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There was a makeshift gown-rail—just a piece of rope suspended between two hooks on a low joist—and crammed onto this were cotton skirts in a startling profusion of colour and pattern, together with white puff-sleeved tops, all with the same scooped necks and tie fronts.
‘Ecco, Principessa!’ Maria exclaimed. And then, after viewing her thoughtfully for few moments, Maria swooped on the rail and unhooked an armful of clothing.
‘Oh, no! I couldn’t possibly!’ Emily protested, seeing the top was so low her belly button would get an airing, never mind anything else. When Maria pressed it into her hands she bundled it behind her back, hoping Alessandro, who had just appeared at the door, hadn’t noticed.
His eyes sparkled dangerously in the dim light. ‘Well? Go and try them on,’ he urged softly.
‘Will you—?’
‘I’ll come back when you’re changed,’ he said reassuringly.
Next, Maria held out a selection of skirts for her to choose from, and Emily surprised herself by selecting the gaudiest one.
Maria smiled, nodding approval of her choice, shaking out the fabric equivalent of a sunset.
The prospect of wearing something so showy…so decadent…was exciting. Pulling on the skirt, Emily began to do battle with the blouse, managing at last to adjust the front into something approaching respectability.
‘No, no,’ Maria protested, waggling her finger. ‘Like this, Principessa,’ she said, with a broad grin on her face.
Before Emily could stop her Maria had tugged the elasticated top below her shoulders until there was more cleavage on show than ever. But the older woman still wasn’t satisfied, and, plucking at Emily’s bra strap, she shook her head in disapproval.
With a rueful laugh Emily finally capitulated and, reaching behind her back, freed the catches on her bra. As the last restraint was removed even she had to admit the result was impressive.
Indicating there was one last thing to be changed, Maria darted down to reach beneath an old wooden chest. Pulling out a pair of simple brown leather sandals, scarcely more than a thong to stick between the toes on strips of toughened leather, she pushed them across the stone-flagged floor towards Emily.
‘Grazie,’ Emily said, flashing up a smile as she slipped them on. They were surprisingly comfortable, she found, wiggling her toes and relishing the freedom. As she straightened up, Maria reached for the pins that were already finding it a struggle to contain Emily’s heavy mane of shiny black hair. They were cast aside, and with a final flourish Maria carefully drew her fingers through the resulting cascade, arranging it like a gleaming cloak around her protégée’s shoulders.
Standing back, she beamed with satisfaction and, taking hold of Emily’s arm, turned her around to view her reflection in the mirror.
Even the short time she had been in the hot climate had warmed Emily’s skin-tone to gold, and the brazen hussy staring back at her bore no resemblance whatever to the tight-laced professional she was accustomed to seeing. Instead, a full-breasted woman, with wild, untamed hair streaming across her shoulders, gazed back proudly. Toned legs, full lips, and dark up-tilted eyes suggested endless possibilities…endless fantasies…
As Maria gusted with approval Emily started to move towards the door. At the last moment she hesitated; dressing up, play-acting, was one thing, but her husband was all too real—and she didn’t know him well enough to be able to predict how he would react when he saw his wife parading about like some fugitive from a bawdy etching. There was a distinct possibility she might unleash a whole lot more than she could cope with.
At the sound of a low, appreciative whistle she froze.
‘That’s quite an improvement.’
Leaning up against the doorframe, his arms loosely folded, Alessandro made no attempt to hide his interest in her newly adopted persona. ‘You really look the part,’ he murmured, giving Maria a wry nod of approval.
Raising her head defiantly, Emily stared him square in the eyes. What part was that? she wondered suspiciously.
‘Leave the rest of your clothes here,’ he said, straightening up. ‘We’ll pick them up later. Come on,’ he pressed, ‘everyone will be waiting for us.’
And, before she could refuse, he stretched out, caught hold of her, and swept her out of the door.
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