Dancing with a Rogue Read Free

appear.
    In Monique’s opinion there were no knights to be found. She’d decided long ago that a woman must make her own way, determine her own future, and never, ever, depend on a man. After her mother’s death, Monique saved most of her earnings, choosing to live in small but safe lodgings and investing in English ventures through an avocat. She didn’t trust French investments. French politics were too volatile.
    â€œThere,” Dani said. “You look magnifique .”
    â€œ Merci ,” Monique said, knowing that she must stop thinking of herself as Merry Anders. She must be Monique Fremont through and through. “We will leave immediately after the performance.”
    â€œ Oui , all is ready. The coach will be waiting.”
    Monique nodded, then looked closely. “Are you sure you want to go with me? It could be dangerous.”
    â€œI am sure,” Dani said in accented English. “I’ve been practicing my Anglais .”
    Monique had her reservations about thrusting Dani into harm’s way, but the young woman had served as maid, dresser, friend, and confidant for seven years. They had met when Dani, a slight fourteen-year-old thief, was caught picking pockets inside a theater. She looked starved, abused, and terrified. Monique had convinced the theater owner not to turn her in to the police and had asked her if she’d wanted a position. Dani had been reluctant, obviously expecting Monique to take advantage of her in some way. In the end, Monique had employed her and taken her under her protection, teaching her to read and write and then to speak well.
    It had taken months to earn her trust, but Dani eventually told her that she had been raped repeatedly by her stepfather and that she’d fled to the streets and joined a group of young thieves, stealing to survive.
    Over the next seven years, they had become friends as well as mistress and servant. Slowly, over time, Monique had told Dani of her own dismal background and some of her plans.
    Dani had no intention of being left behind. She had skills that might be helpful.
    A knock came at the door five minutes before she was to go on stage. Dani straightened out the wrinkles in Monique’s costume, an indigo-blue gown that highlighted her gray eyes and flattered her less-than-rounded body.
    She took one last glance in the mirror. Her cheeks hadn’t needed paint. They were already flushed from anticipation. One life would be ending and another beginning. At long last she had the money, influence, and reputation to repay a debt.
    She lifted her cheek and glided out the door Dani held open to the standing applause of an overbooked house.

Chapter Two
    London
    Gabriel stood on deck of the ship as it wended its way down the Thames. The first buildings of London loomed before him.
    London.
    Good memories. Ugly memories.
    Unfortunately, the latter overshadowed the former.
    Captain Adams strolled over to him as the ship passed. “Remember anything?”
    â€œSome,” Gabriel replied neutrally. Adams knew he had been a boy here. Little else. He didn’t know about the scandal or the pain that followed it. To Adams, he was the representative of an important Boston shipping company.
    â€œI enjoyed having you aboard.”
    Gabriel nodded. It wasn’t a compliment. It was a duty. Gabriel was known to be a favorite of Samuel Barker, the owner of this ship, and Gabriel hadn’t been the world’s most compatible companion. He’d been preoccupied and impatient.
    â€œI thank you for the courtesy you’ve shown me,” he said. “It has been a pleasant voyage.”
    And except for the reason he was making the voyage, it had been. The summer weather had held, the seas had been calm, the wind fair. They had made record time.
    Unfortunately, he’d not been in the mood to enjoy it.
    Instead, he had prowled along the decks at night and sharpened his newly honed skills in his cabin.
    He