Chapter 36 First Court Dinner

• "Lola, does the corset really need to be that tight?" I was almost out of breath, and my waist already looked smaller than usual in the mirror, but Lola was still trying to shrink it.
• "Miss Emily, you don't know that those aristocratic ladies don't eat or drink for three days before the feast, just to show off their slender curves and proud breasts!" Lola stuck her head out from behind my waist and looked at me in the mirror. "Trust me, the ladies will be privately commenting on everyone's dress and body. Their comments at dinner parties will be passed off as gossip by slave girls too! Miss Emily, I really don't want you to be in those negative comments!"
• Then Lola let go her hands at last and stood aside, looking at me for a long moment after her relief. It was like a painter admiring his final work.