Read Online Eloisa James - Duchess by Night by Duchess By Night - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Duchess By Night
Ads: Link
His Grace the Duke of Vil iers is feeling poorly and wont join us. He doesnt have a fever, but is much pul ed. I asked the cook to make him an eau de poulet rafraichissant .
Chicken tea?
For the unwel , there is nothing better, Povy said. Beetroot leaves, yel ow lettuce and chicken, skimmed of course.
You are a miracle of knowledge, Povy.
Povy put aside his book and Jem finished his wine. At the end of their evening talks, Povy general y added a few valuable particulars about his guests, tips that he had not committed to paper. But tonight he hesitated.
Dont tel me that you are undecided about something, Jem said.
I am not entirely comfortable with Mr. Copes presence at Fonthil . Your Grace has always ensured that no innocence is besmirched under your roof.
I share your concern, Jem said, swal owing the last few drops, but I promised Vil iers I would look out for him, and I wil .
I believe that he might find himself an object of interest to many, Povy said.
Jem raised his eyes. Oh?
That particular kind of near-feminine beauty wil find many admirers.
I shal watch my little chicken careful y then, Jem murmured. Damn Vil iers for bringing him here anyway. He hesitated. Vil iers seems to want his ward introduced to the pleasures of female company, but Povy didnt blink an eye. It may be that Mr. Cope has another inclination.
Wel , Il ensure that he makes his own choices, Jem said, hating the fact that even the slightest hint of desire had crossed his mind when he saw this Cope. It was enough to make him dislike the man, but that was unfair.
The Duchess of Cosways reasons for visiting Fonthil were initial y unclear to me, Povy said, with just a hint of frustration in his voice.
You surprise me, Povy, you do. I thought nothing in the human heart was unclear to you.
Povy al owed himself a smal smile. However, I now surmise that she intends to create a scandal, thus drawing her husband back to this country.
Ah. Jem nodded. It wil probably work.
She sent out some twenty letters this afternoon, asking me to frank al of them for you. Since she could easily have had her traveling companion, the Duke of Vil iers, frank those letters, I gather she wanted your stamp on the letters, thus establishing her residence at Fonthil .
Wel , the scandal-broth brewing in this house ought to be good for something, Jem said. Is that it, Povy?
A final thought about your new secretary, Miss Caroline DesJardins. I am slightly worried that her ideas may be too outré.
Is it possible?
For the entertainment tomorrow night, she is employing several footmenthose with the better physiquesas primitive men.
And what does that entail?
Flesh-colored silk with a smal apron of fig leaves embroidered on the front.
Jem barked with laughter.
The silk is sewn to fit the body with the utmost exactitude, Povy said a bit gloomily. The effect is indelicate, to say the least.
I shal look forward to it, Jem said, chuckling. No, I think that Miss DesJardins is a welcome addition to the household, Povy. I loved her stories of the fêtes she designed in Paris for the Duchess of Beaumont.
Povy bowed and retired. Jem made his way upstairs to put on the suit with gold lace at the wrists (for he never disobeyed Povy), thinking al the time of wild French designers and errant duchesses.
Chapter Ten
In Which Plans are Made for Lord Stranges Enticement
H arriet looked at herself in the glass and felt as if shed drunk too much champagne. Staring back at her was a beautiful young man. Real y. Beautiful . He was wearing a velvet jacket of a dark lilac, over which spil ed the finest cream-colored lace. Little epaulets at the shoulders gave him form, and the jacket laced in the front in a manner which (incidental y) concealed the socal ed mans breasts.
But what Harriet kept staring at was her face. She never felt beautiful as a woman. She always felt overpowered by the huge hair styles demanded by fashion, by her panniers and multiple petticoats, by the way her
Chicken tea?
For the unwel , there is nothing better, Povy said. Beetroot leaves, yel ow lettuce and chicken, skimmed of course.
You are a miracle of knowledge, Povy.
Povy put aside his book and Jem finished his wine. At the end of their evening talks, Povy general y added a few valuable particulars about his guests, tips that he had not committed to paper. But tonight he hesitated.
Dont tel me that you are undecided about something, Jem said.
I am not entirely comfortable with Mr. Copes presence at Fonthil . Your Grace has always ensured that no innocence is besmirched under your roof.
I share your concern, Jem said, swal owing the last few drops, but I promised Vil iers I would look out for him, and I wil .
I believe that he might find himself an object of interest to many, Povy said.
Jem raised his eyes. Oh?
That particular kind of near-feminine beauty wil find many admirers.
I shal watch my little chicken careful y then, Jem murmured. Damn Vil iers for bringing him here anyway. He hesitated. Vil iers seems to want his ward introduced to the pleasures of female company, but Povy didnt blink an eye. It may be that Mr. Cope has another inclination.
Wel , Il ensure that he makes his own choices, Jem said, hating the fact that even the slightest hint of desire had crossed his mind when he saw this Cope. It was enough to make him dislike the man, but that was unfair.
The Duchess of Cosways reasons for visiting Fonthil were initial y unclear to me, Povy said, with just a hint of frustration in his voice.
You surprise me, Povy, you do. I thought nothing in the human heart was unclear to you.
Povy al owed himself a smal smile. However, I now surmise that she intends to create a scandal, thus drawing her husband back to this country.
Ah. Jem nodded. It wil probably work.
She sent out some twenty letters this afternoon, asking me to frank al of them for you. Since she could easily have had her traveling companion, the Duke of Vil iers, frank those letters, I gather she wanted your stamp on the letters, thus establishing her residence at Fonthil .
Wel , the scandal-broth brewing in this house ought to be good for something, Jem said. Is that it, Povy?
A final thought about your new secretary, Miss Caroline DesJardins. I am slightly worried that her ideas may be too outré.
Is it possible?
For the entertainment tomorrow night, she is employing several footmenthose with the better physiquesas primitive men.
And what does that entail?
Flesh-colored silk with a smal apron of fig leaves embroidered on the front.
Jem barked with laughter.
The silk is sewn to fit the body with the utmost exactitude, Povy said a bit gloomily. The effect is indelicate, to say the least.
I shal look forward to it, Jem said, chuckling. No, I think that Miss DesJardins is a welcome addition to the household, Povy. I loved her stories of the fêtes she designed in Paris for the Duchess of Beaumont.
Povy bowed and retired. Jem made his way upstairs to put on the suit with gold lace at the wrists (for he never disobeyed Povy), thinking al the time of wild French designers and errant duchesses.
Chapter Ten
In Which Plans are Made for Lord Stranges Enticement
H arriet looked at herself in the glass and felt as if shed drunk too much champagne. Staring back at her was a beautiful young man. Real y. Beautiful . He was wearing a velvet jacket of a dark lilac, over which spil ed the finest cream-colored lace. Little epaulets at the shoulders gave him form, and the jacket laced in the front in a manner which (incidental y) concealed the socal ed mans breasts.
But what Harriet kept staring at was her face. She never felt beautiful as a woman. She always felt overpowered by the huge hair styles demanded by fashion, by her panniers and multiple petticoats, by the way her
Similar Books
Castles, Customs, and Kings: True Tales by English Historical Fiction Authors
English Historical Fiction Authors
