Rina put on a stark black cocktail gown that clung to her figure, revealing her naked shoulders. As they walked into the dining salon, an hour later, every male eye followed them.
Possessively Margaret reached across the table and patted Rina's hand.
"You look lovely, my dear."
Margaret put down the towel and turned to look at herself in the full-length mirror.
Pleased with her reflection, she ran her hands down along her sides, then stretched luxuriously. Her small breasts with their tiny nipples were no larger than many men's, and her hips were flat and her legs straight.
She slipped into the silk pajamas, quickly buttoning the fly front of the long, man-tailored trousers, then fastening the tightly fitting bolero jacket.
She brushed her dark hair straight back and pinned it.
Once more, she glanced at the mirror. At a quick glance, few could tell her from a male.
Pleased, she left the bathroom and entered the stateroom.
"You can go in now, Rina."
Rina stared at her in amazement.
"Miss Bradley – Peggy, I mean – those pajamas!"
Margaret smiled at her. "Like them?"
Rina nodded. Margaret was pleased. "They're made of genuine Chinese brocade.
A friend sent me the material from San Francisco. I designed them myself." One thing she could always say for Sally – she had good taste. Of all the things she had ever given her, these pajamas were her favorite.
Rina got out of her chair and took a cotton nightgown from the bureau. She started for the bathroom.
"Wait a minute," Margaret said.
She went to her bureau and took out a small box.
"While I was at it," she said, "I also bought you a few nightgowns."
She watched Rina's face as she opened the box. "They're real silk!"
"I was afraid that all you had were those horrible school shifts."
Rina looked down at the box. "There's a different color for every night in the week," she said. "They're all so beautiful, I don't know which to wear first."
Margaret smiled again. "Why don't you wear the white one tonight?"
"O.K.," Rina said. She picked it up and started again for the bathroom. She stopped at the door.
"I don't know how to thank you, Peggy," she said gratefully.
"You make everything seem so wonderful."
Margaret laughed happily. "That's just the way I want it to be for you," she said.
She looked at Rina as if the idea had just come to her. "What do you say we celebrate tonight?
While you're changing, I’ll order a bottle of champagne.
We'll have a little party all by ourselves."
"That would be fun." Rina smiled. "I always wanted to drink champagne but Father would never let me."
"Well, this will be a secret between us." Margaret laughed, reaching for the telephone. "I promise I won't tell him."
Rina put down her glass and began to giggle.
Margaret leaned back in her chair, still holding hers by its fragile stem.
"What's funny?"
"My nightgown crinkles and gives off tiny sparks when I move."
"That's static electricity," Margaret said. "Silk is a very good conductor."
"I know," Rina answered quickly. "I remember that from your class." She ran her hand down along the gown. "It gives off tiny blue sparks. Can you see them?"
"No."
Rina leaped to her feet.
"I'll turn off the lights," she said. "You'll be able to see them then."
She turned off the lights and stood in front of Margaret.
"Watch," she said.
She ran her hands down the sides of her gown. There was a faint crackling and tiny sparks appeared at her fingertips.
Rina picked up her glass and emptied it. She held the glass toward Margaret.
"May I have some more, Peggy?"
"Of course," Margaret answered, refilling her glass.
Rina held it to her lips and sipped.
"Champagne is nothing but pop made from wine," she said seriously. "But it tastes better. It's not as sweet."
"It's getting warmer in here, don't you think?"