At a Spanish dinner party a young lady fanned between her thighs on a hot summer’s night and exclaimed “Aaah, such heat!”. 
Was she signalling a message to one of the other guests? Or was she just hot and cooling her fanny with her fan?
During the old victorian days (and before) when women had to have Chaperones, were not permitted any privacy with men and society was oh so 'prim & proper' how did they attract the attention of men 
Apparently with their Fans.
