Mrs. Dawkins (The Artful Dodger) [TBS]

Part 33

(Tiny writes note! I drafted this... like nine times, trying to describe this nightgown. I did my best I hope its okay but the picture above was my inspo for it so I hope with the pic and the description it makes sense) 

I bid my father goodbye at the door as he headed out with his poker match with his businessmen. The moment he headed off I bolted up to my room, I moved behind my screen, I slipped off my dress from, the day and left it on the small washing basket. I unlaced my corset strand by strand and let it fall, I took my underdress and tossed it away, I took my bloomers and pulled them down, leaving me utterly exposed to the world. I took my white woollen socks and tugged them up my legs letting the top linger at my mid-thigh, I slipped on my little red slippers even if part of me... Kinda wanted to wear my boots. But... I'm already being cruel enough to poor Jack. I grabbed my prettiest nightgown and slipped it on, I so rarely wore it I always found it to be too thin and cold even in the summer heat, and I know my father never much liked it.

 I recall one day coming down to breakfast in our little London house and him telling me to change he told me to save such a nightie for when I had a gentleman... 

Well, father, I have a gentleman. 

It was thin only one layer of soft white silk, with long angle sleeves that were tight to my upper arms but flared out and hung from my elbows with a row of lace around the bottom, the top of the dress though solid at the back was in two parts at the front allowing me to wrap the two silk strips under my breasts to support them up, and together, Tieing them in a bow at my sternum. the top of it then formed a V seeking down to the centre of my chest weighed down by the weight of the silk bow now tied in it, the small row of white lace at the top cradled my cleavage, and the rest of the nightgown fell gracefully to my ankles with a final row of lace. I smiled at myself a few times as I shifted in my nightgown before I picked out my red chiffon dressing gown that I didn't bother to tie merely let it hang over me. 

I Let my hair fall freely allowing it in its uncooperative way to merely fall how it saw fit seeing my own natural curls as well as those from it being wet when putting up and being in an updo all day, even if I did need to grab my brush to brush out the divot left by my hat pin. 

I picked up my lipstick from my vanity and merely rubbed the tip of my finger into the pigmented block, I dapped three small dots onto each cheek and blended them before I painted across my lips but then wiped most of it away with a cloth leaving muy lips stained by the red rather then coated in it, I spritzed my neck with perfume but only one faint spray not wanting to coat myself in it, I spritzed once more slightly lower into my cleavage giggling at the coldness, and I spritzed the tops of my socks at my mid thigh.  

Finally, I took my red ribbon and removed it from the day unable to even look. as I retired it to make sure it looked pretty. 

When my eyes returned to my reflection, I didn't want to look away, I ddin't want to force down the image of myself for the first time in... as long as I could even remember. The only exception being my Ball, but as beautiful as I looked then. I looked like my mother,

I saw her in me, but now. I saw me. and Only Me. 

"Hello, You." I smiled at my reflection, 

"Miss Everset." I heard behind me, so I slowly turned to see Miss Hardcastle at my doorway clearly here to say goodnight, glaring me down as she stood there,

"Evening..." I smiled trying to look not to look suspicious, 

"Evening," she said, "You look... Glamorous for bed." 

"Well..." I tried to quickly lie, "If you can't dress glamorous for bed when can you?" I joked,

"mhm," She glared her eyes never leaving mine, She came closer and for a second I saw her nose twitch as she undoubtedly smelt my perfume, she glared me down giving me not a single place to hide from her. For a moment I felt the years of her protection, and guidance as my governess the closest thing to a mother I had since my own passed. "We both know there are only two things true at this moment..." she said and I nodded, "Either, today's outing to the hospital with your courtier was far more exciting to you than it was to me, and you plan young lady to spent tonight in the throws of your sheets with your artworks," she said a wicked knowing smile grew on her lips and I couldn't help but blush a small chuckle escaped my lips to hear her speak of such things, 

"Or?" I asked, 

"Or. As your father is away tonight and we both know he will likely not be returning until late morning tomorrow at its earliest, ... you plan on having a visitor?" 

"Perhaps." I blushed, 

"I see." She nodded, turned and walked to the door holding the doorknob in hand as she glanced back to me, "I will knock in the morning, reply to with a knock singular for your usual breakfast in your room, twice if I need make it for two. Goodnight Y/n."

"Goodnight Lisa," I smiled with a slight nod, 

And she quickly left shutting the door and going to her own room.