Miranda turned her back to her husband, bending her head slightly and stretching her hands away from her sides, keeping them at hip level. Wesley brought the two sides in contact with Miranda’s hands who inserted her fingers inside a glove-like device sewn inside the cloak. Her fingers went through on both sides and reappeared on the other side. Wesley then laid the top end of the garment on her long, elegant neck, letting the two strings fall forward on both sides and moved in front to tie the two strings below her choker. In this position, the cape had a diamond shape that covered her whole body from behind, leaving only her head and her tall boots visible.
Once Wesley finished, Miranda brought her hands together, wrapping the cloak over her body in front, leaving visible only one hand resting on the wrapped cloak, her lower legs and part of her thighs. Wesley passed her handbag to her, and took their masks from the bed and they made their way to the front door. Anybody seeing them go down the steps in front of their house to the black Mercedes waiting for them would have seen a couple going out to a Halloween party. No-one would have guessed the lady was naked under her cloak.
— — — — — — —
In a private car, on the way to the girls’ party, 6.45 p.m.
The four girls were seated in a mini-van, on two couches facing each other. The panel separating them from the chauffeur enabled them to speak freely even though the chauffeur who had been sent by the organisers probably knew what it was all about.
“So, girls,” Gaëlle said to her three companions around her, “what band colour do you intend wearing this evening?”
“I’ll start with blue,” Cassandra answered, “then change to purple once we get to the Members’ party. Like I did last year.”
Gaëlle laughed provocatively.
“Sure you can do that? Look at you, where are you going to keep your reserve band?”
“Oops,” Cassie brought her open palm to her mouth, feigning dismay, “didn’t think of that. No pocket in this costume I am wearing.”
“Why not your ass hole?” Belinda teased. “You’ll not be using it until you go purple. ‘Twill be safe there.”
Cassandra elbowed Belinda for her bad joke as Sachita, perplexed, queried.
“What are you talking about?” She was the only one of the four attending for the first time and all she knew was what the others had told her.
Her three companions laughed in unison as Cassandra set about explaining to the neophyte,
“Last year, I wore blue during the main party because I wanted to avoid ass fucking until the Members’ party. You don’t appreciate it as much if your hole gets too sore.”
“You could still have politely refused in case anyone asked in the main party,” Sachita objected.
“Yes, of course. The principle of free consent, never coerced. But you know I don’t like refusing. Here I am with a purple band saying my ass is available. Then, when they ask for it, I say ‘no’. It’s like deception, false advertising. But if I’m wearing blue, nobody will ask and I won’t have to refuse.”
“Last year,” Gaëlle completed her explanation, “she kept the purple in her pocket and swapped the bands once we were upstairs. This year, no pocket, no swapping.”