Ingrid was disconcerted at having this unknown woman in the bathing room with her, but she guessed that she was someone important, else the guards would never have allowed her to get this close. And she seemed so nice, so concerned...and she had an adorable dog.<br/><br/>"I am fine, have no worries, my lady," she said with a smile. "I am about done with my bath as it is."<br/><br/>She nodded to Irina, who brought over a large, white towel to wrap around her, allowing her to exit the tub as modestly as she could.<br/><br/>"I am afraid I do not know your name, my lady," she said. "But you are welcome to join me as I dress. I will have a servant bring tea."<br/><br/>She nodded to Irina who sent a servant off to fetch a samovar. Irina also dropped a towel on Lapochka and rubbed him a bit so he wouldn't drip everywhere in the princess' boudoir.<br/><br/>Ingrid led everyone into her boudoir where Irina began to help her dress for the dinner. First on was the delicate, sheer, lacy chemisette over her chest and the proper, matching pantaloons. Next was the most painful part, the corset. Irina worked hard as Ingrid held her breath to hook the stiff whalebone around her already tiny waist. Next came the hoops for her skirts and the lacy petticoats over them. Finally came the sky blue silk gown over it.<br/><br/>The gown was deeply cut at the neckline, revealing Ingrid's generous bosom - pushed up by the corset. The tiny puffed sleeves hung off her shoulders, leaving the pristine, untouched skin bare, and also revealing her slender bare arms.<br/><br/>Irina pulled Ingrid's golden hair up into a soft coil at the top of her head and studded her hair with delicate flower-shaped diamonds. She wore flower-shaped diamonds in her ears, but no other jewelry. Excitement painted Ingrid's cheeks with a faint pink and gave her deepened her blue eyes into pools of night.<br/><br/>The dress was very revealing, more revealing than anything Ingrid had ever worn before. She felt her breath catch at the thought of Alexei's rough hands touching the bare skin of her shoulders and arms, strange little shivers tingling between her legs. As Irina put the finished touches on her toilette, Ingrid found her throat had grown hot and dry at the thought of tall, handsome, strong Alexei so close to her.<br/><br/>The servant arrived with tea and quickly left.