Elenore was rather petite, Olivia was even smaller and the dress hung loosely on her frame. Turning around, Olivia put both hands on her waist and asked, “How do I look?”
    “Certainly less pious than you did before,” Elenore said with a grin. “What about me? Do I look authentic? Could I pass for a nun?”
    Reaching for the veil and placing it carefully atop her head, Olivia said, “There, perfect.” Elenore cringed as the headdress fell into place, covering her own hair completely. She had no idea if it was acceptable or not, but she felt completely irreverent being dressed up in the nun’s habit. She felt almost