Sweet Hoyden (5 page)

'I believe he is," the girl replied in a slight but attractive accent.
"Would you have me seek him out?"

'If you please. Ask him to join us in the guest
suite."

The girl cast Pandora a curious glance. "Cer-tainement,
Tante Rosamond."

As she hurried away, Rosamond explained, "Jeanne is my cousin's
daughter, for all she calls me aunt. Francois is her brother."

'How old are they?"

The viscountess began to guide Pandora along to her suite. "Jeanne is
sixteen and Francois is nineteen."

'Am I supposed to be their mother?" Pandora asked, aghast at the very
notion.

Her friend laughed. "No, I think not. You shall be their aunt. At least
Francois's aunt."

Before Pandora could question her friend any further on the matter,
Rosamond ushered her into an airy sitting room leading to a boudoir and bedchamber.

'This is quite splendid," Pandora told her. "It appears exceeding
comfortable, and I am most obliged to you."

For once the viscountess looked somber. "I am persuaded you would
prefer to be at

Pandora sighed. "Just now it is the last place I would want to be.
Seeing Asheville continuing his life as if nothing had happened makes me all
the more resolved to carry on with this masquerade now it is begun,
and"—she immediately brightened-"it is going to be such fun; after
that encounter I know it."

'One matter I must caution you upon. Do not overdo your attempts to speak in
French. My cousin had an English father and an English governess. She speaks
English almost as well as we do."

'I am most relieved to hear you say so," Pandora responded. "My
French is strictly limited, despite all my governess's attempts to teach me
fluency."

The two friends were chattering happily when

Jeanne returned. She was a bouncy girl with fair hair and blue eyes who
showed not the slightest sign of despondency at having to leave her native
country so precipitately.

'Francois will be here presently, Tante Rosa," the girl announced.

'Come in, my dear, and meet my old friend, Pandora, Lady Asheville."

Jeanne sketched a pretty curtsy. "It is an honor to make your
acquaintance, my lady."

'And I yours, Jeanne," Pandora responded.

'If you are Lady Asheville, it must have been your husband Lord St. James
left with a few moments ago."

'Yes, it was."

'My congratulations on your good fortune, my lady.
Lord Asheville is exceeding handsome."

'Don't be impudent, Jeanne," Lady St. James warned.

Pandora stiffened at such praise being directed toward her unworthy husband.
"He is a blackguard, I assure you. Do not allow his charm to blind you to
his true nature, my dear."

The girl was wide-eyed at her compliment being taken in such a manner. In
truth she still found the English a strange race and difficult to understand.

'All will be explained presently," Rosamond told her, "when
Francois arrives. Ah, here he is now."

Francois de Fontenac bore a great resemblance to his sister. Blue-eyed and
fair-haired, he was fashionably attired and sported an air of gaiety Pandora
had not expected to see in him. After the introductions had been completed they
all sat down, and
Rosa
quickly explained the
situation to the young couple.

'How can anyone be angry with you, my lady?" Francois asked, and
Pandora dimpled.

'Do you mean to say Lord Asheville did not recognize his own wife?"
Jeanne asked in astonishment. "I find that exceeding odd."

'I wish you had been there to see it for yourself," her cousin replied.

'I was never more afraid in my life," Pandora added with a chuckle.
"I can scarce credit it even now. There was not a flicker of recognition.
I vow!"

'If Lord Asheville is angry with you now, my lady," Jeanne ventured,
"will he not be even more so when he discovers what you are about?"

'I am of the opinion, he cannot be more angry than he is now.
Naturally," she added with a sigh, "if this little ruse goes wrong in
any way, I am like to be banished to Tunbridge Wells, where his awesome mama
is in residence. That possibility is too awful to contemplate. On one occasion
I overheard her telling my husband he had taken leave of his senses for
marrying me, when there were so many other more suitable matches
available."

Francois frowned. "One thing I cannot fully understand is why you wish
to do this, my lady."

'

'Tis quite simple, I assure you," Rosamond
explained. "Lady Asheville does not wish to miss all the diversions here
in town."

'In addition," Pandora supplemented, "I hope to catch
Asheville
in an
indiscretion of his own."

'I had hoped you might have abandoned that idea," Lady St. James said
wryly.

'I am more than ever in favor of it," came the
reply.

'If you will pardon my saying so," Jeanne ventured, "I consider
this plan a mite crackbrained."

Francois glanced at his sister sharply before saying, "Be assured, my
lady, we will render you every assistance in this matter."

'That is exceeding kind of you," Pandora murmured.

'What exactly is it you would have us do?" Jeanne inquired, and it was
clear she was far from assured.

'It was necessary for you to know what we were about," Rosamond went
on. "From now on, Lady Asheville is to be known as Louise de Chambray. It
did occur to me that she will be expected to be accompanied by a French maid.
Jeanne, would you be willing to accompany Lady Asheville in that capacity when
she is abroad? In this house her own abigail will attend her."

The girl looked understandably startled by the suggestion. "A maid! You wish me to act as a maidservant?"

'All you will be expected to do is accompany me in public," Pandora
explained.

'Well, yes, I suppose it is possible for me to do that," the girl
replied, still not certain. "It would be a great lark, would it not? But
Mama intends to introduce me into Society here in
London
, and would it not look odd that a
lady's maid… ?"

'No one ever looks at an abigail," Rosamond explained. "You need
not fear for that, my dear. When it is time for your come-out, no one will
connect you with Louise de Chambray's maidservant."

'

'Indeed, he does not! Roddy couldn't possibly keep a secret, not for a
moment. He would blurt it out, even though he wouldn't mean to. Roddy must
never know of this, poor dear."

Francois got to his feet. "Then it is all settled. Madame, we will
assist you in any way you desire. I am your servant. It will be my pleasure to
make Lord Asheville rue the day he ever made you unhappy. The man can scarce
be human to use you so."

Such a gallant declaration should have heartened Pandora, but strangely,
she found herself feeling suddenly bereft.

FOUR

It appeared to Pandora that she would be much safer within the confines of
St. James House, but she acknowledged that this course might defeat her
objective, so when Francois came down to breakfast and suggested an outing, she recalled she had several purchases to make at
various emporiums about the town.

Accompanied by Jeanne, who wore a dowdy gown and chipstraw hat pulled low
over her face, and Frangois, Pandora set out in the St. James carriage for

'From all I have observed," Jeanne murmured, "the emporiums of

'I am quite sure you're correct," Pandora agreed, "although I have
never, alas, visited
Paris
."

'It can be of no matter which are best," Francois pointed out.
"You only have

The girl cast him a disgusted look. "What Ma-man would say if she
should see me dressed up as a ladies' maid, I do not know, but I own it is an
experience."

'She would wholeheartedly approve," her brother told her. "I am
very happy to play my part."

'Have you suffered a change of heart, Jeanne?" Pandora inquired.
"If you have, you will not be obliged to continue."

The girl looked away quickly. "No, 'tis only that I quite like Lord
Asheville and feel guilty at helping to hoodwink him."

'You are not obliged to do any such thing," Pandora assured her.
"I would not for anything wish for you to do anything against your
will."

'I have given my word, my lady. I will do whatever is necessary to render
you a service."

'If you are certain… You too, Francois."

'It is for a gentleman to always come to the rescue of a lady in
distress," he vowed.

'You may be sure I am indebted to both of you," Pandora told them in
heartfelt tones. "Without your aid I fear this ruse will not
succeed."

'Have no fear, my lady, we will make it succeed," Frangois assured her
yet again. "You are bound to be uncertain today on your very first outing
in town."

'You have so many worries of your own," Pandora answered
sympathetically. "Mine pale to insignificance when compared to your
hardship of late."

'That is only a temporary madness," Frangois pointed out cheerfully.
"As soon as the King regains control of the country, we shall return to
Fon-tenac."

'Providing Fontenac is still there for us to return to," his sister
pointed out.

'I refuse to consider that possibility," Frangois told her in a firm
voice.

'Well, I for one have no wish to return,"
Jeanne told him pointedly. "I like
London
,
and I would like to stay and make my debut here. It would be nice, I think, to
marry an English gentleman."

'How do you know it would be nice?" her brother asked. "You have
encountered so few gentlemen since you arrived here."

'What I have seen of them I like," Jeanne insisted.

'We shall see if they like you," her brother said, and Pandora was
relieved that they had reached their first call.

'If you do remain," Pandora told the girl quietly, "by then I
should be well established as a Society hostess, so I shall endeavor my best to
promote you when you make your debut."

With uncharacteristic humility Jeanne lowered her eyes, murmuring, "I
am obliged to you, my lady."

It was only when Pandora entered the first emporium and surveyed the
wonderful goods on display that she discovered a serious drawback to her plan.
She needed to make several purchases, which she was naturally unable to charge
to the account of the Countess of Asheville, and having only a small amount of
pin money by her, Pandora was temporarily at a loss as to how she could afford
to buy what she required. However, she soon discovered that mercers were more
than anxious to extend credit to the newly arrived emigres, many of whom were
able to bring much of their considerable wealth with them, so Pandora opened
an account in the name of the Comtesse de Chambray and resolved to pay as soon
as she became Lady Asheville once more.

As they returned to the carriage after their last call, Pandora realized she
had encountered several people of close acquaintance, including her own
godmother, who had passed her by as a stranger. Accordingly Pandora looked upon
the expedition, which had been a means of testing her disguise, as a complete
success. Naturally she had attracted many curious glances—that was only to be
expected of a stranger—but no one had exhibited any sign of recognizing her.

Feeling much more confident now, Pandora climbed back into the carriage,
having had to remind Jeanne in a low voice on more than one occasion that it
was her duty to carry the parcels and walk behind her mistress, something the
girl exhibited a definite reluctance to do. Not for the first time did Pandora
wonder if they had asked too much of her, for it was evident Jeanne would have
preferred to join in the choice and purchase of gewgaws.

'That was a most successful outing, I believe," Frangois declared as
the carriage prepared to return to

'If Lord Asheville himself did not recognize his wife, it is doubtful that a
mere acquaintance would do so," his sister replied with no such
enthusiasm.

'I am enjoying this immensely," Pandora confided, hoping to instill
some of her own enthusiasm into Jeanne. "I feel as if I am seeing everyone
and everything in quite a different manner."

'It must be a trifle peculiar," Jeanne ventured, "that one's
husband is living at another address in the same town."

Pandora laughed. "How old-fashioned of you, my
dear."

Not accustomed to being laughed at, Jeanne responded, "Are you not
afraid that in your absence Lord Asheville will find another lady to his
fancy?"

Pandora's smile faded. "I certainly hope so—as long as that lady is
Madame de Chambray."

However, the barb had hit home, and Pandora was now concerned for her
husband's love life, which had been known to be vigorous before their marriage.
It was not likely he would exist for long without a woman in his life, Pandora
was certain, and the knowledge disconcerted her in no small measure, something
no doubt intended by the mischievous French girl.

'Lord Asheville is not deserving of her ladyship's devotion," Frangois told
his sister.

'The entire affair seems exceeding strange to me, but if I am to remain in
this country, I dare say I must learn to understand English ways." Having
done her mischief, Jeanne turned to peer out of the window. "How odd that
we should be speaking of him, for I declare that is Lord Asheville over
there."