Whatever his future held, he was convinced it would be filled with the unexpected and laughter. Much laughter and happiness. Lowering his lips to hers, he whispered, “My joy,” before losing himself in her once again.
Epilogue
September 1817
Denton Hall
Dory flopped downinto the chair at the table in the garden. “I’m so tired, I may just sleep here.”
Lissette chuckled. “We didn’t walkthatfar.”
“Not far? We were in the woods for two hours!” How could Lissette appear ready for the next ball? She still hadn’t taken a chair yet. “Are you not tired?”
Lissette shook her head as she walked to a blackberry bush and plucked a berry off. “This is the most beautiful garden I’ve seen since arriving in England. The natural chaos of the plants and flowers makes it feel welcoming. It reminds me of walking in the woods, but with fewer trees.”
Dory studied the wild garden, quite happy it was hers now. There was surely none other like it among those of any of her peers. “I like to think that the plants are happy to do as they wish.”
“I would be happy if I could do as I wish as well.” Lissette turned around and finally took a seat. “But Grandmaman has expectations.” She popped the blackberry into her mouth.
“I understand. I do hope you like being at the school.” She noticed the butler coming out with lemonade, no doubt sent by Fen. “I know there is much to learn, but you are very quick to understand.”
As the butler set down the tray with the glasses, Lissette waited. After he’d left, she waited still longer before answering, always intentional in her comments and actions. “It is not as exciting as when I lived in France, but it is very safe. I had forgotten what it was like to be safe.”
Dory took a large swallow of lemonade, thankful for its coolness as it went down. “If wearing men’s clothes and learning to throw knives and to track animals like we did today was all part of your days, I’m not surprised the school here is a bit boring for you. What we read about in books, you’ve actually done.”
Lissette twirled the glass, not yet taking a sip. “It may seem romantic, but it was not. It was war, and those of us who lived there were caught in the middle. We did what we had to, as would you have.”
As much as she’d like to think that she would have adapted, she was far less sure after learning more about Lissette’s life, something her friend had just begun to share with her. Little did the other Curious Ladies know how fitting their nickname of Dague was for Lissette. Not only did she have skills they would never have, but she was precise, sharp, and to the point in her actions.
“Did you try on the pantaloons?”
She grinned at Lissette’s question. “I did. I fear my behind is much larger than yours, making them indecently tight, but since my husband is sure to enjoy them that way, I’m very pleased with them.”
“Ah, you mean he will enjoyyou.” Lissette’s dark eyes held knowledge far beyond her years.
Dory refused comment on that, taking another gulp of lemonade instead. Her husband was most inventive in ways and places for them to enjoy each other’s bodies. She quite enjoyed the challenges of inventing her own. She studied the area whereshe and Lissette sat. It was in view of the house, but only the second floor. It definitely had possibilities.
“I am pleased that you found the earl and that he finally recognized what a wonderful person you are.”
Dory shook her head. “I never imagined how enjoyable it would be confounding the earl or that it would lead to love. I can only surmise that I was able to keep him wondering about my ideas long enough for him to appreciate my many charms.”
Lissette looked askance at her. “As to that, you may enjoy those pantaloons. I still have another pair that Grandmaman doesn’t know of. The rest, she made me burn.”
It took her a moment to remember what they had been speaking about. “The rest?”
“Oui, I did not wear dresses once the war started. It was far too dangerous.” Lissette finally lifted her glass and took a delicate sip before continuing. “I enjoy these pretty dresses, but they are not so good for tracking,non?”
“No, they are not.” Dory grinned sheepishly. She’d barely kept up with Lissette, but the woman knew so much, Dory had been anxious to learn it all, especially that there were indeed many bunnies in the forest.
She definitely missed the school, though. She’d asked both Rose and Lissette to visit, but Rose didn’t want to leave her studies. She understood that feeling. “I so enjoyed our trek through the woods, and as promised, I will return the favor this evening. Which philosopher are you most interested in learning about?”
“Jean-Jacques Rousseau.”
Lissette’s quick answer didn’t surprise her. The woman never meandered in her thoughts, like Dory did. “This French philosopher writes much on equality and the state of man. I believe there are two of his works in our library here, though the school has a good dozen. He was quite interested in man’snatural state and how he was the same in two ways yet different in his perfectibility from animals. He believes that a man can improve himself. I believe that by attending our school, we all seek to improve upon ourselves—otherwise, why attend? I wonder, though, if there are different motivations for each woman or if at the heart of it, we all attend for a similar reason. I do not believe the latter is the case, as from my talks with fellow students, I have been given different reasons. But if we could look at all these reasons and discover that we all essentially want to improve ourselves, then that is what could be said for the Curious Ladies.”
Lissette held her hand out. “As you say it, it does make sense, though I lost where man’s nature is involved.”
“I apologize. I promise to focus on the philosopher’s ideas this evening and not my own.”
