twists and turns and interconnecting doors. Marie had witnessed Lisette’s kiss with the young gentleman. Even from this distance, Marie could easily see the quality of his clothes and his pretty manners. Lisette had managed to snare a plump prize, indeed. Her lips slowly pulled back into a smile as her mind whirled at the possibilities.
Tinder Michaels’ potential was probably nowhere near the young gentleman’s. But Marie chided herself. She could not let her imaginings get away from her. She must be cautious and investigate the boy’s name and fortune. With luck, Lisette would have had the decency to fall in love with a rich man. If the girl fancied herself in love, it would be much easier for Marie to manoeuvre her into the right decisions. However, if things didn’t pan out, she would be able to fall back on the second choice: Tinder. It was more than obvious that he was besotted with Lisette. Either way, Marie saw that the prospects looked more than rosy.
The fame of being a principal dancer could be fleeting. Lisette must secure a future for herself and for Marie. To dance is one thing but the girl must understand that she would be able to have a comfortable life if she became a rich man’s mistress.
The chaise longue was strewn with parcels and half opened boxes. Nestled in the white tissue paper was an assortment of dresses, corsets, petticoats, and gloves; more beautiful than anything she had ever possessed. There was a myriad of materials and textures, silk, wool, linen and lace. Each one excited Lisette’s senses as she ran her hands lovingly over them. She reached down and unwrapped a sapphire-blue evening gown. It had a fitted boned bodice with small, short sleeves and midnight-blue lace.
‘Aunt Marie, thank you...but how can we afford all this?’
Marie stood by her bedroom door. ‘I have been saving a little whenever I could. I knew this day would come.’
‘But still... I mean, I have never had so many things!’
‘Think of it as an investment and nothing more. Your career is just beginning to blossom and soon you will be the Imperial’s brightest star. You must look the part,’ Marie said as she crossed the floor. ‘Now, gather up these and put them in your room. Then we shall go to the theatre. We have been gone most of the day and there is much for me to do.’
‘Yes Aunt.’ Lisette glanced at the mantle clock. It was earlier than she thought and Evander would be waiting for her at the Hearth Fire. She scooped up her new wardrobe and carried it to her room and gently placed all the boxes, bags and parcels on the bed. After a moment or two of searching through the items she grabbed a brown paper parcel and quickly ripped it open. Inside was a simple day dress in fine lavender wool. Lisette ran her fingers over the material. It was soft and not at all prickly. She stripped off her grey dress and eagerly donned her new gown.
‘Lisette, it’s time to go.’
‘Coming, Aunt. I only need one more moment.’ Lisette opened a small blue box and withdrew a bottle of rosewater. She dabbed it behind her ears and along the column of her throat before snatching up her reticule and dropping the perfume into it.
‘Very well, but hurry!’
She picked up her new cloak, but paused for a second in front of her mirror. A soft smile spread across her lips when she saw her reflection. ‘I’m ready, Aunt Marie,’ Lisette called as she walked through the door.
Lisette and Evander met almost every day at the Hearth Fire and every night he watched her performance from his box. Each night he would whisper his pretty words into her ear and steal kisses in the darkened corridors of the theatre. Her heart began to soar as she dreamed of what their lives could be. With each passing day, Lisette found herself falling deeper and deeper in love with him. Evander had stolen her heart and her kisses and she let him.
Evander caught and kissed her as soon as she walked into the Hearth Fire. Her lips
Tinder Michaels’ potential was probably nowhere near the young gentleman’s. But Marie chided herself. She could not let her imaginings get away from her. She must be cautious and investigate the boy’s name and fortune. With luck, Lisette would have had the decency to fall in love with a rich man. If the girl fancied herself in love, it would be much easier for Marie to manoeuvre her into the right decisions. However, if things didn’t pan out, she would be able to fall back on the second choice: Tinder. It was more than obvious that he was besotted with Lisette. Either way, Marie saw that the prospects looked more than rosy.
The fame of being a principal dancer could be fleeting. Lisette must secure a future for herself and for Marie. To dance is one thing but the girl must understand that she would be able to have a comfortable life if she became a rich man’s mistress.
The chaise longue was strewn with parcels and half opened boxes. Nestled in the white tissue paper was an assortment of dresses, corsets, petticoats, and gloves; more beautiful than anything she had ever possessed. There was a myriad of materials and textures, silk, wool, linen and lace. Each one excited Lisette’s senses as she ran her hands lovingly over them. She reached down and unwrapped a sapphire-blue evening gown. It had a fitted boned bodice with small, short sleeves and midnight-blue lace.
‘Aunt Marie, thank you...but how can we afford all this?’
Marie stood by her bedroom door. ‘I have been saving a little whenever I could. I knew this day would come.’
‘But still... I mean, I have never had so many things!’
‘Think of it as an investment and nothing more. Your career is just beginning to blossom and soon you will be the Imperial’s brightest star. You must look the part,’ Marie said as she crossed the floor. ‘Now, gather up these and put them in your room. Then we shall go to the theatre. We have been gone most of the day and there is much for me to do.’
‘Yes Aunt.’ Lisette glanced at the mantle clock. It was earlier than she thought and Evander would be waiting for her at the Hearth Fire. She scooped up her new wardrobe and carried it to her room and gently placed all the boxes, bags and parcels on the bed. After a moment or two of searching through the items she grabbed a brown paper parcel and quickly ripped it open. Inside was a simple day dress in fine lavender wool. Lisette ran her fingers over the material. It was soft and not at all prickly. She stripped off her grey dress and eagerly donned her new gown.
‘Lisette, it’s time to go.’
‘Coming, Aunt. I only need one more moment.’ Lisette opened a small blue box and withdrew a bottle of rosewater. She dabbed it behind her ears and along the column of her throat before snatching up her reticule and dropping the perfume into it.
‘Very well, but hurry!’
She picked up her new cloak, but paused for a second in front of her mirror. A soft smile spread across her lips when she saw her reflection. ‘I’m ready, Aunt Marie,’ Lisette called as she walked through the door.
Lisette and Evander met almost every day at the Hearth Fire and every night he watched her performance from his box. Each night he would whisper his pretty words into her ear and steal kisses in the darkened corridors of the theatre. Her heart began to soar as she dreamed of what their lives could be. With each passing day, Lisette found herself falling deeper and deeper in love with him. Evander had stolen her heart and her kisses and she let him.
Evander caught and kissed her as soon as she walked into the Hearth Fire. Her lips
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