Free Alleyn, Fredrica by Cassandra's Chateau Page B

feeling uncertain. 'I don't know . . .'
    'Well I do. Believe me, you'll look stunning and anyway, don't you want this to be a new start for you? A chance to develop and mature away from your father?'
    Nicola remembered the baron's earlier words and wondered just how much she would be expected to mature before she was allowed to return to London. After an afternoon spent lying on her bed thinking over what she'd learnt she'd decided that there was a definite attraction in what had been arranged. She'd been so shut off from everything, so isolated from the real world, that she knew she was completely unprepared for the realities of life, especially in matters of sex. If she was going to learn, then how much better to learn from a man as attractive and charming as the baron, rather than some less sophisticated and uncaring young man of her own age. She also felt sure that her father would have chosen carefully; there could be nothing to fear from the baron and his mistress, even if their way of life was alien to her. She didn't yet appreciate how little she knew of her father's true nature.
    'All right,' she agreed at last. 'I don't have a strapless bra though.'
    'You don't need a bra with a boned top!' laughed Cassandra. 'All you need underneath that is a pair of stockings. Do you use a suspender belt or wear holdups?'
    'I wear tights,' said Nicola flatly.
    Cassandra shook her head. 'That will never do. They're so unsexy. I'll let you have some hold-ups; I've got dozens of packets unopened in my cupboard.'
    'What are you wearing?' Nicola had asked her.
    'It's a very simple dress. Like a long silk chemise in emerald green.' Cassandra didn't think it wise to mention the plunging neckline or the lace breast panels that meant people had tantalising glimpses of her breasts when she moved.
    'I suppose you put your hair up, do you?' Nicola enquired.
    Cassandra nodded. 'Yes, but that's because it feels hot on my neck if I don't. Your hair's perfect as it is. That's the good thing about such a simple style, it always looks nice.'
    Nicola had smiled, but she'd thought to herself that she didn't really want to look nice, she wanted to look sophisticated. She decided there and then to let her hair grow until it was long enough to draw back into a pleat.
    Once Cassandra had felt certain Nicola would be suitably dressed, she had hurried into the kitchen and told Monique and Sophie how they were to dress for serving dinner and then made certain that the small drawing room where they would be taking coffee was equipped with everything the baron had listed.
    After that she just had time to bathe, dress and get
    Sophie to put her hair up before it was time to go down and make quite sure that the evening was a success. If anything went wrong tonight she would be blamed, and that would be a disastrous start to this new game that her lover was clearly longing to start playing.
    The baron had decided that they would eat in the smallest dining room in the chateau, since he had no wish to overwhelm Nicola at her first meal with them, particularly when the evening's events were intended to be so exciting.
    When Nicola heard the gong she started to leave her room, hoping to meet someone who could take her downstairs, and was pleased to find Cassandra waiting outside her door. She looked at the other woman and felt a pang of envy.
    Cassandra's dress clung to her like a second skin, in fact Nicola couldn't imagine that she had any underwear at all beneath it, and the emerald green suited her dark eyes and shining dark hair, so carefully piled up on the top of her head. Her perfume was delicate, with a hint of jasmine and lilies, and her makeup impeccable, so light that it was hard to be certain she was wearing any until Nicola saw the subtle dusting of coral blusher along Cassandra's high cheekbones.
    Nicola felt gauche and immature next to her, but Cassandra admired her dress and complimented her on her high-heeled strapless sandals so she decided that