Except...
Silk corset, circa 1891, from a collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
It probably didn't happen quite the way you think. There probably wouldn't have been much petting on regions anywhere on the torso--and if there was, the heroine probably didn't feel much of it under a corset and multiple layers of clothing. Don't believe me? Check out this article on How to Undress a Victorian Lady in Your Next Historical Romance.
Author Deanne Gist gave a detailed demonstration at the RWA conference back in 2011, and a reporter was there to capture the experience. The article goes into detail, with the addition of a video and a slideshow gallery, on how a lady of that era would dress, and the difficulty of doing so even with a lady's maid.
Gist also dispelled myths on various situations commonly used in romance novels for the hero and heroine to get intimate, such as a brief encounter in a carriage. There would be no disrobing, as it would have been far too difficult and time-consuming just for the lady to undress, much less the hero. More likely, it involved the tossing up of skirts--assuming she wasn't wearing a hobble skirt or similar slim-lined skirt. (We'll leave out the details for my more modest readers--I do usually write sweet romances, after all!)
It was a very interesting and informative article, and I hope someday to be able to see Gist's lecture and demonstration in person. I highly encourage anyone who is writing historical fiction to learn more about fashion, particularly when it comes to romantic scenes where articles of clothing may or may not be removed.
*wink*
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