Masquerading the Marquess Read Online Free PDF

painting this Saturday. Mr. Franklin still has the ague."
     
    Calliope sighed. For as long as she could remember, she had worked backstage at the Adelphi Theatre, filling in for whoever was absent. Set painting was just one of the many tasks she had undertaken over the years.
     
    "How did I get roped into that again?"
     
    Deirdre wagged her finger at her. "No complaining, remember?"
     
    "I wish I hadn’t been so excited when my first caricature sold. Otherwise I never would have told you to remind me not to complain about working backstage."
     
    "Well, you mustn’t blame me. I wasn’t even in the Life in London production. Blame Robert."
     
    But Calliope would never blame Robert for anything. She had met Robert Cruikshank backstage two years ago when the Adelphi produced Life in London . Robert had helped illustrate the famous serial by Pierce Egan and had popped in for several of the performances during its over three-hundred-night run at the Adelphi. One night he had ventured backstage and observed Calliope creating illustrations of the dandies who patronized the rooms of the actresses after each performance. He had been her secret sponsor ever since, toting her caricatures to Ackermann’s and returning with her profits. Under his tutelage her caricatures had become increasingly popular.
     
    "I suppose I can fit painting into my schedule. Drawing in the park is never as nice as sitting in the middle of paint fumes all day."
     
    A hatbox fell from a shelf and Deirdre grunted as it hit her shoulder and bounced off. "I’m not going to feel sorry for you, if that’s what you’re after. At least you won’t be practicing dance steps all day with that taskmaster St. Albin." She shuddered as she bent to retrieve the box. "I swear the man has taken lessons from Satan himself."
     
    " Dee !"
     
    Deirdre shot her a look of pure innocence. "I’m only stating the obvious, Callie."
     
    Calliope chuckled and walked toward the closet. "What are you doing in there? I have to meet with Robert’s cousin soon and I need an appropriate garment."
     
    Deirdre muttered what sounded like a mild obscenity and then triumphantly held up a flowing piece of material. "Here it is."
     
    "Um, where’s the rest of it?"
     
    Deirdre shot her a long-suffering look. "You will look fabulous in this. Now try it on."
     
    Deirdre thrust the dress toward Calliope. The soft silk whispered against her hand, and she fought the urge to stroke the gorgeous fabric against her cheek. It was a lovely shade of turquoise and the material seemed to pool around her.
     
    Deirdre shoved her toward the dressing room and bustled around picking up odds and ends, periodically dismissing and keeping items.
     
    Calliope slowly undressed and slipped on the gown. Deirdre helped her fasten and arrange the material.
     
    "Now, this is excellent."
     
    Calliope frowned. "I repeat, where’s the rest of it?"
     
    "Now, none of that. It was your idea to pose as a courtesan, and you certainly can’t play the role in your typical clothes. Besides, it’s about time we got you into something a little flashier. With all of those drab, dull outfits it’s no wonder you didn’t pick up an admirer or two."
     
    " Dee , you know how difficult it is in the foreground. Too much attention would’ve dragged me further into the viper’s nest, and made it more difficult to hide our lies."
     
    "Your companion references were well faked. Our contact has been superb in digging up the necessary documents each time. But you did garner your share of attention during the 'grand exit' "
     
    "And, unfortunately I’ve brought myself to this."
     
    "This will be a splendid entertainment. You just have to immerse yourself in the role. Mistress to a cousin of a duke and earl, how exciting!"
     
    Calliope frowned at the revealing dress. "Mistress in name only, and I’ve always been more fond of being in the chorus."
     
    "But now you must be stage front. It’s the only way to attract