Izzy frowned. "Help us do what?"
He shrugged, not making direct eye contact. "It wouldn't be proper for me to help you dress in all those layers of petticoats and under things, now would it?"
Izzy's face heated. She glanced at Charles and imagined her face was as red as his was. "No, I suppose not." Although a sudden image of Charles helping her naked self to step into silky petticoats, touching her bare skin with his large hands, gave her the shivers. She swallowed. "So, uh…" She leaned closer to Charles. "How do we know she won't, you know, tell anyone about me?"
Charles shook his head and lowered his voice. "Out of all of my servants, she is one of the few whom I trust to do her job thoroughly. I didn't tell her when you're from, but I did tell her you're from America. Anything she perceives as different, she'll attribute to that. Plus the fact I have promised her a small sum of money after we've accomplished our task."
"Don't you mean if we accomplish it?"
He leaned in close to her. Izzy could smell peppermint on his breath. She shuddered to think what hers must smell like without her rechargeable toothbrush and floss. She pressed her lips tightly together. "Isabella, we must succeed. If someone were to find out the truth…" He glanced away, then back. "We simply must succeed."
Izzy touched his arm. "Then we will." She grinned when one corner of his mouth lifted. A sudden impulse to kiss it overcame her, but quickly vanished when Sarah's shoes scuffled on the floor a few feet away. It was a shame, because Izzy's lips practically itched to make contact with his.
Charles stepped back and glanced toward the maid. "All right, Sarah, bring in the dresses."
"Yes, your grace."
Izzy tilted her head. "Dresses? Plural?"
Charles crossed his arms. "It simply wouldn't do to purchase one dress and assume it would work, now would it?"
Izzy shrugged. "I wouldn't know. I hardly ever wear dresses."
"Ever?"
"With my job sitting at a desk all day, I wear…" She glanced down at her pants.
He lifted an eyebrow. "Is this common where you're from? For a woman to work in an office? To dress strangely, almost as a man would?"
She chuckled. "Well, many women work in offices. But we don't consider this to be dressing like a man. Some women wear dresses, yes, but some don't. It's their choice."
"Is there not a group, such as our ton, which dictates what someone wears and when?"
"Uh, no… we don't have a ton."
Charles raised his other eyebrow to join the first. "So no one gives direction as to what's popular and appropriate attire from season to season?"
Izzy shrugged. "I usually just wear what's comfortable. I guess some people worry about what everyone else thinks, but for that, there are always the covers of Hollywood Stars magazine."
"Holly? Like Holly Hall where the ball will take place?"
She shook her head. "Not exactly."
Sarah returned carrying an armload of dresses.
Izzy's eyes widened. "My goodness. How many did you get?"
Charles laughed. "It isn't at all uncommon to acquire several items of clothing to find just the perfect one. Worry not, Isabella. I can afford it."
Izzy placed her hand on his shoulder. "Thank you. There's no reason in the world why you should do this for me, and protect me like this. But I'm grateful." She stood up on tiptoes and brushed his cheek with her lips. A shuffle from Sarah's direction reminded Izzy she and Charles weren't alone.
Charles' cheeks reddened. "Well, then. Yes, let's… let's have Sarah help you try these on, shall we?" He scurried from the room like a frightened chipmunk.
Chapter Three
Sarah placed the bundle on the bed. She curtsied. Izzy supposed she'd have to learn how to do that without falling on her butt. Good luck, Izzy. Ever since the day in second grade when she'd fallen, exposing her kitty-face underwear in the school production of Square Dance: Have Yourself a Yee-haw Day, she'd avoided any kind of public displays of acting. Go-go dancing to old sixties tunes in her bedroom didn't count.
The younger woman's blue eyes briefly took in Izzy's clothes and hair before glancing away. Well, I'm sure I do look strange to her. May as well get on with this. "Uh, Sarah, why don't you tell me what I need to do?"
"Yes, my lady."
Izzy held up at hand. "Oh, I'm not…"
Sarah tilted her head. "My lady?"
"Never mind." Any explanation would involve the fact she was from another century. Somehow Izzy didn't think Sarah would understand. She was living it and didn't understand.