Calypso Magic (Magic Trilogy 2)

Grumber came into her bedchamber at that moment, her perpetual look of indifference cracking just a bit. "Very nice, miss."

"Thank you, Grmber. What have you there?"

"Rice powder, that's all. Lady Cranston wants you to be the same color."

Diana was on the point of refusing, with a show of righteous outrage, then noticed that her tanned face did look a bit odd with the expanse of white shoulders and bosom.

Sallow, was she!

"All right, Grumber. Cover my face with it."

Once she was powdered up, Diana thanked Grumber again and made her way downstairs. Lucia was waiting for her in the drawing room, gowned in royal purple.

"Lovely, Diana, just lovely. Good heavens!" Lucia moved closer. "What in the worldYou look dead!"

Diana touched her fingertips to her cheek very lightly. Her fingertips came away as white as snow, at least she assumed they were, for she'd never before seen snow.

Lucia dusted off her face with a handkerchief, telling her to close her eyes in the cloud of white powder.

"There, much better. I like your hair swept up with the thick curls over your shoulders. Very nice. Those close crops all the young ladies are affecting remind me of poodles who have been trimmed too closely." She was on the point of saying that the thick streaked blond hair reminded her of her own when she was young, but she didn't want Diana to become conceited. "Now, my dear, I have a little something for you." Lucia pulled out a beautiful strand of pearls from a black velvet case. She fastened them around Diana's neck, then handed her a pair of pearl earrings.

Diana looked helplessly at them. "They're lovely, Aunt, but my ears aren't pierced."

Lucia frowned a moment, then said briskly, "We'll see to it tomorrow. The necklace looks quite well on you. Now, where is Lyonel?"

"The necklace is beautiful, Aunt. Thank you. I don't know about the piercing, though."

"Nonsense. Just a bit of pain, then it's over. Don't be a coward. I won't let Grumber do it, she's a bit heavy with a needle when she's mending. No, I'll see to it myself."

Diana wasn't certain the experience would be much improved, but said nothing. She walked to the mirror over the fireplace and studied the necklace. She looked very smart, yes, indeed. Then her eyes fell to her bosom, and she shuddered in embarrassment.

For the past four years she'd most rigorously kept her breasts well-covered, for she didn't care for the way men looked at her. She unconsciously tried to pull up the blue silk.

"Don't fiddle, Diana! You will shortly see that you are well in fashion, and, I might add, even on the modest side."

"But I'll pop out, Aunt, I just know it. I cannot believe it is modest --- why, the gown couldn't be cut any lower."

"Nonsense. Ah, Lyonel, here at last."

Lyonel, who had heard this last interchange, took a good look at Diana's plentiful bosom. "You won't pop out, Miss Savarol. And if you do, I shall be certain to cover you immediately."

"Oh? With what?"

"With whatever I have available to me at the moment." He raised his hands, splaying his fingers.

"Lyonel!"

"Sorry, Lucia. Both you ladies are looking prime. My God --- what the devil do you have on your face?"

"Rice powder," Diana said. "To make me all the same color."

"I wiped a goodly amount off, Lyonel. Do you still think it is too much?"

"Who cares what he thinks?" Diana stopped short, lowering her eyes.

"Well done," said Lyon. "I know, of course, that it is an affected maidenly pose, but nonetheless, it should pass with strangers as the real article."

"It's not that," she said, glaring at him. "I can't --- well, I can't dance!"