Christmas At Hollywell by Bethany Sefchick

Author:Bethany Sefchick [Sefchick, Bethany]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical romance, Women's Fiction, Regency & Victorian Romance, London Society, England & Britain, 19th Century, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Hearts Desire, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Beautiful & Feisty, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Sensual Story Theme, Tales From Seldon Park Companion, The Seldon Park Christmas, Novella Short Story, Christmas Holidays & Celebration, Christmas Time, Holiday Whimsy, Festive Season, Winter Weather
Publisher: Bethany M. Sefchick
Published: 2016-11-30T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Taking another look at herself in the mirror, Catherine wondered once more if Julian would find her appealing in this gown. It was the lowest cut of just about any of the gowns that she owned, and though it was a Madame LaVallier creation, the deep burgundy frock was hardly in the first stare of fashion. When she had been wed to Crossbury, he had forbidden her from wearing anything that he dubbed "unseemly," which unfortunately included all of the latest fashions, especially those from Paris. He thought such revealing gowns made her look "fast" and as if she was "putting herself on display," so she had typically worn gowns, even evening gowns, with necklines that were much higher than most other women's.

Crossbury would have likely preferred that Catherine's gowns go up to her neck, except that Madame LaVallier had refused to craft such "abominations" as she had called the revised designs the earl had sent back to her shop. So Crossbury, who was ever conscious of his social standing above all else, had relented a bit, allowing the aging Frenchwoman to craft the gowns as she saw fit - with the understanding that the gowns could not be too low or she would not be paid for her time and work.

After Catherine had emerged from mourning, the new Earl of Crossbury had made it clear that he did not wish the "old dowager" to upstage his young and flighty wife. So Catherine had continued wearing the gowns that revealed little of her body and were far from the cutting edge of Parisian fashion. She chose bright, vivid colors for her gowns as the pale frocks of a debutante had never really suited her, but Catherine had refused to even consider commissioning a gown that might conflict with the new Lady Crossbury's rather unique sense of fashion. With each gown that the noted modiste fashioned for Catherine, Madame LaVallier clucked and fussed, but she did what Catherine requested. Until this gown. And the one that had followed, though Catherine was now saving that one for the Christmas Eve gala ball.

Still not quite fashionable, but also revealing quite a bit more of her décolletage than her other gowns, the burgundy silk she had chosen for this evening was cut so low in the back that the very top of her corset showed. It was a daring thing and not at all what Catherine was accustomed to wearing, but when she had first tried the gown on in Madame's shop, she had also known that she could not refuse the delightful creation either. It was simply too perfect, right down to the small dip in the front that revealed just a hint of the shadowy valley between her breasts. It was also a rather seductive gown and Catherine still believed that she would need all the help she could get if she wished to find herself in Julian's bed when the evening came to a close.

Studying herself once again, Catherine gave

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