“Beg pardon.” The maid dropped her gaze.
Something Nellie had said earlier struck Reese. “You said you were a guardian of fae magic. You’re a faerie?”
“Yes.”
“A faeriegodmother?” Reese asked, incredulous.
“In a way, I suppose I fill that role on occasion.” Nellie smiled. “Because I always hold a ball on the full moon, we will be quite busy tonight. It will be an opportunity to introduce you to some of the local families. I also have some guests coming from London. A few will remain for a few days for a house party that will include my annual picnic next week.” Nellie peered at Reese in a disconcerting way. “The magic hints there could be someone in this time meant for you.”
Reese raised her hands in a defensive motion, her stomach knotting. “You can’t tell the future, can you?
“If you mean fortune telling, no.” The fae woman gave a smug little smile. “But it is no accident that you and your friends came to this time. The magicknows.”
“You cannot fight against the magic,” Lulu whispered.
“Watch me,” Reese said. “If it thinks to match me with a chauvinist, there’s no way.” She wasn’t going to be controlled.
“I am sure a woman with your beauty and strength of character could tame even a rake,” Nellie said.
Reese frowned at the faerie woman’s expression. It looked like she had a particular rake in mind?
A rake.Really? Reese shuddered. It might be fun to read about redeeming one in a Regency romance, but the reality wasn’t pretty. The previous summer she had interned with a nonprofit health organization in a big city, where she’d learned just how rampant sexually-transmitted diseases were in the general population of modern-day America. In a time like this, before antibiotics, people could literally die of promiscuity.
“These people are probably riddled with disease,” she said. “Do me a favor anddon’tplay matchmaker for me.”
Nellie merely gave her a knowing smile. It reminded Reese of her mother when she tried to pretend she was all-knowing.
“Lulu will complete your toilette. The ball will follow dinner.” Nellie nodded to the maid. “You have an hour.”
Chapter 3
“AUNT NELLIE WILL NOT APPROVE of you not wearing stays, miss.” Lulu held up the corset. “It’s not proper.”
“I don’t need that,” Reese said through gritted teeth. “I have a six-pack.”
“A six-pack, miss?”
Reese pressed the fabric of the thin, cotton chemise against her abdomen to show the outline of her ab muscles. “No one will know I’m not wearing stays.” She had put up with that Regency straitjacket to make peace, but she was done changing who she was for others. She’d wouldn’t wear a corset again.Ever.
Lulu pinched her lips, put it aside, and picked up a short slip. She stepped on a stool and raised it so Reese could duck into it. After a week in the immersion program in the 21st century immersion program, she had learned the knack of lifting her arms to protect her already styled hair.
“Oh, miss, what happened here?” The maid pointed to the raw patch of skin on the ribs under Reese’s arm.
“A corset. I’m too big in the bosom to wear the thing without tearing up my skin.”
“I have something for that.” Lulu hurried into the dressing room and returned with a small bottle and a handkerchief. She sprinkled some pleasant-smelling liquid on the cloth. “Raise your arms, please. This is Aunt Nellie’s special medicine.”
Reese did as she was told. As the cool liquid touched her raw skin, she gasped, but then the stinging disappeared, and she let out a sigh of relief.
“What is that stuff?” She stepped to the mirror, her arms raised. Already the angry red skin had turned a calmer pink. “I wish I’d had some when I worked in a health clinic last summer.”
“Aunt Nellie does not give out her potions.”
“Potion, huh?” Reese turned around and found Lulu had picked up a new garment. Reese recognized it for a crinoline slip and stepped back, with visions of Scarlet O’Hara—but bouncing off people like those body ball things.
“Miss,” Lulu said, her tone despairing, “please. Aunt Nellie says it will be more comfortable than wearing so many heavy petticoats.”
“No hoops for me,” Reese said. “There are way too many fireplaces in this place. I have no intention of turning into a human torch. And I’ll only wearoneof those frilly petticoats.” She indicated the three spread out on the bed.
