Free Lord of Devil Isle by Connie Mason Page B

I’m far too flat in back, don’t you?” Sally twisted her neck before the long looking glass, trying to catch a glimpse of her own derriere. “Give it a look, then, won’t you, Evie?”
    The women all enjoyed their own chambers, but frequently met in Sally’s, since hers was the middlemost and boasted the largest looking glass. Usually the face-sized mirrors in their own rooms were fine for Eve and Penny, but they were preparing for “Lord Nick’s Ball” that evening. Being able to view the full effect of their new gowns was an important consideration. And for Sally, it seemed critical.
    Her pale brows scrunched into a frown. “Evie, don’t you think I need a bumroll?”
    “I think your bum is adequate for all normal purposes,” Eve said, briefly glancing up from the book in her lap. “Without an additional roll.”
    Eve returned to her book. Think what she might about “Lord Nick,” the wicked devil knew how to stock a library. She’d found a relatively easy book on the history of animal husbandry and was using it to hone her limited reading skills. The subject matter wasn’t exactly riveting, but she was able to cobble the letters into intelligible words much quicker now than when she’d started.
    “Eve’s right. You’re lovely, Sally,” Penelope said. She was already trussed into her new lemon yellow sack dress. Penny perched delicately on the edge of a straight-backed chair to avoid creating any wrinkles in the yardsof silk. “I expect the men of these isles have never seen the likes of you.”
    “You, too, Penny,” Eve said. “That yellow makes your skin glow and against your dark hair, why, it’s enchanting. You’ll catch plenty of masculine eyes.”
    “Doubt he—they’ll even notice I’m there.” Penelope looked toward the open window, where the setting sun was fractured by the rectangles of multiple panes.
    “Nonsense,” Eve said. It hurt sometimes to see how little Penelope thought of herself. “Besides, tonight is just a chance to have a little fun at the captain’s expense. Remember that you have a fine, respectable gentleman waiting for you in Charleston.”
    “I don’t want a fine respectable gentleman in Charleston,” Penny said softly.
    “Pen has her eye on someone here already.” Sally hitched up a bumroll under her panniers despite Eve’s opinion. Once she tied off the tabs, she smoothed down the pink silk panels of her gown and ruffled petticoat. She turned sideways and eyed herself critically, then gave her cork-enhanced bottom a wiggle. Sally smiled at her reflection with a satisfied nod. “Our Penelope’s been mooning around over someone for the last fortnight, but she won’t tell me who he is.”
    “Is this true, Penny?” Eve closed the book. She didn’t think she could persuade Sally to continue to Charleston. Her fear of another wreck was just too great, but Eve was counting on Penelope to join her.
    Penny shrugged and smiled. “You know Sally. If nothing interesting is happening, we can always count on her to make something up.”
    Before Eve could pursue the matter further, their new maid, Day a, appeared in the doorway with news that Eve’s bath was ready. “Lord Nick” hadn’t ever kept anyfemale servants before. Mr. Higgs had let it slip that the captain’s previous mistress wouldn’t tolerate any other women in the house, but Daya lived with her husband Sanjay in the small caretaker’s cottage on the edge of the captain’s land. Sanjay was a brilliant gardener and kept Whispering Hill’s expansive grounds in pristine condition. So when Eve and her friends needed a lady’s maid, Daya was close at hand to help and glad of the work.
    Eve thanked Daya and hurried back to her own chamber where a jasmine-scented hip bath waited.
    As usual, Eve allowed Daya to loosen her stays, but declined help in disrobing. She didn’t want even this calm, silent East Indian woman to see her naked.
    Just before Daya slipped away, Eve called out. “Oh! The