>>5399With that, Daphne was left alone with Ethel. Together, they poured over the latest trends to make sure all of her dresses were still fashionable. But Ethel was skilled at adding small, creative details that could potentially spark a new trend of it’s own if they were lucky!
After sorting through piles of fabrics and color samples, the two were finally free for some girlish chatter between friends. Because, in truth, they were very close friends. Daphne was always there to support Ethel in her pursuits. And Ethel aided Daphne in her more taboo pursuits.
“So,” Ethel prodded with a mischievous grin. “I see our plan has been working?” She gestured towards Daphne’s soft, round belly.
“Oh yes,” Daphne ran her hands over her stomach, raising her petticoat higher so Ethel could see the results of their secret work. “What do you think?”
“What do I think?!” Ethel gave her belly a gentle squeeze before running her finger tips along her waistline. In order to even reach the spot, she had to use the other hand to lift her now hanging belly out of the way. “Daphne, you’ve nearly doubled in size since I last saw you! I’d say this is a job well done!”
Almost as if she couldn’t help it, she grabbed a tape measure and hurriedly started measuring her growth. She wrapped the tape measure around her bust. “Clearly your mother isn’t thrilled,” she joked.
“Oh, it’s turned her into a terror at home. She hardly lets me eat anything anymore! If it wasn’t for you hiding baskets of treats in the garden or sweets in my dresses before returning them, I’d still be thin as a stick!” Daphne made a face, sucking her cheeks in to appear gaunt and ghoulish and causing both girls to nearly fall over in a fit of laughter.
“She fears I’ll never find a husband if I continue to fatten up.”
“Well~”, Ethel’s eyes were full of mischief yet again.
“What? What do you know that you’re not saying!”
“There’s been heated gossip going ‘round about a certain eligible bachelor that just might cast your mother’s fears aside forever.”
“Oh really?” Daphne started getting dressed again, but she stalled a bit for this new information. “Who?”
“That’s just the thing! Everyone seems to know every detail about him but his name,” Ethel stepped over to help Daphne situate her clothes. “But the rumor is that he’s practically snubbed every attempted match in favor of journey’s to far off lands where the women are more ‘plump for the picking’.”
“How mysterious! Well, don’t delay with the dresses then. Because I fully intend to go to every event I can in hopes we cross paths!”
"You can count on me, milady. I won't disappoint." Ethel tied her sash and not so inconspicuously stuffed her pockets full of candies as she heard Geoff arrive with the car. “I'm going to let your dresses out a bit more than usual this time. So eat well, don't disappoint me!”
Daphne patted her pocket with a knowing smile. "You can be certain I won't!"