“Oh, just getting our lovely French lady, Madam Bouffant, settled into her room downstairs.”
“Madam Bouffant?” Frederick raised his eyebrows in question.
“Yes, she’s awidowfrom Paris, who traveled all the way here after reading about the tranquility and beauty of the lakes in Wordsworth’s guidebook.”
“Nonsense!” Frederick said. “She left France when she was nine years—”
Lord Frederick’s words were cut short when Nate’s elbow hit his ribs.
“I dare say! What are you about?” Frederick exclaimed when he regained his breath.
“What are you about bringing a courtesan to myhome?” Nate lowered his voice to a hiss. “Let’s hope Miss De Lacey’s ingenuity saves the day. Now, the least you can do is play along.”
“I say, Frederick, that was a rather bold move.” A sandy-haired, bearded gentleman with deep-set gray eyes and a gentle face remarked.
“Shh, it’s a secret, apparently.” Frederick grinned.
Nate glared at his friend.
Frederick shrugged. “It was an error in judgment.”
“I’ll say as much,” the fourth gentleman said. He had dark curls, round black eyes, and plump lips.
“Miss De Lacey, may I introduce Lord Dodsworth and Mr. Jefferson.”
The two gentlemen gave a slight bow and then exchanged a look that plainly saidshe’s the daughter of thefelo de se. Bridget lifted her chin, determined not to let their opinion of her papa affect her.
“We’re off to the smoking room,” Nate said, with a look that clearly said,I’m sorry. Bridget nodded, somewhat relieved that he had turned one of the unused rooms into a smoking room for the gentlemen to enjoy their cigars.
“That sounds lovely. Gentlemen. I hope you enjoy your stay at Villa De Lacey. Dinner will be served at six o’clock.” She bid them goodbye and continued down the stairs. Upon returning to Madam Bouffant’s room, she placed the clothing and the book on the canopy bed.
“What’s all this?” The actress picked up the copy of Wordsworth’s guidebook and frowned at the cover.
“You said that you can read, correct?”
“Of course! I am an actress, so I have had to learn.”
“Excellent,” Bridget said. “Then, I’d like you to read as much ofthat guidebook as you can. Carry it with you, so you can gush about what you’ve read and how it inspired you to cross the Channel for a visit. Bear in mind, I will want it back, so I intend to retrieve it from you sometime later.”
“Ooh la la, this is fancy.” Madam Bouffant dropped the book onto the bed and picked up the soft green shawl. She wrapped it around her shoulders and smiled. “Very elegant.”
“It’s from Paris, so it might help your disguise.”
“My disguise? I am Parisian, so it’s not a disguise,” she said, now speaking in an impressive French accent.
“I think you know what I mean.” Bridget lowered her voice. “You are playing the part of a widowed, upper-class French lady, so you will need to dress more conservatively. The shawl will help you with that.”
Madam Bouffant glanced down at her ample bosom peeking out of her low-cut neckline and threw back her head, laughing. “I see what you mean, yes. And I have just the thing to pin this lovely shawl together and keep my bosoms hidden from the fair ladies.” She opened her reticule and pulled out an elegant floral brooch encrusted with emeralds and diamonds.
Bridget gasped. “How exquisite!” She wondered if it was real. If it were, it must have cost a fortune. Then to her shame, a fleeting thought that Madam Bouffant could have stolen it passed through her mind.
“I know what you’re thinking. I didn’t steal it.”
Bridget felt her cheeks pink. “Not at all.”
“Of course, you did.” The actress chuckled. “Anyone would think as much. That’s why I rarely wear it. Either I’ll be accused of stealing it, or a real thief will have it off me in seconds.”
“Where did you get it, if you don’t mind my asking?”
