• Finely decorated tables in a room fit for a dream. She sips delicately at her fragrant tea from a white china cup. Setting it upon the saucer she spots the exquisite pastry display, instinctively reaching toward a lemon tart until catching mothers warning stare from the left accompanied by a barely audible muttering of "mind your corset". Pulling her hand away, she curses her mothers' strict attention as well as the damned contraption keeping her bound tightly beneath her periwinkle dress. The surrounding tables begin to fill as she spots him from the corner of her eye.
    She removes the cloth napkin across her lap, placing it upon the table. He catches her eye from another as he refills a patrons glass. "Beg pardon" she mumbles in her mothers direction, already out of her seat heading for the hallway and, according to her mothers perspective, presumably the powder room. She had first met him on the night of her debut; he had offered her a tart off his tray during a rare moment outside of mothers scrutiny. She had since sought his company at any occasion at which he might be present.
    At the end of the hallway she arrived at a door. Her heart fluttered as the knob turned beneath her hand, unlocked. He was already awaiting her as she stepped through the doorway.
    In his arms again, she is flooded with enchantment. High loving eyes lock with hers momentarily before he wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her into a passionate kiss. The sensation of his soft lips upon hers was pure bliss. She didn't protest as he removed her outer bodice, the pastel purple material slips to the floor revealing her corsetry beneath. "Where is the rest of your clothing?" he asks, pulling back from the kiss without releasing her from his muscular arms. "What do you mean?" she breathlessly responds. "Your shift, your chemise… why, you're hardly dressed at all." She giggled before teasingly whispering into his ear, "I anticipated we would have little time", nibbling lightly on his sensitive loves. He inhales sharply as she sets her hands to unbuttoning his starched white shirt. After removing his shirt she stops suddenly. He inquires as to whether she was alright and she nervously bites her lower lip, "well…you see… it occurs to me that I will be unable to replace my corset on my own if you were to remove it…" she trailed off as he lightheartedly laughs, "darling, you forget my station".
    Her corsetry removed, their passionate lust reaches new heights. No longer is she bound by the constraints of society; her mothers rules, the expectations of all the people who have never truly concerned themselves with her pleasure. Undoubtably her actions are scandalous, but for momentary freedom the risk seems justified; Every caress bringing new release from the pressures of her destiny.
    She is still breathing heavily as he assists her in slipping her bodice over her newly retightened corsetry. He kisses her on the cheek, a light blush lingering where his lips had touched. Their time was slipping away, each knowing this would have to be their final meeting. She begins to slink towards the door brushing her hand against his but reluctantly continues to move away.
    Through the door, down the hallway, and back to the table. The teacup is still on her saucer, the pastries remain elevated at center table. Her mother grins a smile unlike any she has ever seen. An unfamiliar man appears behind her and pulls out her chair allowing her to be seated. The mother looks to the man and says "may I present to you my eldest daughter". So this is her betrothed whom she is here to meet. She stifles a giggle as they exchange pleasantries. Of course he is not the man of her dreams, but what he didn't need to know…