Chapter 27
Mary tightened the ribbon of the embroidered cuff on her wrist. This costume was vastly different from that of yesterday’s.
The purple and silver of last evening were put to the side for this evening’s deep, forest green. The gauzy material clung to her breasts and ribs, leaving nothing to the imagination, then flared at her shoulders to drape loosely until gathered at her wrists beneath her cuffs.
The costume was designed in such a way that instead of using a bolt of materialbeneaththe gauze to cover her breasts, it had an elaborately beaded and embroidered vest that went overtop. The bodice of the costume barely covered her nipples but allowed her audience to feast their eyes on the outer globes of her breasts.
She was entirely bare from beneath her ribs to just above the auburn hair covering hermons. There, the gauzy material began again, sitting low on her hips and decorated with bells and coins, to drape in long, flowing, layered skirts with a long slit through each layer that ran up to the middle of her right thigh. The bottom half of her costume incorporated a green version of the scanty protection for her feminine area that she had worn last evening.
Her hair and makeup was fashioned in precisely the same way as in yesterday’s performance, and once more she thought to forego the use of additional jewellery.
Opening the jar of her rose scented cream, Mary scraped out the very last of it and rubbed it into her hands.
With a last glance in the mirror, Mary turned to attend to her other task this afternoon. Packing.
She pulled her trunks out from beneath the bed and began to place things hurriedly within. She had very few moments before she was expected belowstairs and she knew she would likely not have much timeafterthey exchanged the documents to pack all of her belongings.
Mary dashed over to the wardrobe and began removing frocks by the armful and carting the heavy mass of material back to her trunks. She scarcely spared a thought for wrinkling or damaging them, for Mrs. McPhee—bless her—would be glad to repair any gown that was damaged.
In an act of forethought, Mary selected one dark, front-fastening day dress and hid it in the corner of the room behind the privacy screen, along with a fresh pair of woollen stockings and a chemisette.
She moved to the chest of drawers and withdrew an armful of her underthings and brought them to her trunks.
Heavy footfalls in the hallway arrested her. Her heart beat erratically in her chest as she frantically closed the trunks and slid them back to their place beneath the bed.
With a nervous smile upon her lips, Mary dusted her hands together and then pulled her cloak off a hook near the door. It was time for her performance.
* * *
Gabe discretely entered the rear door of Kerr House after having taken a detour through the gardens so as to not be observed coming from the stables by any other guest. He closed the door quietly behind him and made his way quickly through the halls toward the billiards room.
He’d turned down the last corridor when Mr. Jackson and his blonde mistresses exited the dining room to his right.
“Oh! Good timing, Spencer.” He ran his fingers through his bright orange hair before draping his lace bedecked wrist over one of his mistresses’ shoulders. “Your lover is rumoured to be putting on another performance in the drawing room!”
Excellent. She had thought of a way to distract the others and give him an opportunity to exchange the documents. He could not claim to be pleased with her methods, but they were effective.
“I will be along in a moment.” He leaned in towards Jackson, as though to impart a secret. “Got to take a piss.”
Jackson tapped the index finger of his free hand against the side of his nose and winked.
With an exaggerated flourish, Gabe bowed to the scandalous dandy, and resumed his pace toward Lord Kerr’s study.
He found the room empty with the door ajar. He crept in and closed the door soundlessly behind him. Removing the hairpins from within the folds of his cravat, Gabe lowered himself to his knees and set to work.
* * *
Mary swished her hips seductively, slowly rotating them in a circular motion, her arms extended delicately above her head. Her audience was enthralled; each pair of eyes was fixated on the movement of her body.
The room was filled with the haze of cigar smoke and the scent of warm bodies. It was a nauseating combination. But Mary’s thoughts were elsewhere. Her body moved as though it was simply re-enacting previous performances while her mind was focused solely on one thing…Gabriel.
There was no way of knowing how long it would take him to make the switch, or if he’d even known of his opportunity. The blasted man had avoided her all day; it’d been impossible for her to tell him of her plans.
She wished there was some way to know.
* * *
Click. Gabe’s lips pulled to the side in an awkward, mirthless grin as the strong box opened.
