Read Online Masquerading the Marquess by Anne Mallory - Free Book Online

into a forest. Stephen and his plants. Who would have guessed he had a green thumb? An emerald thumb, really. Flora inhabited every section of the house. She had heard more than one maid grumble about living in a jungle.
     
    She placed her sketchpad on the hall table and handed her pelisse to Stephen’s butler, Grimmond, currently on loan to her for a few weeks.
     
    Stephen had inherited the small brick townhouse from an uncle. Since his primary residence was more suited to his needs, he used the smaller townhouse to store and display his numerous and assorted collections. A rudimentary staff managed the house, but - when it was decided Esmerelda needed a place of her own, the unused townhouse had been the easiest solution. Stephen had put his own butler in charge of imposing order and making a smooth transition. A new staff and inexperienced mistress of the household could be a disastrous combination.
     
    "Miss Daly is in your room, and Mr. Chalmers is in the library. A few parcels arrived from Madame Giselle’s an hour ago," Grimmond said in his dry, haughty manner. Calliope wanted to tease the man. He was quite nice when he thought no one was looking, but the presence of two footmen necessitated a display of superiority. She had learned she would receive raised eyebrows and a flat look if she tried anything in front of others.
     
    "Thank you, Grimmond."
     
    Calliope ascended the stairs to see Deirdre first. Bless Madame Giselle, and for more than just the dresses. Adjusting to her new home had been difficult. Calliope had finally gotten a decent night’s sleep thanks to Madame Giselle and her army of marauding Huns. She had been so exhausted she c0uldn’t remember anything past placing her head on the still-unfamiliar pillow.
     
    She entered her room. Clothing littered every surface.
     
    "Where did all of this come from? Dee , did you raid the costumes?"
     
    "One of the girls from Madame Giselle’s brought them. There are ten dresses here. It’s a good thing we are similar in size, because I plan on borrowing quite a few of these."
     
    "There must be some mistake. I ordered three gowns."
     
    "The girl said they were paid in full and the other dresses would be arriving within the week. She wouldn’t even accept money for delivering them."
     
    "But who?
    "
    Deirdre wasn’t paying any attention. She held up garments for inspection. "Did you order these on two different days? The styles are nearly opposite. "
     
    Calliope looked at the two dresses she held aloft. One had obviously been made for Esmerelda, the other for Calliope. A well-executed plan.
     
    "And look at this riding habit. Is Stephen going to teach you to ride?"
     
    "Excuse me for a moment, Dee . "
     
    Calliope headed down to the library, her favorite room in her new home. Stephen reclined in front of the fireplace reading. A potted fern sat next to him on the floor. The leaves were oddly shaped, which labeled the plant as one of his experiments.  
     
    He looked up from the book. "I heard some of your new garments arrived. How do they look?"
     
    "I can’t believe you did this."
     
    "You don’t like them?"
     
    "They’re lovely. That’s not the point. I only needed the three gowns." She could only afford the three gowns.
     
    "You will need more than just those three. If we are to put the proper face on this charade, you must be outfitted in the style I am able to afford. The same argument for you moving into this house applies. Appearances count."
     
    "I will pay you back."
     
    His expression turned serious. "No, you absolutely will not. I can’t explain my reasons to you, but if you refuse the gowns it will be one of the greatest blows to my honor anyone could make."
     
    "I don’t understand."
     
    "I know, but please trust me."
     
    Calliope nodded for his benefit but resolved to pay him back for the fortune in garments lying in her new bedroom.
     
    She would definitely arrive in Newmarket in style.
     
     
     
    "And they’re