Bal Masque Read Online Free PDF Page A

laughed heartily at the idea.
    “No, he might not, if he knew, but if he didn’t, and you were the girl on the other side of the altar after it was all over, he’d be too honorable and decent not to stay with you.” Lucienne grinned, a wicked chuckle bubbling up at the look on Dorcas’s face. “And I know how to make sure you’re that girl.”
    “It don’t sound like somethin’ that would work, more like some fairy story somebody made up a long time ago.” Dorcas untied her apron and wiped her forehead with the hem.
    “No, listen to me.” Lucienne told her of the masquerade ball wedding and the marvelous butterfly gown with its beaded mask. “Now, all we have to do is get you into my room, dress you up in that gown and mask, and let you take my place. We’re almost the same size, and the mask would cover your face. When the ball is over, you take off the mask and there you are, married to Armand Dupre. Meanwhile Philippe and I are a good distance away and getting married, too. Everybody is happier than if I marry Armand.”
    “I suppose Pardue has asked you to marry him.”
    “Oh, I know he would have if the Dupres hadn’t rushed Papa so much. Philippe said he loves me, and I know this arrangement is as dreadful for him as it is for me. He’s too much of a gentleman, too honorable, to interfere with another man’s fiancée.”
    “But he’d elope with her?” Dorcas raised a skeptical eyebrow.
    “When he realizes I’m as willing as he is, he’ll see the sense of it. So would you like to be Madame Dupre, Dorcas? Will you take the chance?”
    Dorcas leaned against the fence, her sturdy brown arms crossed before her. “You know, I would, I sure enough would, if I thought there was one chance in ten thousand that we’d get by with it.”
    “We would, I just know we would. How could we fail?”
    By way of an answer Dorcas said, “Miss Lucy Ann, hold out your hand.” Bewildered, Lucienne held out her left hand, the soft white skin covered by a delicate lace mitt. Dorcas put her own beside it. “Now, don’t you think that when that man took this rough old paw of mine and started puttin’ that sweet little band of gold on it, right off he’d notice somethin’ wrong? That is, if he hadn’t already seen that I don’t know one thing about behavin’ in fine company like you got comin’ to this masked ball. Or realized I don’t talk like you little Louisiana gals. And somehow I think he’d notice that the eyes lookin’ out at him from that fancy mask were a lot more blue than he expected.” She shook her head. A distant rumble of thunder seemed to echo her doubts. “No, Miss Lucy Ann, I’d be purely proud to be marryin’ in with that Dupre family, but it ain’t gonna work like you’re thinkin’. It just ain’t. I guess you’ll have to find someone else to stand in for you, come the day.”

Chapter Three:
    Pearls and Plots
    “You’ve kept M’sieu Armand waiting, Lucienne . ”
    Lucienne brushed Marie’s insistent urging aside. She turned before the mirror to check the fall of her skirts and the drape of her full sleeves again. The lilac-and-white promenade dress was most becoming, she thought. Armand should appreciate the picture of demure charm she made.
    “He made a special trip from the city to ride with your family to Belle Mer for the picnic and horse race this afternoon. It’s poor manners for you to delay greeting him.”
    Lucienne ignored the scolding tone. “He brought gifts, I suppose. At least he should have. Ten days is far too long for him to wait for something so important.”
    “He brought a most elegant betrothal casque. Taking his time shows he wanted exactly the right gifts for his bride; he wouldn’t be satisfied with trifles or second-rate choices.”
    Lucienne sniffed but held back the sharp comment that came to mind. Armand’s visit marked her first opportunity to enlist his cooperation with the changed wedding plans. She must have his consent as well as her