Steam

Chapter 9

Victoria was dancing and singing in the warm and dark room; an ivory silhouette against the burgundy walls. No sound escaped Pip as he froze on the spot, once again unable to breathe.

She was twirling and spinning, singing something he couldn't understand, but it was beautiful nevertheless. He suddenly forgot about his glasses that prodded his cheeks and nose as he took in the sight before him. She was naked. Completely naked; as the moment she was born. Effervescently, she moved so perfectly to the time of her song. Her voice pierced the silence of the house and rang out utter serenity and beauty to all beholders.

As she spun, her silky caramel hair twirled along with her and each time landed gracefully on her slender shoulders. It was as light as a feather and shimmered in the hazy autumn sunshine. Pip always told himself that he would not be surprised if someone were to say her hair had been spun from pure gold by the finest needle women in the world; it was that breath-taking.

His eyes trailed along her stunning body, admiring every detail of her perfect form. Her legs were long and slim, like those of a dancer. Her hips were wide but perfectly rounded; excellent for child-bearing. Her lovely hips came in to a small waist then to a large bust giving a splendid hourglass figure that oh so many women coveted. Her skin was the most flawless shade of ivory he had ever laid eyes on; accented by the delicate pink of her nipples which were hardened by the cool, brisk draft that sliced through the humid room from a large window on the far wall.

She twirled barefoot around the room, feeling the soft carpet fibres brush against her nimble toes. She was completely in a world of her own; unaware of the awe-struck eyes that gazed upon here from the tiny crack in the door.

Pip was unable to come to terms with the luck that had befallen him. Eyes wide, mouth agape; his heart was in his throat and he struggled to gulp it away. She turned again to face her great mirror so her back was to Pip. He squinted. He noticed something. He pressed his face as close as he could against the crack to try and make it out. All of a sudden, it hit him. Upon her right buttock was a large, red handprint. To him, it looked tender and sore as if she had received it only recently. How had it got there? More importantly, who had laid his hands upon the woman he loved in such a manner so as to leave these markings?

These were questions he could only ponder upon for a mere second as she again turned a full circle. Pip's eyes widened. He was absolutely certain she had seen him, made eye contact with him for that brief moment. He threw himself back against the wall. His chest rose and fell with his heavy, panicked breathing. He wanted to melt in to the wall, disappear forever, pretend he had never seen anything.

His sweaty palms were outstretched on the wall. He balled them in to tight fists; slowly he dragged his fingers in so as not to make a sound. He squeezed his eyes shut, pursed his lips and licked them. He took a deep breath in and exhaled. He needed to compose himself and get on with what he was sent here to do in the first place.

He pulled himself from the wall and stepped in front of the almost shut door. He dragged his forearm across his forehead and wiped the sweat away.

"Uh, excuse me Miss Victoria?" his voice was crackly with fear and he could no longer hear her prancing around. His heartbeat thudded in his chest and he was afraid it was so loud that she might hear it!

He stumbled back in surprise when she swooped her head around the doorframe. She was still so beautiful but with a devious glint in her eye.

"Yes?" she replied in what could be picked up as a flirty tone.

"Ah, um yes Mr Prescott requires your presence as soon as possible in his study if you will Miss" he babbled, struggling to get his words out. She raised an eyebrow, then simply smiled.

"Of course, tell him I shall be down as soon as I have made myself presentable"

Pip nodded and stood bolted to the floor.

"Well run along then" she laughed, and lightheartedly dismissed him with a flick of the wrist.

He turned on his heel, almost tripping over his boots, and swiftly walked away with only a quick last glance back at her face. But she had disappeared back in to the recesses of her dressing room and the door was tightly shut.

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