Nine
They were in Kim’s house and Sophie was smiling as she took the box from Heather. It contained the costume that Reede’s cousin, Sara, had made for Sophie to wear for her date with him.
“Sara guessed at your size,” Heather said. “I think she called Kim, then put it together out of some other outfits she had. That’s how she did it so fast.”
“If it matches Dr. Reede’s that’s all that matters,” Sophie said.
“You like him?” Heather asked, sounding as though she couldn’t believe that. She cleared her throat and said, “You like him, don’t you?”
“Very much. See the roses?” She nodded toward a vase of a dozen long-stemmed reds. “He sent them as thanks.”
“For what?” Heather asked, looking at Sophie with curiosity.
“I used the clay he sent me to make a sculpture of him.”
“Oh,” Heather said, but not understanding at all. Sophie was opening the box she’d brought. Sara had asked that it be delivered in case Sophie needed help getting it on. By that, Heather thought maybe it had a long zipper in the back.
When Sophie pulled a red silk corset out of the tissue paper, both women gasped. It would take two people to pull the cords that fastened it.
“I . . . ” Sophie began as she held it up and looked at it. “I don’t think . . . ”
Heather’s eyes lit up. Great. If this pretty young woman wore this very sexy costume maybe Dr. Reede would be so happy he’d stop snapping at everyone. “I think it’s perfect!” Heather said energetically. “And I can tell that it’ll fit you. Maybe it’s a little small on top, but some spillover will be nice.”
“Spillover?” Sophie said. “This thing wouldn’t cover a preteen. I can’t possibly—”
In Heather’s mind she was fighting for her future children. If something didn’t take away Dr. Reede’s bad temper she was going to have to quit, which meant that she’d have to get a job that paid less, which meant that she’d have to postpone having children. If it took coaxing a reluctant woman into a shiny red corset that left most of the top half of her exposed, so be it. It was certainly for a good cause. Maybe she’d name her first daughter after Sophie.
“Is your real name Sophia?”
“What?” Sophie asked as she stared at the corset. “My name? What does that have to do with anything?”
“Nothing, really. Now,” Heather said briskly, “let’s get you out of those clothes and into these.”
“But I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to wear something like this,” Sophie said. “I’m not sure—”
“That’s okay. I’m a nurse so I’m used to nudity.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Sophie said. “I—”
“I hear Dr. Reade is going to arrive on a black horse.”
Sophie’s eyes widened.
“Wearing a cape.”
Sophie’s eyebrows raised.
“And a black mask.”
Sophie blinked a few times.
“Oh look, there’s a blouse to cover the corset.” Heather held up a filmy garment that was made entirely of black lace. It was so transparent it wouldn’t cover anything.
Sophie’s mouth fell open.
Heather knew she was going to have to take a firmer hand. “He’s wearing boots!” she said loudly. “Tall black leather boots. He’s on a horse! He’s wearing a cape and a black mask! Now get out of those clothes!”
Sophie got her face under control and said, “Yes.”