Chapter Sixty One
The Queen of Hearts
Sarah looked at the dress that had been sent over and gasped. "He's got to be kidding!" She looked at the box containing the undergarments that went with the gown. "No way in hell."
Karen called her from the foyer, saying there was an phone call for her. She picked up the extension in her parent's room. "Hello?"
"Cookie, did the dress arrive?" Garrett asked calmly.
"You call that a dress?" She asked. "Garrett I can't wear that."
"Cookie."
"No!" She protested. "I mean it! You'll get raided if I put that thing on. It's so…revealing."
"Cookie, you are going to wear that dress. We are a matched pair, and it's much too late to get another dress." Garrett sighed.
"I still have the Queen of the Night dress!" She reminded him.
"Cookie, just put the dress on." he coaxed. "I'm sending the car for you early. I want you here long before our guests arrive. See you soon."
Sarah glared at the phone. "I sometimes wonder why I just didn't run off with the Goblin!" She went back to her room and began the process of getting into the underpinnings for the gown. She pulled her robe on and went to the stairs. "Mom! I need a hand up here."
When Karen arrived Sarah was lacing herself into a corset. "Have any idea of how to do this?"
"Not that way." Karen turned the lacing to Sarah's back, and told her to make sure the busk was closed. Inch by inch she pulled the lacing till Sarah was fully laced in, firmly but still allowing for breathing. Karen stood back, "Turn and let's see."
Sarah looked down at her puffed out bosom. "I don't think so."
"Oh come on, Sarah!" Karen turned her and gasped. "Well, no one can say you're not fully grown."
Sarah moaned. "This makes me look…"
"Charming." Karen said firmly. "Now let's get that dress on you."
The dress was part satin, part lace, part velvet and a handful to get into. The underskirt had a bell shaped slip that held the skirt out and gave it a clear shape. The cuffs were lace coming out of slim fitted sleeves of black satin that had leg of mutton caps at the shoulder with gold accents. The bodice was red satin heart, with checkerboard side panels. The over skirt was red velvet, with a white satin center panel. The white satin was decorated with red satin appliqued hearts and gold satin fleur-de-lis appliques. There was a soft short gathered bustle that came to the sides of the over skirt. When Sarah was zipped into the gown, Karen fitted the high starched collar into place.
Sarah looked at herself in the mirror. "Good God, is that really me?"
Karen pushed her down onto the vanity seat. "Let's tackle that hair." Gathering the hair up and twisting it with skill, Karen formed a gentle French twist that had soft tendrils spilling out. On the top Karen pined in the crown that had come with the gown. The Crown was made up of golden hearts with ruby red teardrop jewels dangling down. "Now you look like a Queen." She said with satisfaction.
Sarah attached her ever present charm bracelet and the shield pendant. For a long moment she held to the shield, her fingers running slowly along the surface of the pendant. 'Protect me, even from my own self.' She looked at Karen. "This is going to run really late. Garrett told me this masked balls run into the wee hours of the next morning. So don't wait up, and don't expect to see me till perhaps daylight."
Karen still standing behind her leaned down. "I won't mind if you spend the night with him Sarah. You're going to be married soon. It's perfectly natural that you'd want to be … intimate with him." A comforting hand went over her stepdaughter's shoulder. "Your father and I remember what it's like to be in those wonderful first moments of love, Sarah. We both understand."
Sarah lowered her lashes, slightly embarrassed that everyone could read her feelings so clearly. "I've never been with anyone." She reminded her stepmother.
"Garrett won't hurt you, dear. We've seen how deeply he cares for you." Karen kept her voice gentle and caring.
Sarah smiled at the pair of reflections in the mirror. "Yes, he does. He cares for me."
Karen smiled wickedly, "Besides, stepdaughter mine, in this dress… he'd have to be blind not to want to ravish you!"
Both women shared a secret laugh.
