Teatime with Colette:
One day, Ash awoke to an empty house. Or rather, a nearly empty mansion.
“I believe all the ladies and gentlemen went to the community pool approximately an hour ago,” Colette told her.
“Why didn’t you go, too?” Ash asked her.
“I am a vampire, and I did not want my skin to burn. It appears that we are the only two left in the mansion for now. Would you care to join me for my afternoon tea?”
Ash could think of no reason to say no, so she graciously accepted the formal vampire’s invitation. However, if she had known Colette’s afternoon teas were a formal affair, she would never, ever have accepted.
Colette led Ash to her suite. “Do you have any nice clothes to change into, Ash?” she asked.
“No, I’m afraid not,” Ash answered.
“In that case, I will just have to loan you something! Please be seated.” Ash sat down on the edge of a beautiful antique chair before a coffee table and watched as Colette disappeared into her closet. “I am afraid that I do not have any gentlemen’s clothing,” Colette called from inside the closet, “so you can just wear this.” She emerged from the closet, carrying with her the frilliest, laciest, and pinkest dress Ash had ever seen. “I can help you lace the corset if you need it. Oh, and please wear your hair down for our tea. If anyone in the club sees you, I will merely tell them I convinced you to wear a wig.”
“So y-you know?” “Know that you are a girl? Yes, I know,” Colette said sweetly, but formally. “I will leave you to change now.”
Unable to think of a way to politely say no, Ash instead put on the dress and didn’t complain, even when Colette laced the corset so tight she thought she’d faint. Ash spent the next hour listening to Colette politely chat about the weather while sampling various teas and cookies and trying not to spill anything on Colette’s beautiful dress. Once she became accustomed to moving in the constricting dress, Ash found herself enjoying the tea, Colette’s company, and even the frilly dress.
And later, after Ash had changed back into her regular clothing and the club had returned, she and Colette shared a politely sneaky smile and the unspoken agreement to have tea together again sometime.
