Alice and the Looking Glass (Clockwork Wonderland Book 1)

In Which Alice Puts on a Dress

"You have got to be kidding." Alice slumped on the edge of the bed, a bed she'd been confined to for three agonizing days due to headaches and dizzy spells that refused to dissipate.

Diana gave her a toothy smile and smoothed the front of the garment draped across her lap. It looked like a production, not a piece of clothing. The shoulders puffed out slightly, before slimming down to hug the arms right up the wrists. Judging by the white pile lying next to the corset - a corset! - it also featured a voluminous petticoat. Layers of ruffled cotton in sky blue, accented with white pinstripes made up the skirt and simple, tailored top. She could have worn it to a Victorian era summer picnic and fit right in.

"It suits you, love. Give it a try."

"Oh, no! Don't you dare pout at me, Dee!"

But Dee just turned her mouth down even more and widened her eyes to saucer size.

Alice threw up her hands. How could she resist puppy dog eyes from the sweet grandmother she'd never had? "Fine. Fine! For you, but no other reason."

The woman's squeal of glee was contagious. A little dress up now and then couldn't hurt, Alice thought. However, the closer Diana got, corset gripped in her hands like a weapon, the more Alice regretted acquiescing.

"Just don't tighten that thing too much, ok?"

Dee nodded. Alice took calm, steady breaths, trying to summon the relaxation from her breakfast of poached eggs, marmalade on buttered toast, and thick strips of bacon. Though no one had come out and said it, Alice knew they laced her food with a mild calming agent. Experience long ago taught her how Ativan or Xanax worked on her body.

Eating the four meals a day without question to stave of panic attacks made Alice feel like a coward. After the "scone incident" with Jack, she'd looked at her first proper breakfast with dubious curiosity. Daria, misunderstanding her reticence, explained the cold duck meat was from dinner and preserved in the chill box overnight but the fried eggs and miniature croissants were fresh. Alice decided that whatever kept her sane and nourished seemed better than being brave, unstable, and starving. But now that she could stand the drugs had to stop. First: she couldn't risk an addiction and second: she needed a clear head to understand the gravity of this fiasco. Common sense dictated she face reality at some point.

As she agonized over compliance versus seizing her destiny, she pulled off one of the fuzzy nightgowns they leant her, under which she wore a pair of knee length bloomers and a fitted shirt. She missed her bra.

The problem of support soon resolved its self as Dee arranged and tightened the corset, which covered most of Alice's chest. Except for the presence of stiff boning, it felt like a shaping tank top and she smiled at Diana, hoping to ward off any further ministrations. Diana hummed a little as she lifted a petticoat over Alice's head, affixed on a bustle to her hips, and tied dozens of useless looking bows.

Alice wondered if either of them had any children. Despite her cool demeanor, even Daria seemed to like having Alice around. She prepared all the food and whenever Alice only nibbled certain dishes, those dishes never again appeared on the silver tray.

With a final twiddle of her thumbs, Dee stepped back and glowed with appreciation.

"You are so, so beautiful, my dear."

And, when Alice turned towards the floor mirror, she couldn't help but agree. She didn't just look good, she rocked it, like her body had waited twenty-four years for this dress. Her hair was tied in simple ponytail and even that didn't diminish the outfit.

"Dee, this is awesome!"

"I have to agree. You look lovely, Alice."

They turned to see Daria in the doorway, leaning on her ivory topped cane. Alice blushed at the genuine compliment.