Time Temptress
By
Tianna Xander

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All Author Lanie Barrett wanted when she purchased one left shoe from an antique dealer was to get an idea for a story that would sell. Instead, she got a trip to Antebellum South Carolina where a madman in a carriage nearly runs her down in the street.

What’s a girl to do when faced with a true Southern gentleman in the pre Civil War South? Tease him, of course.

Daniel Hastings had no idea the woman he nearly killed was from over a hundred years in the future. However, he did know that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. When danger stalks his new houseguest in his own home, he does everything he can to protect her. He might even be able to think straight if she would only stop getting out of bed half-dressed!

Lanie looked down, mortified. Having graduated from the oversized diaper stage, she was totally naked under the gown. She instinctively covered herself and Maddy chuckled.

“You don’t got nothing I don’t have, only it’s lots smaller and you don’t got nothing Carrie don’t have neither. So don’t be hiding, friendly girl, we got work to do.” Then she smiled smugly. “See, I can use those strange words, too. Hee hee hee.”

Lanie had never heard anyone actually laugh like that and it almost threw her over into a fit of giggles. Darting a quick look, she wondered if Maddy had seen Carrie under the bed, but she was nowhere in sight.

“I think you mean girlfriend, don’t you, Maddy?”

“Just you hush up, child, and let old Maddy dress you up nice.” Maddy scowled as she mumbled. “It’s just like white folk. I don’t know what they would do without old Maddy here to take care of ‘em.”

Getting dressed was a tedious process. Lanie didn’t think she’d ever seen the amount of underwear she was supposed to wear all at once. Under her dress, she wore a garment that resembled a long low-necked sleeveless shirt that reached to mid-thigh. She held up her hands as Maddy started walking toward her with a corset. “I don’t care what argument you give me over this, Maddy. I am not wearing that thing.”

“You’ll wear this here corset, missy, or you won’t set foot outta this room.” Maddy’s scowl was fierce. It was obvious she meant every word she said.

Lanie put her hands on her hips and tapped her toes. “I don’t see you wearing one. Why do I have to?” She hoped they didn’t really expect her to wear that torture device. Just watching Scarlett get trussed up in one of those things in Gone With The Wind was enough to take her breath away. She was sure she could never wear one.

“You have to wear one because you are a lady. I am not a lady, I am a housekeeper. No one expects me to wear a corset.” She looked down at herself and laughed. “Not that I could get one of these tiny things around me anyway.” She held it up to herself and chuckled.

“Well, no one better expect me to wear one either, I’m not stepping one foot into that torture device.” Lanie waved her hand toward the conglomeration of cotton, bone and lace Maddy had slung over her arm.

Maddy put her hand on her hips. “If you want to leave this room, you will put this on or else I’m not going to help you dress.”

Lanie sighed, stuck. Maddy flat-out refused to go any further until she was allowed to lace the thing around her waist. It didn’t take long to realize why women of this age were always fainting. Their laces were probably drawn so tight they suffocated or starved to death. Surely they didn’t expect her to eat in this get-up?

Well, hell. I have to wear the damned thing or spend the rest of my stay in this room. Since the four walls of the room were already driving her loopy, Lanie gave in…probably too easily, but such is life.

After the corset, came what looked like a pair of bloomers. Then stockings, that conveniently enough, were tied very snugly just above her knees.

The bell-hoop and the slip came next. The pure white slip was a work of art itself, with half sleeves trimmed in frilly lace. Finally, Maddy held up the dress. She slipped the sky blue dress over Lanie’s head and smiled approvingly.

“I told Miss Elisabeth this dress wasn’t her color. It makes her look all green in the face.”

This was the second time Maddy said that name. Was she Daniel’s wife? A peculiar feeling shot through Lanie’s chest at the thought. Good grief! I’ve been lusting after a married man. “Miss Elisabeth? Is that Master Daniel’s wife?” She couldn’t keep herself from asking. She had to know.

Maddy whooped with laughter. “Oh, no! Miss Elisabeth is his mama. She is the kindest woman in this world. There isn’t anything any one of us on this plantation wouldn’t do for that lady.”

Lanie slipped her feet into the shoes Maddy held out for her. “They’re a little too big.”

Maddy took them back off and pulled a sheet of paper out of her pocket. “I thought her shoes might be too big for you. I never saw a woman with feet as big as Miss Elisabeth’s.” She ripped the paper in two and wadded the pieces. She crammed them into the toes of the shoes. “Try that until we can get you to the cobbler and get some made for you.”

They were still a bit too big and slid around on her feet when she walked, but Lanie figured she was lucky to have them.

Holy cow! These clothes have to weigh at least ten pounds. Lanie looked down at the dress and thanked her lucky stars it wasn’t too busy. There was one large bow in the back, which she could see by twisting herself around. And the lace on the slip peeked out from under the sleeves, hem, and around the neckline. If it could be called a neckline since it didn’t even come close to her neck. She blushed. “Aren’t I showing a bit too much?” she asked, tugging at the bodice. Well, apparently corsets did wonders for the figure, even if they did make it impossible to breathe. Her thirty-six C-cup never looked so big, nor her waist so small.

“Is there a shawl or a scarf that goes with this?” She still tugged at the Bodice. It wasn’t budging and she was uncomfortable showing such a tremendous amount of cleavage. “It doesn’t appear to be finished.” Tug. “I think it’s missing some material.” Tug, tug. “I won’t pop out of this, will I?” Tug. Giving up the fight, she sighed. “I think I’m a little too big for this dress.” She placed her hand over her chest, panting from her efforts.

Maddy was scandalized. “Why do you want to cover up the nice attributes God done gave you? Mr. Simonson in town just got himself a brand new stove to sell. Has it sitting right in the front window of his store.” She swatted at Lanie’s hands still covering the exposed area of her chest. “That’s just what you have to do. Put your goods right up there in the front window. How are people going to know what’s at the market, if you keep all of your vegetables in the root cellar?”