a gentleman's mistress

VII. June 21st, 1989

I hate mornings.

Particularly, this morning when I could barely get out of bed. I told Asena and Dawn I couldn't join etiquette class because my waist hurt like hell.

They thought I was on my period, but I'm not. It was a different type of pain, like...having sex a bit too rough last night kind of thing.

I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling.

The pain from this morning passed, but I didn't want to get out of bed.

I didn't want to admit to Asena and Dawn that I may have somehow got too rough with masturbation last night.

But, the more I thought about it, the weirder it sounded.

Did I hurt myself because of masturbation?

You'd think I know my own limit.

When someone knocked on the door, I sat upward, "Yes?"

"Miss Mira. Baroness Elena is here to see you," Bennett says.

"Give me a second!" I need more than a second. Maybe, a few days. Carefully, I got off of bed and fixed myself. When I felt like I couldn't look any better, I opened the door, "Hi."

Behind Elena and Bennett were two young girls with boxes in their hands. Bennett bowed and excused himself.

"May I come in?" Elena asked.

I move aside, "Sure."

Elena and the other two young girls walked in. They left the two boxes on the table without saying a single word.

"How may I help you?"

Elena smiled, "These are for you."

I stared at the boxes.

"Go on. Open it."

I removed the ribbon and opened the bigger box. Out came a light purple cocktail dress, "Wow." I run my fingers down the beaded trail.

Elena smiled, "I believe you may need something for the ball."

"Is this really for me?"

She nods.

I placed the dress down and opened the second box. In front of me were simple but expensive earrings and a necklace.

"Do you like it?"

"Oh, yes, but this is too much."

"Nonsense." She grabbed the necklace and wrapped it around my neck, "A gift."

From Emmett?

The man barely acknowledges my existence.

"If you believe you do not deserve this, you're wrong." She turns my body, "And no worries, all the girls will get a dress."

I smiled, "Okay." Who am I to deny such a fancy gift when everyone is getting it. "Can I try it on?"

She nods.

I grabbed the dress and went behind the divider. With my old clothes on the floor, I pulled on the dress only to need help with the zipper. "Can you please help me?"

"Come."

I waddled out of the blind and turned to my back. From the mirror, I noticed how Elena was staring at my back. When I didn't feel anything sliding up, I asked: "Is everything okay?"

She smiled, "It's nothing." She grabbed the zipper and pulled it up. "From here on forward, make sure to tell the maids to help you put on your dress."

Weird advice, but okay.