Read Online Bal Masque by Fleeta Cunningham - Free Book Online

felt at parting with the pearls, she began to gather up the glowing jewels. “If you had come out first, they might have been yours. I think Papa Dupre would have been as pleased to have you in the family as he is me.”
    For a moment Pierrette’s cheeks flushed at the idea, but she quickly waved it away. “Oh, no, chèrie, I’m sure he always preferred you. In any case your dowry is larger, because you’re an only child. While I have brothers to share Papa’s holdings, you will be your papa’s only heir.” She reached out to take Lucienne’s hand. “Besides, you are so much prettier than I am.”
    Secretly, Lucienne agreed. Pierrette was like a smudged copy of her vibrant cousin. Where Lucienne’s hair was the blue-black of a raven’s wing, Pierrette’s was more like a charcoal cloud. Lucienne’s black eyes sparkled with vivacious wit, but her cousin’s glowed a gentle pansy brown. Though their coloring was similar, Pierrette seemed softer, rounder in feature.
    “No young lady of the parish is prettier than you,” Lucienne assured her mendaciously.
    “I will remind you of that on your wedding day and see if you don’t disavow that kindly lie, sweet Lucienne.”
    “Enough.” Lucienne put the tempting parcel away. “Your own wedding will be coming before too long. Have you cast an eye on any fortunate man yet?” She knew Uncle Gaston had given three or four young swains of the parish leave to call.
    “I’m sure Papa will make a wise choice for me. None so handsome as your Armand, of course. But there is only one Armand Dupre, more the pity.”
    “Oh, enough of this moon talk.” Lucienne grew weary of having the Dupre virtues paraded. “Let’s go and sit in the gallery. It’s comfortable there, with the afternoon sun warming it. You can tell me about the new gowns you’re ordering for the spring balls, and the gossip down your way. You always know all the interesting news.”
    The girls took chairs at the far end of the long gallery, where they could see young colts romping in the paddock beyond the road. René Toussaint and his brother-in-law leaned on the distant rail fence, and past them Price directed three husky black men lifting dressed stone into place for a new well house.
    “ Tante Charlotte told Mama that someone had been filching things from your storehouse.”
    “Oh, Mama is always worrying about something. I think she was more upset because some of Papa’s special wine was gone. He’s been raising the very devil with her and everybody else over that. I heard him tell Price to find out who did it or plan to have the cost taken out of his wages.” Lucienne wondered why Pierrette bothered to listen to such day-to-day details.
    “When we have households of our own to run, I suppose we’ll have to be just as vigilant as our mothers about such things. It will be our responsibility.” Pierrette looked out toward the workmen. “You don’t think that Tante Charlotte blames the overseer, do you? He’d have the best chance of taking things, since he’d know when the storehouse was unlocked.”
    “Oh, nobody would suspect Price. He pays no attention to small matters. Papa says he’s too busy running from here to there and back again. He has bigger things to care about. Getting the cane planted and seeing to the crop and the cutting takes all his time. He’s too busy to steal. And why would he? He and Dorcas have a good life here.” Lucienne brushed a lazy fly away. “I know Mama worries about all those bits and pieces of housekeeping, but I think I’d just scream if I had to do it.”
    “Armand will expect a wife to be vigilant and take good care of his home.”
    “Surely he doesn’t think I’ll count bags of flour and bolts of calico. I’m no shopkeeper.” A soon as she said it, she knew that was exactly what Armand would expect. I won’t waste my life on such deadly chores. I want more in my life than the kitchen and pantry of some man’s house. Lucienne recognized