1. Scarlet


    Date: 9/7/2015, Categories: Historical, Author: Saucymh, Rating: , Source: LushStories

    inconvenient hiatus. She could sing, she could dance and she was pretty as a picture. With those qualifications, she’d find new employment long before she went hungry. Not so for me. I’d find a new placement but it wouldn’t happen overnight. Mother and I would lose everything; our income and our home. I’d spent my entire life wandering the maze of ‘backstage’ corridors in that particular playhouse. I’d been raised on a diet of feathers and greasepaint and knew every word of each musical farce we’d staged. It was my world. The thought of moving on made me shudder. “’Ave you been to The Savoy?” Miss Scarlet inquired. I shook my head. “Gorgeous it is. Totally modern. It’s got incandescent light bulbs.” “Electric?” “That’s right, it’s incredible. Folks are saying they don’t look good but I disagree. It’ll catch on, you mark my words. We should follow suit.” “Put electric lights in ‘ere?” I stifled my amusement. Our little theatre hadn’t changed in decades. The thought of introducing new-fangled technology was absurd. “Why not? Sir Henry says we should.” Her eyes twinkled as she mentioned Sir Henry and she took care not to drop the aitch in his name. What’s more, her face lit up with the most endearing, impish smile. She looked perfectly adorable. No wonder Sir Henry was smitten if she smiled at him that way. “There Miss, done,” I declared, having finally defeated the tightly knotted boot laces. I eased her boots off her silk encased feet and placed them beneath her dressing ...
    table. “Thank you. Now ‘elp me get this wretched corset off, will you?” Miss Scarlet stood behind her chair, bracing herself as I pulled at the laces fastening her corset. Once loosened, she unclasped the whale boned garment and cast it contemptuously aside. “Bleedin’ thing was killin’ me,” she gasped, rubbing her ribs through her cotton petticoat. “Way too tight. I could ‘ardly breathe.” “Sorry Miss.” “What for? Mrs Baxter did it, not you. An’ to be fair, I did ask ‘er to.” She flashed a crooked smile. “’Ave you set out my undergarments? Are they behind the screen?” “Yes Miss.” “An’ my gown, where’s that? I can’t see it.” A shiver crept down my spine. Miss Scarlet’s gown was in ‘Wardrobe’ awaiting a repair. I’d intended to do it but I’d got side tracked. “I just need to fetch it,” I lied, lowering my gaze to avoid detection. I’d never been any good at telling fibs. “Can you go now while I finish taking my ‘air down? Be quick. I’m entertaining Sir Henry soon and I don’t want to be disturbed.” “Yes Miss.” Miss Scarlet stared at me, as if expecting a reaction to the news that she’d be ‘entertaining.’ I didn’t flinch. Why would I? Miss Scarlet’s dressing room antics were a constant source of bitchy gossip but I, for one, never took part. Her private life was none of my business and besides, she certainly wasn’t the only actress to ‘entertain’ gentlemen in her dressing room. They all did it from time to time. With a quick nod to my young mistress, I scurried away. That dress wasn’t ...
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