Read Online Bal Masque by Fleeta Cunningham - Free Book Online Page A

another fine reason to marry elsewhere.
    The men watching the colts turned and started for the house. Lucienne saw her father wave and a moment later two women, the girls’ mothers, so alike at this distance one could not be distinguished from the other, came from the far side of the house.
    “Our parents are coming in. It must be about time to wake Grandmère.” Lucienne felt relief at having a reason to change the subject. “We’ll be dressing for dinner pretty soon. I’ll call Marie.”
    Lucienne debated with herself all through dinner how she would induce her cousin to take part in the elopement scheme. One idea after another flitted through her brain, only to be discarded. Not until the two girls were settled in Lucienne’s wide bed, with the long sheer netting dropped to keep out inquisitive insects, could she seriously approach the topic.
    “Pierrette, is there any particular young man among the ones Uncle Gaston approved who takes your fancy?”
    “Oh, they all seem much the same to me,” Pierrette admitted. “None of them are reprehensible or repulsive to look at. All of them are very courteous and gallant. Maybe one is richer than another, but I wouldn’t know about that. Papa takes care of those things. Not one is as charming or well-featured as your Armand, of that I am sure.”
    Lucienne drew a breath. “And you would be far happier if Armand were among the ones your papa was considering.”
    “Oh, it would be unseemly for me to even comment on that.” Pierrette turned away.
    Lucienne clasped the linen-covered shoulder beside her. “Pierrette, I’m in such awful despair, and I have no one I can talk to. Can you help me, please? At least listen to my plight.”
    Spilling over with sympathy and concern, Pierrette sat up among the pillows. “What has you so disturbed, Lucienne? How can I help?”
    “I can’t marry Armand, Pierrette, I simply can’t.” Lucienne let a soft sob fill her throat. Along with a gift for mimicry, she had the ability to shed a tear or two when tears were called for. “I’ve loved Philippe Pardue for as long as I can remember. And he loves me. If Papa hadn’t rushed to accept Armand, Philippe would have asked for my hand. But the decision was made too quickly; I couldn't persuade Papa to wait.”
    “And you really don’t care for Armand at all?” Pierrette sounded amazed at the thought.
    “No, no, not at all. I’ve tried every way I can think of to end the engagement, but Papa won’t listen.” She clasped Pierrette’s soothing hand. “But you can save me from this horrible nightmare, sweet cousin.”
    “I? How could I do what you can’t?”
    Lucienne wadded her pillow so she could sit higher in the bed. “You could marry him instead.”
    Pierrette sat bolt upright. “I…I could…could marry Armand?”
    “Yes, it would be so simple. At the wedding, in your butterfly costume, with the mask and everything, you could take my place. We’d send word down to the family that you weren’t feeling well sometime early in the day. Then, instead of me coming down to the parlor, you’d take my place. The dresses are so similar that no one would ever suspect, not even Grandmère, because she hasn’t seen either gown in almost a year. You’d stand in my place, Père Jean-Baptiste would read the vows, and at midnight, when you took off the mask, you’d be married to Armand. See how very easily these things might arrange themselves?”
    “But where would you be, Lucienne? Where could you hide? You couldn’t get away with pretending to be me.”
    “Oh, no, no, no, Pierrette. As soon as Marie goes to tell Papa I’m ready, you will slip out into the gallery. In the dark no one, not even Marie, will see the difference in the dresses. Once you’re out of the room, I’ll go down the back stairs and meet Philippe and we’ll elope. By the time you unmask, Philippe and I will be hours away and married.”
    “Lucienne, what a daring plan! But I don’t think I’m