His Lordship Possessed by Lynn Viehl Read Free Book Online Page B

your naughty bits from
    showing through.”
    I held up the crotchless bit. “Not here, it doesn’t.”
    “Oh, right. Sorry.” She went to her dresser and began
    sorting through her lingerie. “Th e open crotch is for
    convenience; some gents can be too impatient to wait.”
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    She produced something that looked to me like a thin
    nappy.
    “You’re going to diaper me?” I asked.
    “Th ey’re called knickers,” she explained as she brought
    the abbreviated garment to me. “All the rage across the
    pond.” When she saw my face she held it up against her
    pelvis. “You see? You put them on just like drawers.”
    “So I’m to wear drawers without legs under stockings
    and a corset without a crotch and then a gown on top.” I
    caught the knickers she tossed to me. “Couldn’t I pretend
    to be a client? A fully dressed, male client?”
    “Th at’s a good idea,” Rina admitted, “but I haven’t any
    men’s clothes small enough for you here. I’ll send out for
    some tomorrow, but in the meantime you’ll have to be
    patient, Prudence.”
    I gave her a narrow look. “You’re enjoying this.”
    “Enormously.” She went round me and began
    unfastening my waister. After a moment she added, “I
    didn’t mean to go off on you before, love. Th at business
    with Da back then, that was all on me.”
    “I never stopped wishing I could do something about
    it.” I pulled my bodice carefully over my head so as not to
    dislodge the switch. “Expose Medford’s son for what he
    did, or at least make him tell your da the truth.”
    “No one would believe the word of a woman over a
    man’s,” Rina said, her tone fi rm. “If someone had, the
    rot bastard would’ve just had all his mates swear that I’d
    bedded them, too.” She helped me step out of my skirts.
    “Let’s talk about something happier, please. Like that
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    LYNN VIEHL
    clerk from your building who stood up for you in court.
    He sounds promising.”
    “Fourth?” I chuckled as I stripped out of my drawers
    and held up the knickers. “He’s just a lad. Besides, I
    practically have him married off already. Do I put both
    feet through the holes here?”
    “One in each.” She held my elbow to keep me from
    toppling over. “You’ve not lost your head over that
    towheaded copper, I hope. He’s pretty enough until you
    see all that disgusting truth and justice gleaming in his
    eyes.”
    “Inspector Doyle’s a good sort.” I hauled the knickers
    up until they covered my front and back bits. “He spoke
    up for me in court, you know. He didn’t have to do that.”
    Rina held out the nudies. “Step into them. Th at’s
    it.” As I braced my hands against her shoulders, she
    pulled the fl esh-colored garment up my legs and over the
    knickers. “Maybe he fancies you. He’ll want marriage and
    a baby every year, you know. His sort always do.”
    “I am not having babies; Tom Doyle’s or anyone
    else’s.” While Rina laced up the back, I pulled over
    my shoulders the short penders and buttoned them to
    the edge of the corset, which kept the fl imsy, skintight
    contraption in place. “Marriage is also not in the cards.”
    “Cards can be shuffl ed, love.” She came round to
    inspect the front. “Once this thing with Walsh goes away,
    you can move on, start over. Maybe go up to Settle.”
    “All it does there is rain.” I plucked at the fabric
    clinging to my breasts. “Th is is too small.”
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    “It’s perfect. Stop fussing.” She brought a sheer gown
    made of diagonal strips of black net and deep gray satin
    over from the armoire. “Th is one will do.”
    I refused to allow the colors to remind me of
    Dredmore. “Can’t I wear something with a bit more
    cheer to it?”
    “I’ve a lovely little pink thing,” Rina