Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon

with crisp white aprons.
    "We have orders to prepare you a tub bath," one of them told her.
    Victoria could hardly contain her joy as they brought in a galvanized tub and filled it with hot water. As they had traveled across country, she had been forced to wash herself as best she could from a pan of water—or sometimes from an icy stream. Her last tub bath had been before she left Farraday Plantation.
    Bodine came in just as the two maids were leaving. He smiled at her over an armload of packages.
    "What have you there?" Victoria asked him, puzzled.
    He set the packages on her bed and turned to her. "Well, why don't you see for yourself, Imp," he said, smiling down at her.
    Victoria walked over to the packages and picked up the card that was lying on top. She opened it and read:
    "Happy eighteenth birthday, love Bodine"
    "It is my birthday," she said softly. She could hardly credit that it was her birthday and she had not even been aware of it. A smile brightened her face as she ran to Bodine and threw herself into his arms. "You did not forget," she said, tears shining in her eyes.
    "No, Imp, I could not forget something as important as your eighteenth birthday."
    "Oh, thank you, thank you, Bodine. It is the best birthday I have ever had."
    He dislodged her arms from around his waist. "Why not save your thanks until you open them. Besides, as I recall, every year on your birthday, you say it is the best one."
    "May I open them now?" Victoria asked eagerly.
    "Of course," he told her. "But I will leave and let you open them in privacy. See if you can be bathed and dressed in two hours," he said. "I am going to buy you the best birthday dinner this town has to offer." He smiled at her and went out the door.
    Victoria rushed over to the packages and tore into them. She found a blue cotton gown. She held it in front of her and ran her fingers over the soft texture of the material. Then she laid it gently across the foot of the bed, and opened the other packages. She found undergarments and a stiff white petticoat. She smiled at the thought of Bodine shopping for the intimate garments.
    The last package contained a box of lilac soap, her favorite. She held a scented bar to her nose and breathed in its sweet fragrance. "Bodine," she said aloud, "you are the dearest man in the whole world."
    She quickly undressed and stepped into the tub of water. She lathered her hair and body with a bar of the lilac soap. The weariness of the long months in the saddle washed away from her in the luxury of the bath.
    After she had finished bathing, Victoria stood before the mirror of the small dressing table. She was slimmer now, and her body was firm from long hours in the saddle. She looked at her face and noticed with horror how dark it was. She had been so proud of her creamy white complexion. How was she ever going to get rid of this horrible tan?
    She hurriedly dressed herself in her new clothes, then stood before the mirror again and studied her reflection. The blue dress was simple and unadorned, but she treasured it more than if it had been the latest Paris original.
    Her hair was almost dry. It hung below her shoulders, and curled about her face in ringlets. She noticed it was a much lighter color now, bleached by the sun.
    She turned around in a circle. The skirt of her gown billowed out about her. She felt the softness of it caress her body. It was not going to be as hard as she had suspected to return to being a woman.
    There was a knock on the door and she rushed to admit Bodine. He had also bathed and shaved. His hair was neatly combed, and he wore a new shirt and pants. Victoria gave him a mock curtsy. "La, sir, are we not grand?" she teased.
    He looked her over. "Very pretty, Miss Farraday," he said soberly, the twinkle in his eyes giving the lie to his formal words. "Shall we dine?" He offered her his arm.
    Victoria linked her arm through his. "I do declare, sir, you do know how to please a lady." Then she said seriously, "Thank