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

brave enough to try it. I’d be sure to say something to create suspicions, and you’d be stopped.”
    “Don’t be a goose, Pierrette. Think. We’re very much the same size. In almost duplicate dresses, after dark, no one will see through the disguise. You keep your voice low, as a nervous bride should, talk as little as possible, and it will be fine.” Lucienne brought up her most telling argument. “And you should have the man you care for. I know you love Armand far more than I ever would. We’d be doing it for the happiness of all concerned.”
    “I don’t know, Lucienne. It seems a little dishonorable, an underhanded way to go about things.”
    Lucienne bit back her irritation. She was offering the girl what her heart desired. Why did the little fool hesitate? Lucienne added one more bit of sugar, regardless of how much it pained her to mention it. “Just think, as Madame Dupre, Armand’s wife, those wonderful pearls will be yours. You’ll be wearing them at your own wedding, not watching me wear them.” Steeling herself to make the sacrifice she added, “They’ll look much better on you. I could see that when you held them this afternoon.”
    “I do care for Armand.” Pierrette’s words were so low Lucienne strained to hear them. “I would never have said so as long as I thought he had your affections. But if you truly think Philippe Pardue will make you happy, I’ll do it. I’ll take your place and try to make Armand glad of the trick we played on him.”
    “My good cousin, you’re better than a sister.” Lucienne kissed her cousin’s cheek in gratitude. Now things would work out the way she wanted.
    “But I do hope Grandmère isn’t correct about the Blanchards dragging all the Bowie kith and kin into the feud. Duels are so dreadful.”
    The jump in subject barely touched Lucienne’s mind. She was far too caught up in her own plans. Now that she knew that it was only that man Bowie involved, she’d lost interest.
    “You don’t think Philippe will challenge Blanchard, do you? To a duel?”
    Something in Pierrette’s tone caught her attention. Lucienne rolled over to look at her cousin in the pale moonlight that filled the room. “Philippe? A duel? Why on earth would he challenge Blanchard?”
    “The Pardues are cousins of the Bowies. Surely you know that?”
    Lucienne shook her head. If she had known that, she’d forgotten. Involved, extended family trees were too tiresome to remember.
    Pierrette drew closer and lowered her voice to a whisper. “That was what Grandmère didn’t say this afternoon, what I was trying to mention when she went back to talking about your wedding plans. Till she told the story, I didn’t know who was involved in the duel in town. Once she explained, I could see why Uncle René and Papa were trying to keep it from us. The Bowies and the Pardues are second cousins, but they’ve been close as brothers for dog’s years. That horse race, the one Grandmère mentioned, it was Philippe’s horse that Bowie rode. As host, Philippe couldn’t race, so they traded. They had a huge wager on it, and Blanchard knew it. He cost them a fortune with his cheating, but they can’t say anything because they were doing a fiddle with the betting.” She gripped Lucienne’s hand under the coverlet. “I hope your Philippe can stay out of it with honor, but with his cousin wounded, he may think he must challenge.”
    Philippe dueling? Over that foolishness at the horse race? Surely he had more sense. Mon Dieu , if he fought, he might be maimed for life, or even killed on the spot. Philippe dead? No, it would not happen. She’d demand he apologize, make amends, admit he was wrong to try the stunt. He’d do what she asked, for love of her. Of course, he would.

Chapter Five:
    Moonlight Confidences
    Lilting strains of a waltz swirled around the dancers. For the small masquerade, the louvered doors had been left open so the veranda became part of the parlors and the dining