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“Mama…” she protested, but her voice eak from exhaustion and a sudden desire to own the rose silk She could iine the expression on Sebastian’s face, when he…if he saw her in a dress made up from it

“The pale blue crepe, too,” A to serve them “And I think…yes, lace for an overskirt, and ribbons, and…”

It was pointless protesting A away all in her path In no ti bustled onto the pre ed in a series of discussions on style and cut, and the short sleeves as opposed to those with a fall of lace to the elbow

“She’s not petit,” thein every detail of Francesca’s figure

Francesca opened her ue—My oing to say, closed it again

“With such a striking figure, she needs to ht, her waist and bosom and hips, are all to be put on show No frills and clusters of ribbons No fussy little prints She would look ridiculous Colors that complement her dark hair and eyes, and that flawless creae her excellent bosom Stiffened petticoats to hold out her skirts and accentuate her tiny waist”

Francesca wanted to squirht This was a woood sense, even if she did lack tact Why pretend she was petite like Helen and Marietta? She was a statuesque woman, like Vivianna; one ould always stand out in a crowd It was the truth and she should make the most of it

“She will need gloves, bonnets, stockings, drawers, che slippers” Helen began listing the with excitees!”

At that ht have voiced died on her lips How could she be churlish when A such a ht—she realized with a tree to wear clothes that enhanced her best features, rather than hiding thee, seeer

By the ti at soaround, while she was poked and prodded, draped and pinned Altogether she was to have six new dresses, and a rose red satin ball gown Francesca, who had never had a ball goasn’t quite certain what she was going to do with one now, but she had an unco that Amy and Helen did

She’d forgotten about the loose-li the ain This ti directly at her There was no possible doubt about it

Fear crept over her with spidery fingers

Once again he looked away, pretending to be interested in a s a barouche But Francesca wasn’t deceived All Sebastian’s warnings came back to her in a rush She hadn’t listened to him, not really She hadn’t believed him Oh, why hadn’t she believed him?

She turned, looking about her, and saw that there were plenty of shoppers in the street It was three o’clock in the afternoon and everyone was going about his tasks in an ordinary manner She was safe; no one could hurt her in such a public place Who had ever heard of a wo the ?

The realization calmed her