[missile]

Sally swept her niece up into yet another hug. Dara suffered it will ill grace.

?Dammit, Aunt, you?ve expressed your gratitude sufficiently!? She wrestled her way free of the embrace, scooting down her aunt?s lap.

?Don?t swear, child,? Sally said absently, ?but I?m still so thankful. You sacrificed so much for me, that night.?

?Shush, dear, you?ve always been there for me or my family. It was the least I could do.? She swung her legs down and dropped to the floor. ?Besides, I gained more than I lost, that night.?

Her fianc? turned from where he stoked the fire to give her a loving smile and a wink. She ran across the floor to grab at his waist in a hug.

When Godfrey stood, she automatically measured herself against his leg. It seemed that she?d gained some height since the official measuring on Sunday, last, but it was hard to be sure how much.

?Yes, virtue becomes you,? he said, looking down at her and knowing exactly what she was up to. ?You?ll be quite your normal self by the wedding. In fact,? he said slowly, ?if you should stop swearing, you might be back to normal before meeting my parents.?

?Bugger that,? she muttered. ?No sex, no liquor, no civilized pursuits? I have to have SOMETHING worth doing.?

They had determined that virtuous behavior restored her height. The greater her virtue, the greater her rate of growth. Vice hadn?t caused her to shrink since the night at the Baron?s, but it did seem to retard the restoration of stature.

The newly promoted Captain took the lack of shrinking as a sign they were meant to be together. Actions of vice between two people destined to be together must get a pass from whatever curse had afflicted her.

Sally accepted the officer?s explanation, and Dara pretended to. Privately, she felt that no matter what society?s view was, acts between two who truly loved one another could not be considered vice. She walked back towards Sally and the basket of wedding invitations. The two women shared a smile.

?Well, all my debts are done, now, and I have you two to thank.?

?All done, Sally?? Peters asked. ?I thought that between the Baron?s pardon and my offer, you were only close to solvency.

?Ah, but there was also an offer from Mr. Williams.?

?Aunt Sally!? Dara protested. ?Surely you?re not still conspiring on his behalf??

?Oh, no, dear. I just sold him your corset. He seemed quite, quite keen on it.?


The end...