THREE

Her legs were slender and smooth with an amber sheen that could be seen through the transparent lace.

Her upper thighs were pump and curved. Someone could wrap the length of their whole hand around them and enjoy the burn of warming flesh.

She continued raising her dress, her face starting to heat.

What if Ben came back in, she wondered?

What if he saw her like this? He would come in, she imagined, and see her back facing them and would not think anything of her there. No not yet...not unless he would walk closer to her and closer.

The closer he'd get he would see her pulling her dress up, exposing more and more of raw skin.

What would he think about her stray free hand moving towards her privates as she stood right there in the front door foyer, any public eye of their attendants free to see? Not to mention the young men walking in and out?

And she could do more than expose her lower body, if she wanted, she could undress it all. She could stand there naked and bare. She may have not owned the beauty of a Southern Bell's but she still considered her body fine and comely. She had not yet birthed any children and thus did carry the stresses of childbirth in any form.

Her body curved and dipped the right way to create a hourglass looking figure. Her breasts always sat rounded and upright. Her behind was round and firm, and her hips could be grabbed and maneuvered for all sorts of unspeakable love acts.

She was in the peak of her youth, and that was by design. Her parents are ensured to marry her at the ripe age of 22 so that her husband may enjoy the pleasure of a young woman. As her mother always said, men enjoy the flowers in bloom not the old bush that provides it.

So, what would Ben think? To see a body like hers and see her hands ready to touch and feel herself. More than what would he think, she wondered what would he feel.

Would his face start to flush with blood like hers? Would his body start to tense and pulsate like hers? Would his lower half harden and grow undeniably hot and burning like hers?

Would his breath start to change, turning quick and sharp? Would his head start to swim, turning dizzy with wants and desires? Would he want to touch her...lick her...love her?

"Miss Raynes?" Elizabeth heard a distant voice calling her from somewhere in the house.

Almost immediately, she dropped her dress and moved her hands before she actually began to do something she would regret right in main foyer of her home.

Her focus was swayed, but with a few rapid blinks and swipe of sweat starting at her forehead, she gained a semblance of composure.

"Y-Yes?" She looked around turning her head to source of approaching footsteps and sound.

"Miss Raynes?" Gretchen appeared from a hallway opposing her on the other side of the room.

Still flustered and hot, Elizabeth ran a hand through her hair. "Y-Yes, Gretchen?"

"A letter came for you," Gretchen said, holding a letter that came in a brown envelope.

"Letter?" Elizabeth furrowed her brows, clearly puzzled.

It had been a couple of months since she last heard anything from her parents. After the wedding they shed no tears or said much to her about writing or visiting.

Then perhaps her elder brothers? They promised to write her and remain friendly and amicable, but Theodore, the oldest, was a busybody. Theodore was next to take over for her father's household and George, the second, was no writer, nor did any of them talk much to each other growing up.

If she were thinking honestly about it, she would find it odd and worrisome if any of her family was writing to her.

Swallowing, she had to gather some courage before she examined the letter and whom sent it:

To: Elizabeth Bethlehem Raynes

From: Louise Carters

Elizabeth's eyes grew wide, almost dropping the letter in shock. "From Louise?"