Free Stroke of Midnight by Vivian Bliss Page A

without the benefit of a chemise underneath. But it was a shockingly different style of corsetry from what Alexander had previously supplied. She stared at herself. Her nipples and a good portion of her breasts protruded from holes in the fabric, holding them both up and out rather than flattening them for modesty.
     She squirmed as a rush of moisture flooded from between her legs and then glanced guiltily at her maid. What the older woman thought of her attire she couldn’t tell. She had never commented on her scandalous attire before but this might just be the occasion she broke her silence and told her she looked wanton.
    “The gown is in two parts, my lady.” Alice whisked the first layer over her head as Henrietta raised her arms. The near-sheer material flowed loosely over her body from tiny straps, but contained slits from top to hem, exposing her unbound breasts. The next layer covered her shoulders and nipples with a much darker hued fabric, concealing the shade of the hard points but only barely. It too was incomplete. Anyone could slide his hand inside the layer and fondle her breasts with ease.
    She couldn’t wear this gown anywhere but in the privacy of the Townhouse. Alexander had exceeded himself this evening. He had a wicked taste in apparel and knowing how close to the edge of scandal she was dressed caused her pulse to rise again. She'd have to be especially naughty to repay him for the gift.
    Alice tied a final bow in the center of her chest and Henrietta glanced at herself in the tall oval mirror. One quick tug and her assets would be completely on display. That was all standing between the publicly proper Lady Gage and scandal.
     “There. I think that is perfect,” Alice murmured.
    “No.” Henrietta picked up her bracelet and held it out. “Put this back on my upper arm where it belongs.”
    Alice flushed a guilty shade of pink and quickly snapped the solid gold bracelet in place about her upper right arm. How funny that her maid could forget her husband’s mark of ownership on this night of all nights. It wasn’t like her.
    Henrietta brushed her fingers over the cold metal, waiting for it to heat with the warmth of her skin. Alexander had gifted it the first night after he'd cuffed her to their bed. She wore it every day, only taking it off to bathe. Being bonded like this was right. The innocent sign of their connection soothed her when they were forced apart by the requirements of society much more than her plain gold wedding band had done.
    The downstairs clock rang out. It was midnight. The time Alexander had ordered her to meet him downstairs in the library, to start their wedding anniversary together for some wickedly decadent play. The house was silent, the servants asleep, as she made her way downstairs, trying to keep her anticipation under control.
    A floorboard creaked beneath her feet as she hurried down the stairs. She mustn’t keep Alexander waiting, not when he’d gone to so much trouble to make their anniversary so special.
    Henrietta drew in a deep breath and then knocked firmly on the library door as she’d been taught. No hesitation. No doubt. No mishish ways. She waited as the long minutes ticked by. When it came, Alexander’s deep voiced 'come' sent a thrill through her and she pushed the heavy oak door wide and stepped into the library.
    Henrietta loved the library. It reminded her of her husband, but they never normally play their games in here. It wasn't private enough for the energetic games they played; too close to the front door and Henrietta would have to be gagged to keep quiet enough so that no servant would come to investigate. Alexander liked her to talk to him. He likes to hear that she was enjoying his games and moaning.
    She pushed the door shut firmly and turned the lock. Alexander stood across the darkened room, waiting with his arms crossed over his chest, feet braced wide apart. But he was dressed informally, as if he had thrown on his clothes in a