The maid frowned.“Why would ye wish to look taller and thinner?”
“Because I’m short and plump.”Jessa shrugged and tried to think of a way to explain it without sounding as if she was ashamed of her body—because she wasn’t.Society just hadn’t caught up with the notion that sizes other than tall and thin were beautiful, too.“I have a lot of jiggle to my wiggle, and from where I’m from, many men don’t find that attractive.”
“What a load of rubbish.”Molly’s eyes flared wide, and she clapped a hand over her mouth.“Forgive me, mistress.I should not have said that.”
Jessa laughed.“Speak freely around me, Molly.It’ll be our secret.”She nodded at the clothing.“And pick whichever color.I trust you.”It didn’t matter what she wore, since she would be leaving at her earliest opportunity.
Molly bounced like a happy puppy.“Aye, mistress.First, a fresh sark.I’ll have the one ye wore last night laundered.”
Jessa could only assume that asarkwas the same thing as a chemise, shift, or old-fashioned nightgown.If she was going to wear a dress, why did she need to put another nightgown on first?But she cooperated and shook the garment down into place.Surprisingly, the hemline fell to her shins.Usually, everything was too long.
“And now for the first of the petticoats.”Molly bent and held the waist of the plain white skirt open wide so Jessa could step into it.
“More than one?”She stumbled to one side as the maid yanked the waistband snug and tied it.
“Of course, more than one.This one is to keep the finer ones clean when yer sark gets damp with sweat.”Molly tugged on its folds and stepped back, eyeing the piece critically.“The length will do for now, but I’ll hem it this evening.It’s still a bit long.It’ll be peeping out from under the others.”While bending to select the next layer, she asked, “Do ye not wear more than one petticoat where ye’re from?”
“Sometimes,” Jessa lied.“Depends on the time of year.”
“Ahh.”Molly nodded and tied an item around Jessa's waist that looked like a neck pillow for naps while traveling.
“What is that?”Jessa angled from side to side, eyeing it.
“The bum roll holds yer skirts just so and makes them sway all lovely like.Draws a man’s eyes to yer arse—I mean—yer bum.Ye dinna want to be all flat, do ye?”
“Apparently not.”
“And now yer fancy petticoat.This one with the green stripes will set off yer overskirt just so.See it over there?It’s green as an emerald.”
“I’m sure it will be perfect.”Jessa had no choice but to agree.No wonder she needed a lady’s maid.These layers were ridiculous.“How exactly am I supposed to pee?”
“Do ye need the chamberpot, mistress?I can fetch it.”
“Not at the moment, but when I do, I would prefer to be able to do it alone without needing someone to hold all my skirts out of the way.”
“Did ye not wear clothes like these in yer New Jersey?”
Jessa had to admit Molly played the part of an eighteenth century maid well.“There were a lot fewer layers in New Jersey,” she told the girl and left it at that.
“I see.”
But she didn’t.The girl was humoring her.Jessa could see it in her eyes.She waved to hurry her along.“Okay—what’s next?”Maybe once she was dressed, she could rinse her mouth with water.It wouldn’t be as good as her sonic toothbrush and minty mouthwash, but it would be better than nothing at all.Or maybe they were done, but her bottom half seemed to have a great deal more coverage than her top, and the idea of bouncing around without the support of a bra was a little disconcerting.
“These fine stays.”Molly proudly held up what appeared to be a very stiff, curvy vest made of panels of leather and a dark green plaid that matched the overskirt.
If it was meant to work like a corset or a bustier, wouldn’t it go on the inside?Jessa eyed the garment.“Should we not have put that on first before the shift?”
“No, mistress.These stays are lovely and meant to be seen.They’re quite proper for a lady of yer station.”Molly helped her slip her arms through the straps, then tugged it closed in the front and started lacing.“Ye might wish to brace yerself, ye ken?It must be pulled tight.”
The maid’s strength as she yanked on the lacing surprised Jessa.“That’s tight enough,” she told her when her breasts bulged above the neckline.“Not only am I about to pop out, but I also need to breathe.”
“I can pull it closer.Closer is always better, Mrs.Robeson says.”
“No.”Jessa tugged on the front and resettled the girls more comfortably in place.She’d wanted support, and now she had it.Apparently, she needed to be careful what she wished for.“What’s next?”
“There’s a jacket, but I dinna think ye’ll need it today.All that’s left are yer stockings, slippers, and then I’ll dress yer hair.”
“Dress my hair?”
