Fans of Eloisa James & Julia Quinn discussion

"We won't have to lace it very tightly at all, miss." Rose said cheerfully. "It being an informal occasion, and you still so thin and all."
"Wonderful," said Heroine, looking down at the corset and trying not to sound too sarcastic. Her stomach couldn't expand, so she was breathing from her chest and feeling like a panting dog, and the whalebone managed to prod her in the side and the breasts at the same time. If this was loose, they'd lace the damn thing tightly when she was dead. "Does it always take this long to put on?"

"Not at all, miss. Won't take hardly any time in the future, now that it's properly laced."

Hardly any time, Heroine had learned over the past two weeks, meant about half an hour, at least when it came to getting dressed. She made a noncommittal sound and let Rose slide the dress over her head and start buttoning.

If Eleanor hadn't blushed bright red and told her that yes, people really would notice her going corset-less under a dancing dress, Heroine would've said to hell with the whole thing. She had to wear it, though, which meant she should start getting used to it, and today was the first waltzing lesson.

It was also the first day in weeks that she'd really see Hero, since neither Eleanor nor the maids could be her partner. Hero had spent the past two weeks mostly shut in his library or the study upstairs. Heroine had passed by a couple of times, felt the dull heat behind her ear that meant magic, and decided not to bother him. Not that seeing him mattered, really, Heroine thought, but she wanted to impress him with her competence at something since table manners had been a bust. She was also looking forward to the lesson itself. The quadrille had be sedate, the grooms were still tentative with her riding lessons, and she wanted to move.

"Have a look, miss?" Rose interrupted Heroines thoughts. There were twenty or so little gray buttons at the back of Heroine's dress, and Rose had just finished buttoning them without swearing or fumbling once. Back home, Heroine would have sent her down to sniper training, ASAP.

She turned toward the mirror, blinked, and blinked again.

The dress was pretty: deep rose cotton trimmed at the cuffs and the hem and collar with silver-gray ribbons. When it arrived, Heroine had thought it looked good. Now she barely noticed it. She was too busy staring at her breasts.

Great Powers, it's like puberty all over again.

The corset pushed up what she had and padded what she didn't in a way that stood out even under the relatively modest dress. Heroine had never minded being small up top-easier to run and shoot that way- and the corset was full of impracticalities. Still, she could see now why women wore the things.

No idea but I'm fascinated.

I don't think I know this one either.

No clue.

No Proper Lady by Isabel Cooper.

I haven't read this one. I've considered it a few times, but always ended up buying something else. What did you think of it, Okie?

I had mixed feelings- at the beginning, but then it grew on me. I loved how the author paired the hero and the heroine. This is the first book I've read by Isabel Cooper and it was not what I was expecting. By the time I was done with it, I loved it!

Thanks, I'll give a try--but maybe with a library copy. It's unreal how many books I've bought this month, even with the freebies I get. :)

Yea, don't buy it. See if you can check it out from your library.

I didn't know it either... However, it did sound interesting!

I'm enjoying it. I think it's her first book.

Woot! I'm glad your enjoying it, Debbie.