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Chapter One

Paris—August 1818

Oliver Gregory strolled along the River Seine as the first fingers of dawn painted the water in swirls of violet. The buildings of Paris, tinged a soft pink at this time of day, were even more beautiful than in the brightness of a noonday sun. London at dawn would seem a dark maze of streets and shops.

And Calcutta... Calcutta, the city of Oliver’s birth, defied description, except in words whispered in memory—Hindi words.

Oliver struggled to remember those steaming, fragrant, exotic days of his childhood and the smiling woman swathed in brightly coloured silks holding him in her arms and calling him her pyaare bete, her sweet boy.

In the quiet of dawn he could bring it all back. He feared forgetting even more than the depths of depression that followed. Lately his decadent lifestyle provided no ease from the blue devils.

He’d crafted his life to distract him from the sadness of loss. What better setting than a gentlemen’s club devoted to pleasures of the flesh? Oliver was one of the owners of Vitium et Virtus—Vice and Virtue—the exclusive gentlemen’s club he and his three friends started when they were mere students at Oxford. Vitium et Virtus specialised in decadent pleasure, whether it be beautiful women, the finest brandy or a high-stakes game of cards.

To think he’d just left a Parisian club that made Vitium et Virtus look tame. This club featured sexual gratification through pain, whether self-inflicted or inflicted by another. Vitium et Virtus included some fantasy games with one of their tall, beautiful, dark-haired women playing dominatrix, but this French club went way beyond, so far Oliver nearly intervened to stop it. He knew some people found pleasure in pain, but these Parisians flirted with death. He had no intention of bringing those ideas to their club.

His mind flashed with an image of a nearly naked man swallowing a snake. And another man running over hot coals.

Memories from India again.

A cry jerked him back to the present near-dawn morning. In the distance a swarm of street urchins accosted a woman, pulling at her clothes, their demands shrill in the early morning air. He’d seen street urchins in Calcutta rush a man and leave him with nothing, not even the clothes on his back. The dark rookeries of London posed similar dangers.

Oliver sprinted to her aid. ‘Arrêtez! Arrêtez! Stop! Stop!’

The woman lifted her arms. ‘No! No!’

The children scattered.

When he reached her, she placed her hands on her hips. ‘Look what you’ve done!’

‘You are English?’ He was surprised.

She merely gestured in the direction the children had disappeared. ‘They’ve run away.’

‘They were attacking you.’ At least that was what he’d thought.

She gave him an exasperated look. ‘They were not attacking me. I was giving them money so they might eat today!’

‘Giving them money?’ He turned to where he’d last seen them and back to her. ‘Is that wise?’

Her eyes flashed. ‘Wiser than having them starve or be forced to steal.’

He could not argue with that. ‘Forgive me. I thought—Can you call them back?’

‘No, they will be too frightened now. They are gone.’

He shook his head. ‘I am sorry.’

She frowned. ‘Another time—tomorrow—I will be back.’

She turned to walk away.

‘Wait.’ He strode to her side. ‘What is an Englishwoman doing on the banks of the Seine at dawn?’

Now mischief sparkled in those dark eyes. ‘Why, I was giving coins to street children until you chased them away.’

She was lovely! Those beautiful eyes were fringed with dark lashes, and her brows, delicately arched. An elegant nose and full, luscious lips adorned her oval face. Her bonnet covered her hair, but as the sky grew lighter, Oliver saw her dress was dark blue and her hair a rich brown.

‘What is an Englishman doing on the banks of the Seine at dawn?’ she asked, mocking his tone.

Oliver smiled. ‘Attempting to rescue damsels in distress.’

She laughed. ‘You must keep searching, then. I assure you I am not in distress.’

‘But I am at your service.’ Oliver bowed.

She kept walking, and he kept pace with her.

She finally spoke again. ‘Enjoying the delights of Paris now that the war is over?’ Her tone was a mockery of polite conversation, but at least she’d not dismissed him.

‘Actually a bit of business.’ Although his business was pleasure. ‘And you?’

‘Moi?’ She fluttered her lashes. ‘I live here.’

He was pretty astute at perceiving the character of a person, a skill he’d honed so he’d know right away the degree to which a person might accept him as an equal or as a lesser being. She was guarding her own privacy, not giving him any information at all.

He pretended to peruse her. ‘I would surmise there is quite a story about why an English lady such as yourself lives in Paris.’

She looked suspicious. ‘Why do you say I am a lady?’

His mouth widened into a smile. ‘It is not difficult. The way you carry yourself. The way you speak.’

She shrugged at that. ‘Well, I am not telling you anything.’

And he would not press her. He understood the need to keep one’s privacy, but he also did not wish to say goodbye to her. The sky had lightened, turning the water blue and the stone path to beige. He suspected she would soon leave this path and be gone.

‘I have a proposal,’ he said impulsively. ‘Eat breakfast with me.’

She laughed derisively. ‘Why would I do that? I do not know you.’

‘Allow me to introduce myself, then. I am Oliver Gregory. My father is the Marquess of Amberford.’ He never explained further. People who did not already know his father usually assumed he was a younger son. ‘Now you know me.’

She laughed again, this time with more humour. ‘I know your name. Or at least the name you deign to give me.’

‘I assure you it is my name.’

Her brows rose and she nodded with exaggerated scepticism.

He spread his palms. ‘I am telling you the truth.’

She cocked her head. ‘It does not matter.’

‘So,’ he tried again. ‘Will you have breakfast with me? I promise to be amusing. We can sit in the open at a café if that will ease your discomfort.’

Her expression sobered and she stared at him for several seconds, as if deciding how to respond. ‘At a café?’ she repeated.

‘Wherever you wish. You choose where you would like to eat.’ He’d dined at Le Procope, a café that had been in existence for two hundred years. Would she choose some place as grand? He was suddenly very eager to find out.

‘Very well,’ she finally said. ‘But you must also give me some coins for the children. They will be even more hungry tomorrow.’

He reached into a pocket and pulled out a leather purse. He loosened its strings and poured out several coins. Then he extended his hand. ‘Here.’

She scooped up the coins and slipped them into her reticule. ‘I know of a place we can breakfast.’

She walked him past La Fontaine du Palmier, the monument to Napoleon’s battles in Egypt, in the Place du Châtelet, to a small café just opening its doors. They sat at a table out of doors. With the sun came warmer temperatures and a blue sky dotted with white puffy clouds. A perfect day.

‘The pastries are lovely here,’ she said.

‘Pastries.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘Everywhere in Paris I’ve been served pastries and I do not possess a sweet tooth.’

‘Some bread and cheese, then?’

‘Ah, oui. C’est bon.’ He smiled. ‘With coffee.’

The waiter arrived and greeted her warmly. Obviously she was known to him. She gave him their order, selecting a pastry and chocolate for herself, bread, cheese, and coffee for him.

He watched her as she settled herself in her chair. She removed her gloves and rearranged the colourful Kashmir shawl she wore that reminded him of India. She wore a dark blue walking dress and looked as if she’d just spent an afternoon promenading in Hyde Park. Was it only the children who caused her to be on the banks of the Seine at dawn?

‘Tell me what your business has been that brought you to Paris,’ she asked with some evident interest.

Oddly enough, he did not want to tell her of the business that brought him to Paris lest she disapprove. He’d come to explore the decadence of Parisian gentlemen’s clubs to see what they might include at Vitium et Virtus. This trip had not been as productive as the previous one when he’d found a satisfyingly buxom, Titian-haired French songstress eager to come to London to work in their club. He usually did not care if a lady disapproved of his activities. For the ladies who did disapprove of him, the gentlemen’s club was the least of their objections.

‘Exploring opportunities,’ he responded vaguely.

‘Opportunities?’ Her eyes, lovely as they were, showed little interest.

He challenged her. ‘You are making polite conversation with me.’

Her eyes sparkled. ‘Yes. I am. But tell me what opportunities anyway.’

Those eyes distracted him. In the sunlight they appeared the colour of fine brandy and just as liquid. A man could lose himself in those eyes.

He glanced away. ‘Business, you know, but nothing came to fruition.’

The waiter brought a pot of coffee, a pitcher of cream and a sugar dish, placing it in front of him. He placed a chocolate pot in front of the lady, produced two cups and poured for them.

When he left, Oliver added only some cream. He took a sip of the coffee and nodded to her. ‘This is excellent.’

Her captivating eyes appeared to concur. ‘It always is here.’ She sipped her chocolate and made an appreciative sound.

He faced her, fingering the handle of his cup. ‘The topic of business is always a boring one. Perhaps there is something else you would like to ask me?’

Her eyes flickered in surprise, then fixed on him with a challenge of her own. ‘Do you mean why you do not look like an Englishman?’

He was not certain if she was asking or not.

Who was he attempting to fool? Women always wanted to know why his skin was so dark, why his hair was so dark. She simply was more direct than most and much quicker.

‘See. You are wondering why the son of a marquess looks like something spawned on a foreign shore.’

‘Am I?’ Her brows rose. ‘Or is this what you desire to tell me?’

He paused, unsure of his own motivation. He did want to tell her, though, he decided. ‘My father is the Marquess, but my mother was from India.’

He waited. Usually the women with whom he spent the most time found his looks exotic and appealing but, then, such women were typically interested only in sharing the pleasures of the night with him.

Ladies of the ton with marriageable daughters steered them away from him, however. Even though they knew he was wealthy. Even though some of those same ladies did not mind sharing his bed.

She took another sip of chocolate. ‘That does explain it. Were you born in India?’

‘I was. I left when I was ten.’ He would not tell her everything about his birth and those first ten years of his life. He never talked about it, although many who knew his father knew some of it. His partners in Vitium et Virtus knew nearly all and they’d accepted him as an equal since their days at school.

‘You must remember it then.’ She sounded truly interested now.

‘I do.’ He’d been remembering it that morning when she appeared.

‘Tell me,’ she said, licking off the chocolate from her lips and nearly driving India from his mind.

‘I remember the sounds and the smells and all the bright colours,’ he began.

He told her about the man charming the snake and others sleeping on a bed of nails or walking over hot coals. He told her of the music and the singing and dancing, of statues and paintings of gods. He talked of fragrant gardens and cool houses with pillows.

He did not tell her about his mother. Or about how his father shared his time between his Indian house and his English one on the other side of the garden.

‘I cannot imagine it,’ she said, her face alight with animation. ‘I would love to see such a place some day.’

His insides clenched in a familiar pain. He would never return there, never see those sights again.

He made himself smile. ‘Is Paris not enough for you?’

Her expressive face turned sad before she composed it again. ‘Paris...has not been unkind.’

How much was hidden in that statement?

The waiter brought a flaky confection filled with whipped cream and jam for her and, for him, a selection of cheeses and a loaf of bread still warm from the oven.

She nibbled on her pastry. ‘There is much beauty here in Paris. I gather some of the buildings, statues and art were almost lost during the Revolution. We can credit Napoleon for preserving them.’

‘If we must,’ he said, smiling wryly.

He was gratified she smiled in return.

‘I have seen very little of the city,’ he went on. His hosts had taken him to places where pleasure was more valued than architecture. ‘And now I have only today left.’

She lowered her pastry from her lips. ‘You have only today?’

‘I leave tomorrow.’ Somehow that information did not seem to disappoint her. ‘Tell me what sights I must see before I leave.’

Again her face animated. ‘Notre Dame, for certain. It is the most impressive and beautiful church one could ever see. The Louvre, as well. It is a beautiful building filled with beautiful art that once graced the houses of the aristocracy before the Revolution. And I suppose one should see the Palais-Royal. It is now filled with shops and restaurants.’

She went on to describe these sights in more detail as they finished their meal and drank the last of the coffee and chocolate. He paid the waiter and reluctantly stood. He could have remained all day in her presence, even though she’d told him nothing about herself. She wrapped her shawl around her, despite it being warm enough now to go without.

‘Thank you for breakfast,’ she said. ‘I did enjoy it.’

‘As did I,’ he added.

‘I suppose I must say adieu.’ She did not look happy about it, though.

‘I suppose...’

They left their table, but stood together on the pavement. The city had come alive while they’d eaten. The streets were full of carriages, horses and wagons. The pavement was abustle with workmen, servant girls, children and a few finely dressed gentlemen.

He held her elbow and guided her away from the fray.

Then he took her hand. ‘Do not say adieu. Stay with me. Show me the sights you have so wonderfully described.’

* * *

Cecilia glanced into his face. He had a memorable one—as handsome as any woman could wish. That was not what captivated her, however. Duncan had been handsome. After Duncan she’d learned not to be seduced by a handsome face.

His complexion was darker than one would expect from an Englishman. Knowing he was half-caste explained that. His hair was as dark as the night, worn longer than fashionable as if he did not trouble himself to visit the barber overmuch. His eyes were unexpected, though. They were hazel, the kind of eyes that changed colour from green to brown with the hue of his coat. When he fixed his gaze upon her she had the feeling he could see inside her, directly to her thoughts.

Perhaps that was why he asked her no questions about herself. He asked nothing of her, but shared about himself. What other man of her acquaintance would tell of his life before age ten? Duncan certainly had not.

What harm could there be in spending the day with him? She had no other obligations for today and he was leaving tomorrow. She liked his foreign looks and she relished the sound of his English accent, so familiar, so reminiscent of home. He was an easy companion, agreeable, unhurried and undemanding.

With those enthralling eyes.

Her hands started to shake and her knees grew weak, not from his allure, but from her decision. ‘I will show you Paris.’

He smiled and her knees grew weaker.

‘We should start at Notre Dame,’ she said quickly lest he notice he affected her. The famous cathedral was close by, its spire and towers visible from where they stood.

* * *

As they neared Notre Dame, she said, ‘Before we go inside, we must walk around the cathedral, because it looks very different from each side. You would hardly know it is one structure.’

They first faced the western façade, looking up at its symmetrical towers and carved stone. From where they stood they could see only the tip of the spire.

Slowly, they walked around to the north side. ‘See the rose window? How big it is? You will be astounded when we see it from the inside with the sun illuminating it.’ They continued walking. ‘You can see now how the cathedral is in the shape of a cross. All cathedrals are in the shape of a cross.’

He smiled at her. ‘You are quite knowledgeable about this.’

‘I suppose I am.’ She felt suddenly self-conscious.

She often had days free and the cathedral had become one of her favourite places. Sometimes she wandered for hours inside it, especially when she needed to feel peaceful.

They continued what was a fairly long walk around the building. The Seine was behind them, not too far from where he’d chased away the poor street children, busy now with boats and barges transporting people and goods up and down the river.

‘Flying buttresses,’ he pointed out, then smiled. ‘See? You are not the only one who is knowledgeable.’

Humour. It was as welcome as the clear summer air. She so rarely experienced the levity of humour. She could not help but return his smile.

They concluded their walk around the cathedral, talking of its architecture, and finally went inside. As they entered the church, the bell tolled the hour, its sound echoing against the stone walls.

Cecilia loved the inside of Notre Dame, loved the colours the rose windows cast upon the interior. Oliver Gregory seemed interested in everything she drew his attention to. Was he pretending? If so, he was very good at it.

Others filed into pews and soon a priest and his attendants appeared at the huge altar. They had come at the time of the Catholic Mass.

‘Do you mind if we stay?’ she asked. There were so many English people who would abhor attending a Catholic Mass.

‘Not at all,’ he said.

They chose a pew in the back, but with a good view of the altar.

She liked the ritual, a little like her church at home, but different as well. Watching and listening to the Latin service drove other thoughts from her mind and calmed her. It made her forget the strange way she made her living and how lonely she was.

* * *

When the service was over he clasped her hand. ‘I am glad we stayed.’

They walked around the cathedral some more, marvelling at the windows, peering at the statues until they had seen enough.

As they came towards the long aisle to the door, she stopped him. ‘My name is Cecilia.’

Surely it would not hurt to tell him her given name.

She had never told anyone in Paris her real name, not since the day the captain came to tell her Duncan was killed, but she wanted this man to know. For one day she wanted to be herself, as she might have been had she never fallen under Duncan’s spell.

This lovely man beside her did not act as if she’d said anything unusual by giving her name so abruptly.

‘If I am to call you Cecilia,’ he said in a matter-of-fact tone, ‘you must call me Oliver.’

‘Oliver,’ she whispered.

‘Cecilia.’ He smiled.

It was not the done thing for a gentleman and a lady to call each other by their given names, not unless they grew up together from childhood. She’d known him only a few hours, but still it seemed natural that they should do so.

‘We should go to the Louvre next,’ she said.

The Louvre was another place Cecilia visited when she needed to remind herself that there was incredible beauty in the world. She loved the Renaissance art, especially the portrait called La Gioconda. She tried to imagine any other man of her acquaintance walking through the museum without any sign of boredom.

Was this man—Oliver—really what he seemed? Or was he pretending, hiding his true nature? Every day she pretended to be someone she was not. Every day she hid her real self. Today, though, she would be her real self, even if he were not.

When they again stepped outside, they could hear the bell of Notre Dame strike four o’clock, reminding her of when Oliver had last eaten.

‘There are restaurants at the Palais-Royal, if you are hungry.’ She was accustomed to going without food.

When she’d followed the drum with Duncan, she’d been allotted half his food rations, but when he could, he ate her portion as well as his own. She’d quickly learned not to complain.

‘Do you wish to eat?’ he asked.

Throughout the day, he’d checked on her wishes before stating his own, she noticed. Another technique of seduction? Or did he truly wish to fulfil her desires?

‘I know it is country hours, but I am quite famished,’ she admitted.

‘Then we must eat.’ He offered her his arm and they leisurely walked to the Palais-Royal, once the home of the Duc d’Orléans and, earlier, Cardinal Richelieu. The palais was not far from where she earned her money.

No. Cecilia Lockhart, who strolled by the side of this English gentleman, earned no money.

That was the job of Madame Coquette.