Elizabeth waited while Venus helped her undress and put the daring gown on.
“Oh, my,” Elizabeth exclaimed as she caught sight of herself in the cheval mirror. The bodice fell into a V shape, exposing more of her breasts than anything she had ever worn. A slit raced up to her hip, showing all of her leg as she walked.
Venus stared at her. “You need something more,” she decided. “It’s your hair.”
Elizabeth’s hand went to her head. “What’s wrong with it?”
“It’s far too formal for such an occasion.” Venus walked toward her and pulled a few pins from Elizabeth’s upswept style. Then Venus drew a few strands down around her face and neck. “Now the mask, and you shall be all set.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes as Venus placed the mask over her face. When she opened them, she could not believe her eyes. If she didn’t know it was her reflection, she would not have recognized herself.
“So, how do I seduce him?” she asked aloud.
“That, my dear, is the easy part.” Venus went to the chairs and placed a bottle of something on the table in between them. “He drinks whisky. When he comes in, have him sit there while you pour. As you do, make certain the neckline of your gown gapes open a little more, so he can see the merchandise.”
“The merchandise?”
“Your tits,” Venus said with a laugh. She cupped her own and said, “These are your best assets in this business. They determine if you are a Covent Garden whore, or an earl’s mistress.”
But Elizabeth did not want to be a mistress. She wanted to be a wife. Will’s wife. “Any other advice?”
“When you sit across from him, let him see your privates. It drives men mad.”
With the slit in her gown, that would not be hard. She imagined the slit would easily slide to the right and open up in front of him.
“Don’t look so pale. Perhaps you should have a little rouge.”
“No. I shall be fine.”
“You will be great,” Venus said with a smile. “Just remember, make him grovel.”
Chapter 27
“I believe it is time to go upstairs,” Lady Whitely said seductively.
Oh, hell. Will hoped she wasn’t thinking he was interested in her. At this point, he really wasn’t interested in anyone. He should return home and forget about this day. Maybe in time, he could forgive Elizabeth. And if not, he would have to forget about her.
Not that it would ever be possible. Forgetting Elizabeth would be as hard as forgetting his own name.
Suddenly, Lady Whitely was pulling on his hands to get him to his feet. He should protest but the whisky seemed to have addled his mind. He followed her like a puppy dog up two flights of stairs.
She opened the second door and whispered, “Enjoy.”
Will walked into the room and blinked. After all the red furnishings, this room was a welcome surprise. The scent from the room vaguely reminded him of Elizabeth.
A small sound alerted him to someone standing behind a blue chair. Slowly she walked forward, her entire body silhouetted by the candles behind her. She was dressed in a sheer black gown that could never be worn outside. Even from this distance, he could see the round globes of her breasts, her nipples erect and waiting for his mouth. Between the room smelling like her and this beautiful woman looking like her, he realized he was in too deep.
A seductive smile lifted her lips upward and a part of him lifted, too. He could not want her. She wasn’t Elizabeth. But she looked so much like her that his body didn’t seem to care.
“Take off the mask,” Will ordered. He knew seeing her fully would finally dampen his desire. And he really did not want to want her.
“No. Lady Whitely told me the mask stays on the first time I’m with a customer. Why don’t you come over here and sit down. I shall pour you a whisky.”
Her alluring voice was like a siren’s call to him. He seemed unable to stop his feet from moving across the rug. Her gaze ran the length of him but paused as she noticed his erection.
As soon as he sat, she bent over the decanter and her full breasts bounced forward. He groaned softly. She handed him a crystal glass with whisky.
“How did you know I drink this?” he asked.