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This is a following story to my earlier "Turkish Delight", and starts a new set of tales of a magical book. If other authors wish to use this theme of the magical book, with the guidelines outlined in my stories, they are welcome to do so. NUN SO LOVELY By GENEVA Lord Ricardo speaking. "No hint of trouble today, Sir?" It was my secretary, speaking over my shoulder. "No, quite peaceful," I replied. "The fair will keep their minds off mischief. Yes, just give them enough entertainment and they will be happy." It was the annual summer fair day and I was looking out of my palace window to the square below, noisy with the bustle of the townspeople at the brightly coloured booths. I suppose it was good to see people out enjoying themselves, but more importantly for me, trade was improving, and with it, my own revenues. After the French invasion and control I had to take a back seat in government, but thankfully, after Napoleon's defeat and exile, things in Italy were coming back to normal. Our family had resumed its rightful and traditional place at the head of power. I knew that my son would be well provided for when he succeeded me. I was sorry he was my only heir. I would have liked a larger family, but Roberto's delivery had been difficult, and my wife had not conceived again after he was born. Yes, good fortune was beginning to smile on our family once more, but my one irritation was the Caproni family, or at least the heir, Edoardo. The Caproni's had been rivals of my own family in the past. Few of the family were now left, but Edoardo had become infected with revolutionary views in the French occupation, all that nonsense about liberty and equality, and even talking about a union of all of the Italian states. What nonsense, to assume a Neapolitan or a Lombard, never mind a Sicilian, could live happily in the same state! I had my spies keeping their eyes on him, just in case. "Can you sign these, Sir?" "Oh, yes." I was brought out of my thoughts as yet more papers were thrust under my nose. I read them carefully, as usual. All seemed in order and I attached my signature. I turned my attention back to the square. Over at the west corner, away from the horse races, the crowd was being entertained by some acrobats, tumblers, jugglers, and even some fire-eaters. A bright object caught my eye. A wagon, drawn by a decrepit looking old horse, was slowly turning into the square from the old city gate. By its gaudy decoration I recognized it as a gypsy wagon. Gypsies were a nuisance, but one could always put a squeeze on them for more money, and with their transient habits they could even be used to do some unsavoury jobs, and then sent on their way. As the wagon stopped right below me, I got a good view. Its driver was a swarthy man, in bright clothing, who looked to be in his thirties. Sitting beside him was a woman. I could not make out her age, but her long hair was snow white. She was also in bright clothing, a full multicoloured skirt and a bright red blouse. As she moved her head I got the flash of large golden earrings. In a short time they had a sign hung out. I smiled at the wording. Their attempts at Italian were poor, but it seemed the old woman, Madame Mira she was called, was going to offer fortune telling. Oh well, if people were fools enough to believe that nonsense it was not worth my while stopping them! Just then my secretary called me to discuss more documents. Fair day or not, my business had to go on. When I looked back an hour or so later I saw the wagon had attracted a number of our citizens. Several were waiting at the side of the wagon, then I saw one fellow come out of the wagon, with a grin on his face. Next some money passed hands and a young woman was taken into the wagon. I mused about getting the council to approve a tax on the gypsy and other street performers. Now thoroughly bored with the paperwork, I took a walk down into the square. It was good policy to make my presence known, but I took along my aide and a couple of guards, just in case. I need not have worried, the crowd was in a good mood and, apart from the occasional furtive eye contact, ignored my presence. I watched the acrobats briefly, then passed to the horse races. One of the vendors selling confections even gave me one. I pretended to eat a little, but later I surreptitiously dropped it. It might have been poisoned, an old Italian tradition. When we passed by the gypsy wagon, I eyed the man suspiciously, but he just grinned at me with a show of white teeth. The woman was watching me carefully. "A fine day, Lord Ricardo?" she said in an accented voice. She had obviously taken the trouble to learn my name. I gave her a slight bow. "Would you like your fortune read? I would be glad to do it free for the lord of this city." I shook my head. I did not want to be seen encouraging her superstitions, or, heaven forbid, give the idea that I believed in them. "Thank you, but no. Now woman, I should warn you make sure you obey the laws of this city or it will go badly for you." "Certainly, my lord. But I am only a poor gypsy woman trying to make a living." "Your accent? Where are you from?" Her Italian was heavily accented. "I have been in many places, Hungary, Austria, Bavaria, Switzerland. Now that I am getting old I thought I would try sunny Italy." "Pardon me, but you do not look old." She gave me a sly smile "Thank you, kind sir, but I am now over seventy." I studied her. Something seemed to be wrong. The gypsy woman was obviously old, but her white hair gleamed. Her face, although slightly lined, was regular and beautiful. She even carried herself with a grace of a much younger woman, and her costume hinted at curves of her figure like those of a younger woman. I supposed she was lying to me for some reason, but I let it pass. If she wanted to claim she was older than she really was, it did not concern me, but I thought it curious. In my experience most women usually claimed to be younger than they really were. When I next saw the gypsies, it was at a more serious occasion. On the evidence of some of my spies the police had arrested several dissidents, including a young Caproni. Apparently he was involved in a plot to assassinate me. He and another had speedily been found guilty. I would have preferred to show the dissidents some mercy, and offer them exile or prison, but my council had lost patience with their intrigues and wanted to make an example of them with a public hanging. Nothing like a few bodies jerking at the ends of ropes to get a message across, as my bloodthirsty aide had said. I was reminded we would have to be cautious when we could not find anyone among my own troops who was willing to act as the executioner. Obviously my rule was not as popular as it could be. Then I remembered that gypsies had often been used in older days and I thought of the gypsy man I had seen. I had my agents make enquiries and soon found the gypsies had set up camp a little way out of the town, and I paid them a visit. As my bodyguard and I approached I saw two townspeople leaving. They eyed me furtively. The old gypsy woman looked at me, a hint of amusement at the corner of her mouth. "Welcome, my lord. What can I do for you? Have you come to learn your fortune?" I gave her a cold stare, but, unlike most, she was not intimidated. "These two who left, what did they want?" "Oh, the girl, some advice on love, and the man, just a minor doctoring matter." So the gypsy had set herself up as a physician. At least she could do no worse than those physicians in the city, I thought. I remembered how they had bled my poor brother to death. "My business is with your son. Is he here?" "What business is that, my lord?" He had come behind me unnoticed. I gave my bodyguard a glare. It was his job to protect me. When I put forward my proposition the gypsy gave me that amused grin again. "Your own men too afraid? It must be an unpopular execution, Lord Ricardo." "That does not concern you," I snapped. "Do you want the job?" I mentioned a price. He shook his head. "Double that." I added a half more to my original fee. The gypsy shook his head again, but his mother caught his arm and whispered something to him. He raised his eyebrows, but nodded. "My mother tells me I should accept your offer. I will do it for that, but on one condition." "And that is?" "That we can have some skin off the bodies." I felt revulsion. "In God's name, why?" "Oh, my mother says she needs some human skin for her, ah... fortune telling." I thought briefly. The price was good, and it mattered little to me if the gypsies took both bodies for their superstitious nonsense, but there might be objections among the clergy if they found out. On the other hand, perhaps some of the discontent among the townspeople at the executions would then be directed at the gypsies, and not at me. "I agree, but make sure no one finds out. I will have the bodies put into coffins as soon as they are cut down, and you can remove them to get your... skin. The executions will be next Tuesday, in the town square. My men will build the scaffold. You should come and see me the day before to check on arrangements." The following Tuesday I watched from my seat as my soldiers dragged the two men up to the scaffold. The priest had completed his offices, and I nodded to the gypsy who slipped the nooses over their heads, the young man's face was white as the noose was tightened round his neck. I had a brief twinge of pity as I noticed how slight he was, hardly more than a boy. I walked up the creaking wooden stairs to the scaffold. Perhaps I wanted them to show fear or, better still, plead for their lives, but the young Caproni just looked at me in hate, then swallowed and looked away. I noticed he had a small purplish birthmark at the side of his neck, just under the noose. "A pity," I said. "Yours is an old family. You are the only one left, other than your grandfather. Now your name will be extinct. We could have been allies, but you chose to resist me, intrigue against me. I am truly sorry the way things have turned out." "Spare me your pity," he said hoarsely. I shrugged and carefully stepped down the stairs, into my seat. I nodded to Carl, who kicked the bench from under their feet. The crowd was strangely silent, other than a few moans, but watched until their struggles stopped. Personally, I found it distasteful, but in keeping with my position I had to keep watching the spectacle, yet trying to avoid directly looking at the tongues protruding from the purple faces. A slow stream of urine dripped from the older man's clothes. Carl cut the bodies cut down some minutes after they had stopped moving, and, as the crowd began to disperse, the gypsy woman drew up with her wagon as arranged. My bodyguard wanted to hustle me on but I stopped when she hailed me. I nodded briefly to her. "See the captain there. He will give you the bodies." "Good afternoon to you, my lord, I thank you for them. So a successful day for you?" Maybe it was, but I tried to appear sober and statesmanlike. "No, successful for our state. These men were a threat to the security of our citizens, and unfortunately had to pay the penalty. It was ill fortune only for them." "So your enemies are now all eliminated?" "The state's enemies." I emphasized. "One other may have escaped, but my soldiers report he fell into the river after he was shot when trying to escape. Did you get your, uh, what you wanted from the bodies." "Not yet, my lord. I will do it in a more private place. But I thank you for it. So my lord, would you like me to tell you your fortune this time?" I shrugged. "If you wish." She took my hand and peered at its lines. "Well, it's long life to you, my Lord Ricardo, and I see you will have many descendents, and yet, one of your lines fades out, as if your name will be forgotten." Annoyed with this nonsense, I pulled my hand away. "Well, my lord, now we must be on our way, for our own safety. It looks as if your executions were not exactly popular with the citizenry, and we gypsies will be too easy scapegoats." This woman was beginning to annoy me. "That is none of your concern, but I can have my troops give you protection until you are well away." Mira speaking. I trusted Lord Ricardo little. He was the usual self- seeking administrator, accustomed to rule. If I was charitable I might say he was uncomfortable with the more brutal parts of his exercise of power, but I thought that the sooner we were out of his reach the better. My fortune telling and physicking had given us a little money, and Carl's fee as an executioner was a pleasant bonus. It was time to move on anyway, in case the peasants started to harass us. I fingered my cheek, where I had received the scar from a mob's beating, all that time ago in Hungary. Of course, I had eventually removed it with one of my spells, but the memory of the beating still lingered. The path out of the city led into a small ravine. It was now close to evening and Marc and I decided to camp by the shelter of the rocks. Some trees screened us from passers by. I honed a knife to remove the skin I wanted, and threw back the sheet on the two corpses. I removed the older man's clothing carefully. It was quite good quality and if washed would get us some money. He was quite corpulent and difficult to move, with the stiffness of death, but with a little care I got several useful pieces of skin from him. Marc was looking at me. He shook his head in distaste. "I will go to the stream to try some fishing, Mother. You will excuse me. I have no taste for skinning men." "I need the skin for more of my spell books. I have only my grandmother's original left. But dig a grave and bury this man while I see to the other." "You have been too generous at giving your books to others," he retorted. Perhaps I had. I thought back again to the first time, in Hungary, where I had given a book to a young nobleman to save his life. I shrugged and turned my attention to the younger man. I had heard his name was Edoardo. He was little more than a boy. Too bad, to have his life cut short when he was so young. The purple rope mark on his neck contrasted violently with his fair skin. I doubted that I would get two useful pieces from him. I frowned when I noticed he had not yet begun to stiffen, but I turned him over to start a small slit on his belly. Then he moved slightly, and I saw my knife cut starting to bleed. He was still alive! Marc heard my shout and came running. "What is it?" "Look, he is alive. He is still bleeding!" "Well, we can easily fix that." Marc lifted my knife to slit the boy's throat, but I held his arm. "Wait. We have no quarrel with this boy. Maybe we can even use him to our advantage. Put him in the wagon and cover him." Marc easily lifted the young man up and carried him back to the wagon, but I could see he was annoyed at this complication. Marc nodded over to the wagon as we sat by the fire later. We had washed Edoardo, and bandaged his wounds, but so far he had not regained consciousness. "So what do you think we should do with our guest?" I grimaced. "I have been thinking. We could let Lord Ricardo know we have him. Then he might even pay us more for him, but I don't like Ricardo, and we might trouble from the citizens. Or we could take him with us, hide him, but if Ricardo finds out then we will be in trouble. I suppose we could try contacting his family to see if they want him. We would be easily noticed in the city, but they might reward us. Or if that doesn't work we could slit his throat as you said. But let me think about it overnight." Next morning the young man was showing more signs of life. He was still unconscious, but now groaning occasionally. I looked at him. I had decided. "Marc." I said, "Could you slip into town, and see if you can contact any of the Caproni family and see if they can take Edoardo? I don't have to warn you, but make sure you are not noticed." Around mid morning Edoardo opened his eyes. They were unfocussed, but at least he was awake... He was muttering some incoherent words, but eventually he croaked. "Where am I?" He felt his throat and winced. His eyes narrowed in pain. I gave him some water. "You are with my son and I. We are gypsies, and we are now some hours from your town. Lord Ricardo gave us your body." "Now I remember," he cried. "You are some of that gypsy scum that were to hang us." I shrugged. "Be careful who you call scum. My son's patience is not great, and he was only doing what he was paid for. If it had not been him, someone else would have done it. You were doomed anyway." "But what about my friend? Is he dead?" "Yes," I replied. "He was heavy and died quickly. You must have been too slight." Edoardo looked about him. "I must escape." He tried to rise but fell over. "You are in no condition to flee. You are too weak." He looked at me warily. "Do you intend to betray me to Ricardo?" He picked up a piece of a branch as if to threaten me. I easily took it from him. "That depends on how you behave. Your life is in my hands. But the answer to your question is no. I have sent my son into the city to see if he can contact your family. We will return you to them, as we certainly don't want you. Now, how about something to drink?" It was the late afternoon when Marc returned. He was accompanied by an old man. The old man looked at us in distaste, but he dismounted and embraced the boy. I tried to be impassive at their tears of emotion and demonstration of affection. Marc gestured over to the new arrival. "This is the boy's grandfather, Luigi Caproni. He has a proposition for us." Marc lifted his eyebrows. At length the old man approached me. "Woman? I mean Madame." I laughed inwardly. "Madame" was quite a bit different to how a gypsy like me was usually called. The old man struggled for words. "I am grateful to you. You have saved his life. We are eternally in your debt." "So, sir, Are you then ready to take the boy. It is dangerous for us to hide him." He looked at me in distress. "There are virtually none of our family left, and it is only my age that has kept me out of prison. I cannot take Edoardo. I was hoping he might be able to escape with you." I shook my head. "Too much danger. We are only gypsies. We could be harassed just for who we are." "But you have done Ricardo a... service. Also our family would pay you well." "Just because he has made use of us, we do not think he feels any gratitude, but, if you are willing to pay us, perhaps we can take a risk." Luigi mentioned a figure. I had intended to bargain with him but it was so generous I was taken aback, and I agreed. The boy's life was obviously very important. The old man pulled a ring off his finger and slipped it on the boy's. "This is a family ring. It will identify my grandson to our distant relatives, the Montefiore's of Parma. Could you take him there? Our families have used each other for refuge in past troubled times. Please take care of my grandson. He is the last of his line." When the old man had departed, after a tearful farewell with the boy, Marc glared at me. "So, Mother, if we are searched by Ricardo's men, have you thought how you plan on hiding the boy? Our wagon is very small." "I have been thinking of something in the past. When I was young, in eastern Hungary, I helped a young nobleman escape from some rebels. I used one of my spells." Marc looked at me warily "You mean from that old book you said you got from your grandmother. But that is only to remove birthmarks, toothache, in childbirth and so on." "Yes, it has these charms, but it has some others as well. Ones that I never told you about. I have used them only rarely. Wait until I find the book." I rummaged in a box that kept my stuff. I unwrapped a book from some waxed cloth. Despite my care, it was in poor condition. It was time I made some others, but I had been waiting for the human skin to cover them in, to give the spells the proper potency. Now at least I had some pieces of skin from the executed man. I opened it carefully and turned the pages, "Marc, see here. These pages have spells that can be used to turn men into women, or vice versa. We could disguise him as a girl." Marc looked at me sceptically. "These words? What language are these?" He began to sound one out. "Stop!" I shouted. "The spell changes anyone who hears it." Marc shook his head "I do not think you should attempt it. How do you know we can trust this boy, and then, if someone discovers what you have done, we could be in danger. It smells too much like witchcraft." "Let me think about it. Perhaps you are right." In the morning I had still not made up my mind. After we had eaten, I set to copying some of the spells into fresh paper. Then I selected some of the skin I had been curing in a basin of some tannin liquor. I looked up to see Edoardo watching me. "What are you doing, woman?" he asked. "None of your business, a gypsy matter." "These are pieces of skin!" "Yes, from your late friend. I need them!" He looked at me in horror and shuddered. His attitude annoyed me, but over the years I had learned patience. He seemed arrogant, too sure of himself, but at least he seemed to be regaining his strength. The next day the boy looked stronger still. I had finished sewing a piece of the cured skin on a book when I became aware he was watching me again. His face was incredulous. "You are now using parts of men for your book. Have you no decency?" "This is a spell book. I need the skin for the spells to have effect, and as for decency, the spells are good, they help in childbirth, cure many ailments. Much better than any physician. If you had died I would have used your skin as well." He shuddered again and moved off, looking around the campsite as if to get the lay of the land. Soon Marc returned with two rabbits he had snared, and I thought happily of the meal we could have. I had been cleaning them over by the stream when something about the boy caught my attention. He seemed to be looking at me in a partly furtive, partly amused manner. "Something amuses you? Someone in as much danger as you should be a little more serious." "I am still thinking about your supposed spells. I actually think you believe they work. But I have made up my mind. I want you to let me go. I have things to do here. Someone has to lead an uprising against Ricardo." "And you are not the one. You are one person, still weak from your near execution. He is strong, with many soldiers. It already nearly cost you your life. You fancy another dance at the end of a rope?" I could see my words had no effect on him but I thought no more of it. In truth I would have been glad had he gone off and we would be rid of him, but I consoled myself with the thought of more money from the Montefiore's if we handled things properly in Parma. Edoardo speaking. That night, I waited until both of the gypsies were asleep then I crept slowly into the surrounding trees and out of the ravine. The gypsies' cur must have become used to me as he only looked at me suspiciously with a half open yellow eye. It was a moonlight night and I made my way easily until I had put a distance between me and the gypsies. After an hour or so I passed through the woods and into some fields. I became aware I was not as strong as I had thought and, seeing a shepherd's hut, I decided to rest there. There was only a pile of straw on the dirt floor but I struck a light and put some branches in the hearth. Soon I was warm. As I lay down, I felt pleased with myself on two accounts. I had escaped, and I had taken a copy of the gypsy's book. I wondered what was so important that it needed human skin. It had been fairly easy to remove it from her box when she was busy by the stream cleaning the rabbits. I pulled it out from my pocket. I wondered what she had been so secretive about. I could just read the words in the light of the fire. I was surprised when I saw part was in German, in an old Gothic script, but every second page was in a language I did not know, also in a Gothic script. Remembering a little of the German I had learned from my tutor I tried to translate it. The German words seemed to be about mostly medical stuff. I supposed they were the spells that the gypsies foisted on the superstitious villagers and the uneducated to make money, before departing to other parts before they were found out. I looked at some of the end pages and almost laughed out. Supposedly it was a spell that would turn a man into a beautiful woman. There was a supposed reverse spell on the following pages. The unknown language intrigued me. I sat in the firelight and sounded all of the words out, to see if the sounds made sense, but there was nothing. I was now very tired, and I was almost asleep when I became aware I was shivering slightly. I threw another branch on the fire and buried myself in the straw. Then I fell asleep, exhausted. I usually awoke easily, refreshed, but this time was different. My head hurt and I ached all over. My throat was dry and parched, and I shivered occasionally. I wondered if I had a fever. Suddenly there was a sharp pain at my toes, which jolted me from the blackness. I needed to go back to sleep, but the pain stabbed me again, and I struggled up. I heard the rustling of small animals in the straw. I reached to my toes, but something felt different about my feet. They were smaller somehow. My big toe stung when I touched it, and when I peered at my fingers they were covered with blood. Some mice or rats must have been gnawing on my foot. I squinted at my hand. It also seemed smaller, somehow. Fuzzily I decided it was an illusion from an infection or a fever. I gasped with the pain as I tried to rise then realized that even my voice sounded different. My eyes still felt filled with sleep. I crawled to the entrance of the hut, my body feeling awkward, different somehow, and my chest feeling as if weights were attached to it. The sun was dazzlingly high and hurt my eyes. It looked as if it was about midday. Finally, holding onto the doorframe, I pulled myself to my feet, feeling unbalanced somehow. Even my clothing did not seem to fit properly. I felt a desperate need to relieve myself. My eyes still half closed, I fumbled with the opening in my trousers, but then my hands found nothing. Puzzled, I rubbed my eyes to clear them and looked down. There was nothing. My penis and the soft pouch below were entirely gone. Bewildered, I felt further down and discovered a vertical slit, rimmed by soft lips of flesh, the parts of a woman. The shock jolted me wide-awake. With a sudden shock I remembered the spell I had been reading before I fell asleep, something about changing to a woman. Could it be true that I had changed? Then I remembered that my chest had felt different. My panic rising each second, I discovered two breasts on my chest, pushing out the contours of my shirt. I was crying now, but, adding to my terror, it was in a woman's wail. I tore off all my clothes, my horror growing as more and more parts of female anatomy were exposed. The greatest shock was two mounds on my chest, each tipped by brown nipples and areolas. Still unwilling to believe my eyes I felt them. They were firm, yet soft, the nipples at their tips especially sensitive to my touch. I bent over as much as I could to examine the base of my belly. Indeed my male parts were completely gone. All I saw were the alien woman's parts. I felt in them, detecting only a slight moistness. I flinched at their sensitivity. I collapsed terrified, overwhelmed, screaming in a shrill female wail then I remember no more. When I woke again, the sun was almost setting. I was still lying on the ground. I desperately hoped it had been a dream, but when I mustered my courage to feel myself again, I only detected the breasts and the slit at my crotch. I felt the rest of my body. Its proportions were totally changed. It seemed that my hips were huge, yet my waist was slim. My arms were itching, and when I scratched them, the hair stripped from them. It was the same with my legs, the hair pulled easily from them, leaving them smooth as a girl's. I was aware my body had a rancid fevered smell. My male hair was even stripping off my belly, and chest. The hairs on my chin and upper lip, with several days of growth, came off as dark flecks. I wanted to see my face, but I had no mirror. I tried leaning over a nearby stream to see my face, but the ripples in the water made it impossible to see properly. I still needed to relieve myself, but when I tried to do it standing up, the water ran down my leg. I was forced to squat, like I had seen some peasant women do in the fields. I was so confused I could hardly think, then I remembered that the book had also contained a reverse spell. In a sudden desperate hope, naked, I ran back into the hut and threw aside the straw, looking for the book. I found it on the floor, but several grey mice scurried away. They had eaten most of the cover off the book, but the pages were intact. It must have been a mouse nibbling on my toes that had wakened me. Feverishly I turned to the right page and babbled out the words. In a minute there was a flush on my hands and feet, a slight prickly feeling, then it was soon over and I was unchanged. Holding down my despair I repeated the words, forcing myself to speak slowly and coherently. There was no effect. Then I remembered that the old woman had said the book needed human skin to be effective. And that was now down the throats of the mice. The book was now worthless. I would be stuck in my present form until I could get another book, or repair this one with more human skin. The only place to do that was at the gypsy's wagon. I would have to go back to them. As quickly as the contours of my new body allowed, I drew my clothes on again. I was getting very hungry and I was fevered from the spell. In addition to my changed figure, I had lost some height, about half a head. I rolled my trousers up at the ankles and bunched my shirt into my waist. The fit of the trousers was all wrong, too loose at the waist, tight at the hips I could barely squeeze into them. My shirt would do, but I was aware of my nipples rubbing against it with the sway of my new breasts. My stockings were fine, but my shoes were too large and rubbed against my heels. If I walked any distance it would not be long before my feet blistered. I slowly made my way back through the woods down to the road. Once a branch jabbed me in my left breast. I gasped with the pain, but gritted my teeth and pressed on to the gypsy camp, apprehensive of their reaction. I wondered if I could sneak into their camp and find more of the books. The gypsies were still camped in the ravine, and I climbed to the rocks above them to watch. The pain of my blistered feet made me awkward and I dislodged some stones. Mira heard the noise and looked up the slope towards me, but I kept hidden in the undergrowth. She began to tend to the fire, then, when she was satisfied, she started to tidy and sort her possessions. I watched her carefully, over the next two hours or so, but I could not see where she had hidden other copies of the spell. My stomach churning, I knew I would have to approach her. I wondered what reception she would give me. I slowly made my way down the gravelly slope. I had made it almost to the bottom when the ground gave way and I was sent tumbling. I was still lying on the ground when Mira approached and helped me to my feet. "You have been trying your own little earthquake, girl?" She looked at me more closely. "Or is it a girl?" A slow smile began on her lips, broadening to a full grin. "Well, I recognize these clothes, they were worn by a young man who I saved, who then thanked me by running away, and ungratefully stealing something of mine. And I see you have been reading one of my spells." "Marc!" she shouted. "See what we have here. It is our young friend back, but somewhat changed." Marc looked at me carefully, then burst out laughing. "Mother, I see your spells are still effective." I felt myself blushing. Mira was laughing hilariously too. "But why are you here? If you read the book further, you would have seen it has a reverse spell in it." "I tried," I whispered, "but it did not work. You said the book needed human skin, but some mice chewed off the cover when I was unconscious and the spells no longer work. Please, can you use one of your copies to change me back?" Mira's mood changed to a quiet anger. "You stole this from me, you ran away. You allowed it to be damaged, and now you come crawling back, and I am supposed to forgive you, and humour you? I am tempted to keep you as a girl, and sell you to some brothel." She spat. "You are a good looking girl. Men would pay to use you." My hand went to my mouth. "No! Please." The thought of men using me was horrifying. Mira went on. "Or perhaps I should turn you into a toad." I looked at her in terror. She shook her head. "No, Edoardo, do not be alarmed, the only effective spells I know are in that book, and they have nothing about toads. But I think I will wait until we are close to Parma before I allow you to change back. A day or so before I hand you over to the Montefiore's will be fine. The reverse spell is just like the spell you used. You will be unconscious for more than a day, and still weak for a day or so after that. If you are kept as a girl it will be easier to keep control of you, starting with your clothes." I struggled but she was stronger than me and pulled off all my clothes. Alarmed, I saw Marc looking wide-eyed at me, then licking his lips. "Here!" She snapped. "As you are a woman you can wear these women's clothes." She threw me a rough blouse and a skirt of a coarse material, more like sacking. I hurriedly put them on. I did not like the way Carl was looking at me. I was still naked under the skirt but it was better than nothing, Mira fumbled through my clothes and pulled out the book. She pursed her lips and gave me a glare. "Yes indeed, the mice have been busy. I hope they enjoyed their meal. Human skin must be a real novelty for them! Unfortunately, you are right. The book is now useless until I can get more skin to cover it. And that may be a while. It is not all that easy to get fresh human skin." "But you have others?" I pleaded. "Yes, I do, but I will make sure they are well hidden away until we are ready to change you. So you can resign yourself to being a girl until then. That way you may be less keen on running away. But I warn you, if you run away we have no intention of searching for you. Then you can spend the rest of your life as a woman." She sighed, "But we should have you in good condition to hand over to your Parma relatives. At least I see you still have the ring to identify yourself. Let me see your feet." She examined them. "Yes, they are badly scratched and blistered." She poured fresh water from the stream on them and washed them, adding some herbed material to the water that made it sting. "Now I think we will keep shoes from you, until they heal, and it will be another deterrent to your running away. Stand up! Straighter!" She looked at me critically. "You stand like a man dressed in woman's clothing, and your hair is too short. We can cover that with a cloth, in case of any nosy peasants. We will be in Parma in a week or so." I groaned. I wondered how I would be able to endure this body. I felt awkward, weak and soft. My hips and rear felt enormous. Mira grinned at me. "Oh, I suppose how you stand does not matter. In a way I am glad to see you changed. It shows that the spell still works. You are indeed turned into quite pretty girl. Have you seen your face?" "No," I replied. I did not like what she was saying. "I did not have a mirror." Mira hunted among her belongings and produced a cracked mirror. I gave a small cry as I looked at my face. My hand went to my mouth. I would not have believed it possible. Subtle changes had given me a new face. I was barely recognizable. The face staring at me was now that of a girl, frightened, dirty, unkempt, but very lovely. I was still my face, but the features reproportioned and more refined. Her face was smoother than mine, her cheekbones subtly higher. Her brown eyes, rimmed with dark eyelashes, were softer than mine. Her nose was smaller, just slightly aquiline like mine had been, but entirely feminine. Her lips were now full and red. Her chin was small but determined. Her neck was long and elegant, with no trace of an Adam's apple, but still ringed by an ugly purplish discoloration, the remnants of my encounter with the noose. I fingered it. "Yes," said Mira. "It is fading. You should wrap a cloth round it to hide it, just in case any questions are asked. Now, enough of that preening in the mirror," Mira sneered. "We have work to do. Marc and I have to tidy up our baggage. You must do your share." She pointed to a box. "There is the food for our supper. You can do the cooking." She treated me as a woman for the next few days, making me do the cooking and even the washing. I wondered if she was trying to humiliate me, but as the journey continued, my spirits rose. Then one evening, as I was washing dishes I was aware of Carl behind me. Before I could escape his hands were round my waist, then rising to cup my breasts, his thumbs and forefingers finding my nipples, rolling and pinching them. I started to cry out, but I heard a warning voice. "Carl! Leave her alone. She's not for you." It was Mira. Carl laughed and released me. I sank to the ground trembling. "See, you are a woman. That will warn you of the dangers from men if you try to escape," said Mira. "But I will protect you from Carl while you are with us." "Mira?" I asked. "Surely I have not been turned completely into a woman? I mean internally as well?" "Oh yes, you certainly are. Sometime soon you'll start monthly bleeding just like a girl. A man could even make you pregnant." Tears came to my eyes. I thought of the wide hips of my new figure. "Your mind too." added Mira. "You may be thinking like a man just now, but the longer you delay in turning back you will think and behave more and more like a woman. You will even start to be attracted to men." She must have read the expression on my face. "But you will be relieved to know we are nearing Parma and you can change back." I made sure I kept out of Carl's way from then on, but I was glad we were nearing our destination. Then about noon on the sixth day, just as the church spires of Parma were in sight, there was a sudden clatter of hooves and we were surrounded by some armed men. I began to tremble when I saw some looking at me hungrily. Even Mira looked apprehensive. One of them rode up to us. He was a thickset man, strongly built, in his forties. His dark beard, with just a hint of grey, added to his air of authority. "Who are you?" he demanded. Another man at his side snorted. "Just some more thieving gypsies, Enrico." "Please, sir," said Mira, "we are not thieves. We are just gypsies trying to make a living. We will just do some fortune telling and sell some trinkets, then be on our way. My name is Mira, this is my son Carl and this is..." Before she could finish, the leader, who had been eyeing me, waved his hand impatiently. He leaned over from his horse to me. "Girl, hold up your hand!" I did so. "What is that on your finger?" "It is my family ring," I stammered. "Ah!" To my surprise he broke into a smile." You are one of the Caproni's. We had got word that a Caproni was on the way here, in the company of some gypsies. Oh, welcome girl! You will be safe here." He dismounted from his horse and embraced me. I am Enrico, head of the house of Montefiore." "Here woman," He spoke to Mira, "a reward for you." I saw him throw several coins to the ground in front of her. A brief dark look crossed Mira's face, but she bent to pick them up anyway. "Thank you, my lord." "But," said Enrico, "gypsies are not welcome here. You have a day to leave our lands. "Now girl," he said, looking to me." Oh. "Your name?" "Anna." I stammered. It was the first name that came to my mind. "Then, Anna, you must come with me. You will be safe with us." I felt a great sense of relief at my rescue, then I realized that if I went with him just then I would be unable to change back. "Please, I cannot... not yet." "What do you mean? You want to spend more time with gypsies? And you, the daughter of a noble family?" "Excuse me, sir," said Mira, "It is just that Anna has to get some of her possessions together, and then she can go with you. It will only take a minute. They are in my wagon. Come with me, Anna." She caught my arm and led me to the wagon. "I did not expect this. I had intended to have you changed back before we delivered you the Montefiore's, but now, if we try to delay, they will become suspicious." She thought for a bit. "I will just have to give you a copy of the spell book," she whispered. "Then, sometime when you are alone, you can use the reverse spell, but I warn you, the reverse spell, just like the other, will make you unconscious for a day and a half, at least. Here," She opened a box and lifted out a copy of the book from a false bottom. I saw two more newly covered copies, and an old worn copy. "Hide this in your blouse. Guard it well." She emphasized. "It is your only hope of becoming a man again. But make sure that no one sees you changing. Some might think it witchcraft. There, now. Are you ready, Anna?" "Yes," I said hoarsely. Wondering why she had used my assumed name. I climbed down from the wagon and looked at Enrico. "I am ready now, Lord Enrico." "Good," he said and with little effort he leaned over and swung me up onto his saddle in front of him. "Thank you, woman," he said to Mira, "but remember, you are to be gone from here by tomorrow." And with that he and his companions carried me away from the wagon. My stomach was fluttering. My changing back was now entirely in my hands. I was sitting sideways on the saddle with Enrico's arm tightly around my waist. I found his nearness and strength, his male smell, disturbing. I was clutching the book under my blouse to stop it falling out. After about an hour we came to a large house, surrounded by a high wall. I shivered as I heard a strong metal gate clang shut behind us. Enrico marched in the front door into a large hall. A number of servants were bustling about, some of them eyeing me in distaste. I was led into a large richly furnished room. Three women were sitting round a tapestry frame on a low table. They looked up at us in surprise. One of them, a slim blonde woman in her thirties, rose and kissed Enrico. They embraced lovingly. Enrico gestured to me. "Lucia, my dear, look who I found. This is Anna Caproni. She was in the company of some gypsies, as we had been warned. Anna?" He spoke to me. "This is my dear wife Lucia." I started to bow, then, remembering my supposed identity, I made a clumsy curtsey to her. "Oh, welcome, my dear," She embraced me too. "I am so glad you are safe." She was even sniffling. "Please, you have been through terrible dangers. As your parents are dead, we want you to be part of our family now. The Montefiore's and Caproni's have been allies for generations." "Yes, My great grandfather and yours were brothers," said Enrico proudly. He turned to the older woman. "Anna, I would like you to meet my mother, Amanda de Montefiore" Amanda looked at me suspiciously. "Ah Enrico, you say she has the Caproni ring, but how do we know she is just not a gypsy girl or peasant who stole the ring? We have to be sure. Tell me child, what is the Caproni family motto?" "Valora et Fortuna." I replied instantly. I decided this was not the time to object to the term "child". "And your family crest?" "Three gold seashells on an azure background." "Then welcome, child." She embraced me too, but more hesitatingly and stiffly. She was sniffing in distaste, and I realized my clothes were dirty and smelled of wood smoke and cooking. My body smelled too. To avoid Carl's attention I had only washed as far as my face and hands. Next Enrico pointed me to the girl. "And this is my beloved daughter Luisa." Luisa was a pretty girl of about sixteen, with dark ringlets of hair, curly like her father's. She embraced me also, but rather formally. "I have three sons also, but they are out with their tutors." added Enrico. "You will meet them later. Now, please Anna, will you sit down and tell us what happened." "Ah, first, Enrico," said Lucia. "Don't you think Anna would like some fresh clothes and a wash, even a bath, before she is ready to talk to us? Perhaps something to eat or drink. She must be exhausted from her travels." "Of course," said Enrico, "You are right. I am sorry, Anna, I did not think." "Come along with me, my dear," said Lucia." She took my arm and guided me along a corridor hung with portraits, up a flight of stairs, and into a bedchamber. "Gina?" she called, "can you come here?" In a minute a plump and greying woman in her thirties entered the room. She gave me a friendly smile. "Yes, Madame?" she said to Lucia. Lucia turned to me. "This is Gina," she said, "one of the maids. She can help you wash." "Gina, this is our relative Anna Caproni. She will be living with us now. She is a bit um... travel worn. So can you run Anna a bath and help her wash? And see that she has new clothes." She pointed disdainfully to my blouse and skirt. "Wash these and give then to the church for charity." Lucia examined me critically. "Her waist seems large. I know, give her one of the dresses I wore when I was pregnant. We will see about getting her some of her own clothes tomorrow." I was led into a side chamber with a large tiled bath. I heard Gina calling some other servants for water to be heated. "Now Gina, help Anna, off with these rags." said Lucia. Before I could object Gina had lifted my blouse and pulled it over my head. She untied my skirt and it fell to my feet. They were all I had been wearing. My heart was pounding. I blushed. The two women were looking at me critically. I covered my breasts and my belly with my hands. "Well, modesty in a girl is a nice trait," said Lucia, "but don't be silly, Anna. Let me see you. Yes, you are quite pretty, but what on earth has happened to your hair? It is much too short." "Uh, I cut it short in case I had to disguise myself as a boy to escape." "And what has happened to your neck. She pointed to the remnants of the noose's mark, fortunately now faded to a faint yellowish mark. "Ah, a soldier tried to choke me, but I escaped." Lucia shook her head. "Terrible, what those feuds can cause." She took my head in her hands, examining me like a piece of china. "Yes, you have a nice complexion, or will have when the scratches fade. I see you have not had your ears pierced. Did you not wear earrings?" "Uh, no" She shook her head in disbelief. "Then we will have to do that soon. Women in Parma wear earrings. Now your body," she sighed. "You have pretty breasts, you are slim and your hips are nicely shaped, but what on earth has happened with your waist? It is much too thick. You would almost think it belonged to some peasant. Did your mother not put you in corsets at home? What age are you, Anna?" "I am sixteen, as of last April, but no, I never wore a corset. My mother died when I was young." I said defensively. Lucia grimaced and shook her head again. "Then it is as well you came to us, for your own good. I had no idea things were so uncivilized where you lived. Your family didn't follow those horrible French republican fashions, did they?" I did not dare answer, but she went on anyway. "Never fear, we can soon get your waist much slimmer, and have you looking like a proper civilized young lady, as befits our family." I caught sight of myself in the long mirror. During the last week I had tried to avoid looking at my new body, but it was now completely exposed to my view. I felt my mouth open with shock. I had seen my new body before, but only as I looked down on it, and I had seen my face in Mira's cracked mirror, still dirty and scratched, but this was the first I had seen my total full length view. I was astonished. I had now lost all of my male hair. I not only had the body of a young woman, but an extremely beautiful one at that. I saw a pretty face, with full lips, a small nose, bright eyes and slightly prominent cheekbones. My previously bushy eyebrows were now high fine arches. My neck, elegant for a woman, but impossibly long for a man, was set on fine shoulders with slim arms. On my chest were two prominent but firm breasts, with pale brown nipples and areolas. Below, my body tapered to a well-defined waist, but flared out again to broad hips, a slightly rounded belly. My buttocks were generous, but in proportion to the rest. Even my legs seemed longer, with a gap at the top in the pubic area, with slim thighs, set over rounded calves and dainty feet. My skin was smooth and rounded, hinting at only a few bluish veins across the tops of my breasts. Gina picked up my clothes and started to carry them out of the room. The book was in a pocket. If she removed it I might never see it again. "Please," I gasped. "I have something in the blouse I need." Before I could stop her Lucia felt in it and pulled out the book. She flicked open the pages and frowned. "What is this book?" "Oh, it's just a book of charms that the gypsy gave me it as a keepsake." Lucia looked at me suspiciously. "A keepsake from a dirty gypsy? And charms? What nonsense! Oh well, if you want it, but keep it hidden away. If any of the clergy saw it they would be annoyed. I don't know why would you want to keep anything from a dirty gypsy. Look at this strange yellow hide covering it. You wonder where she got that." "Please, Miss Anna," said Gina. "your bath is now ready." She held my arm as I stepped into the warm water. It felt like bliss. It was weeks since I had been able to wash in warm water. Even Gina's vigorous washing of my oily hair and thorough scrubbing of my hands and nails felt good. She handed me a towel as I climbed out and set to combing my hair. I winced as the comb caught on some matted bits, but soon it was done. Lucia nodded in satisfaction, then turned out of the room and returned with a chemise and a dress. She held them out for me. "Put these on, Anna. They will do until you get your own clothing." I wanted to object, but I thought the better of it and held up my hands. I shivered slightly as the fine linen chemise fell over my shoulders, and down my hips. It felt cool, smooth and delicate on my hips and thighs. To my horror I felt my nipples hardening. "These will do for today," said Lucia, "but we can start to get you your own clothes tomorrow, something to show you off a bit better than these. Then we really will have to do something about that waist. Now here are some soft shoes. Oh yes, that looks nice." She held my shoulders and brushed her hand over my hair. She shook her head slightly. "I wonder, if we put your hair up, with some ornaments, maybe we can disguise its shortness. Now, you must be hungry. Come on upstairs. It is almost time for dinner, I believe the cook is planning some roast pork." It had felt strange when I wore the gypsy's coarse skirt, but now it was even more so, hearing the rustle of my chemise and dress, and feeling the smooth slippery material rub round my calves and ankles. The family was standing at the table. Enrico and his mother looked at me in surprise. Luisa's scrutiny had a ting of envy. Three boys were looking at me curiously. Enrico introduced them as his three sons. They bowed formally to me, but thereafter ignored me. An older man was introduced to me as Enrico's uncle Bruno. It was wonderful to taste well-cooked food again. I wanted to cram it in my mouth, but, remembering my supposed identity, I took dainty portions to match those of Luisa. I was plied with many questions about my escape, and I greatly embellished the story how my grandfather had smuggled me out to the gypsy. Soon the conversation turned to a marriage, and I learned that Luisa was soon to be betrothed to Emilio, the son of a minor noble, and that her marriage would be a month later. After the dinner, Enrico and Bruno disappeared with the three boys. The women talked for a bit, then, noticing my poor attempts to stifle a yawn, Lucia took my arm. "You must be tired now, Anna. Come. I will show you to your bedroom." I did not object. So much had happened that day and I wanted to be alone to make my plans. I had been given an upstairs bedroom next to that of Luisa, where I would share Gina as our maid. Gina was waiting for me. "Now off with your clothes, Miss Anna," she said. "Here is a nice nightgown for you." The gown was in fine linen. I did not object as she slid it over my head. She pulled back the bedcover. "Now off to bed with you, Miss." The bed was lovely and soft and indeed, I was very tired, but I lay awake worrying about my predicament. It was nice to be pampered, to be clean, and have good food, but I did not like all the attention I was getting. I pondered how I could escape the family for at least two days to use the reverse spell, but my eyes were heavy and I must have fallen asleep. The next morning I felt a gentle shake on my shoulder. It was Lucia, with Gina, holding a bundle of clothes. "How are you this morning, my dear?" I awoke with a start. It took me a moment to remember where I was. "Oh I feel so good, Lucia. This bed is so comfortable, after that gypsy's straw." She looked at me approvingly. "That's good, Anna. Yes, we are quite particular who supplies the family's furnishings. Now, I have been discussing your future with my husband. We have some plans for you but first we will start with more clothes for you." She took my hands. "Come on, let me see you, my dear. Up with you, and off with your nightdress. Gina will help you." Gina eased the long nightdress over my head. "Now, here is a pair of drawers." said Lucia. "You will be glad to wear these again. I see your gypsy friend never thought to give you any," she sniffed. I looked at the female garments in dismay. They were in fine silk with ruffles on the legs. Lucia noticed my hesitation. "Come on, put them on. What are you waiting for? And here is one of one of Luisa' s chemises. It's more your size than mine would be." She handed me a long lacy chemise embroidered with pink and yellow flowers. "You can wash and put that on first while I send up some breakfast. Eat as fast as you can. I have asked Signora Macchi, the family corsetiere, to be here later this morning. She can measure you for a corset and her husband will start sewing it right away. It will take a day or so but she will also fit you with a temporary corset for getting you in a proper shape for the seamstress this afternoon." I gasped "But, I don't want a corset!" "Nonsense!" she looked at me down her nose. "That has nothing to do with it. You need one," she huffed. "All proper young women wear them. Anyway, Luisa's betrothal ceremony is coming up soon, and there will be a ball after it, in celebration. You are invited, of course. If you get your corset made now, and used to it, it will be better when you are fitted with some nice new dresses, even a ball gown." "But I don't need dresses either, I mean new ones," I gasped. "Of course you do!" She was incredulous. "What else do you think you would wear?" She gave a sly smile. "There will be some young men there, and you must look your best. You must be properly outfitted. We Montefiore's have a high rank in society, and we must dress in accordingly. And," she looked at me sharply, "please do not talk any more of how you came to escape. Gypsies indeed!" she snorted. It was about eleven when Signora Macchi was ushered into my room. With little ado she motioned for me to stand, then took a measuring tape round my waist, bust and hips. She beamed in delight. "Ah yes, quite a nice figure, although a waist like a peasant's, as you said, Madame, but we can get that fixed easily. Oh, a month or so in one of our corsets and she should have a proper waist." "Not sooner?" asked Lucia. "We could, but it would be less strain for her if we take it more slowly. If it takes longer, you will just have to get her dresses taken in a bit while her waist gets smaller." "Now, miss, let me see you." She rummaged in the bottom of her bag. "This one I think, will do until you have your own. Lift up your arms." As in a daze I lifted my hands, while she pulled the garment around me and fixed the front clips. I felt myself beginning to blush at the touch of the garment, but I was thinking that this was not so bad, until I felt a sudden jerk at my back, and the garment began to constrict round my waist. "Can you hold onto the bedpost, miss? I will have to pull it quite a bit." "Ahh!" I gasped. "That is too tight!" "Oh no, miss," said Signora Macchi "We still have a bit to go. It is just that you are not used to it." Used to this? I could hardly breathe. I think I would have collapsed if the garment had not been holding me upright. Finally the pulling stopped. I staggered and clutched the bedpost for support. Signora Macchi was looking at me in approval. "That's much nicer, much more feminine. Now my dear, we'll give you another five or so minutes to adjust, then give it a final tightening and tie you off." "You mean you are not done yet!" Signora Macchi looked surprised. "Oh no, Miss. With an untrained waist like yours it is best to take it in two or more steps at a time, to give your body time to adjust. Meanwhile, we should be deciding on a fabric for you. What do you think? White silk with pink rosebuds is very popular just now, and it looks so pretty. Or I have a nice strong golden silk with blue flowers?" I shook my head. I could hardly see for a haze in front of my eyes. I felt I was going to faint. "I think the golden material," broke in Lucia. "It will match her eyes." "Yes my lady," said Signora Macchi. "Whatever you want. Now let me see." She examined my waist again. I felt her fumbling at the laces then she pulled even more. I heard her gasps above my own, then mercifully she had stopped pulling and was tying the laces at my back. "That's nice, quite pretty," she gasped. "At least it will do for this temporary one. The proper one will be much nicer." My waist and chest were now getting numb. I stumbled, but Signora Macchi caught my hand. "Just take it easy, miss," she said sympathetically. "Don't try to breathe too deeply. Short breaths, from the top of your chest." She shook her head sadly. "That's what comes of leaving young girls uncorsetted. Then it just gets so much more difficult to draw them in when they are older." I was afraid to look down. My breasts, now so much more noticeable, were heaving up and down. I looked in the mirror. My waist seemed so tiny, and yet there would be more to go, she had said. I felt I was being cut in two. I would surely die. "Now, Anna. Try on this dress of Luisa's," said Lucia. She arranged it over me and stood back to view me "Why, my dear, it fits you very well, and if we get something to fill it out, make the skirt fuller..." She pulled three petticoats from a box. "Lift up your dress, my dear." I gasped with the effort as I struggled to bend. Signora Macchi smiled at me sympathetically. "Your corset is just a bit tight is it, miss? But never mind. You'll soon get used to it and be able to bend a bit easier as your waist slims down." Lucia tied three starched muslin petticoats round my waist, then smoothed the skirt of my dress over them. I felt I was floundering in all that fabric, the unyielding grip of my corset a strange contrast to the delicate soft material of my petticoats and dress. Signora Macchi picked up her case, and nodded to Lucia "Very well, my lady, I have the measurements I need. We can have the new corset ready in two days." "Thank you, "said Lucia. "Gina, can you see Signora Macchi to the door." She turned to me. "Now, Anna, let's have a look at you. Turn around. Oh yes, very nice. Have a look at yourself in the mirror." I gasped at the pretty girl was looking back at me. It was still me, but how changed! My skin was visibly softer, its pores almost invisible. Even my few acne scars were gone. My bushy eyebrows were replaced by fine arches. My eyes seemed softer and more luminous. My nose was finer, my lips fuller. My chin was firm, yet delicately smaller. No trace of my beard left. My bust was prominent, carried high. My impossibly slim waist was even more emphasized by my bell- shaped skirt and the wide shoulders of the dress. "Now, Anna," said Lucia, "We have to do something about your hair. Sit down here." She sat me in front of a dressing table and began to comb my hair. She was making tutting noises and shaking her head. "Your poor hair! It needs brushing. Gina? Make sure you brush Miss Anna's hair every night. Fifty strokes!" She tutted again. "It is so short, but we'll get Gina to put it up and put combs and other decorations in it to draw attention away from its shortness. You can wear a bonnet when you are out, but indoors, that's a different matter. I know, we can get you a little lace cap!" The dressmaker arrived in the afternoon. I was now in mild pain and felt faint most of the time. I had not eaten since I had been fastened into the corset. I could not forget its presence one instant. The dressmaker was called Signora Buccini. Once more Lucia and Gina were in attendance. Gina helped me off with my dress and petticoats while Signora Buccini pulled a tape from her box. In a short time she had my measurements. "That's good Madame. I have all the measurements I need. Now Miss, what do you think about styles?" Without waiting for an answer she opened a notebook with several sketches and laid out some fabrics. "What about this one, Anna?" Lucia pointed to a dress. In truth I did not care. I was about to say so, but remembering my supposed identity, I grunted. "Yes, that looks pretty," with as much enthusiasm as I could feign. "Oh yes, a good choice. That will suit her," said Signora Buccini to Lucia. "But maybe it needs to be a little lower in the waist. They tell me that the new fashions have the waist just a little lower, and that means the waist can be slimmer. You said, Milady, that Anna is getting a new corset?" "Yes, just a bit tighter than the one she's wearing. It will be a little smaller in the waist." My heart sank as