Maggie MacKeever (10 page)

She walked down the long narrow corridor, gave the black basalt bust of Voltaire a passing pat, entered the private portion of the house. In her bedchamber — not the chamber assigned her in the servants’ quarters, but the one recently occupied by Kate — Liliane removed her gown and folded it tidily away; pulled on white cotton drawstring trousers and a matching jacket, and drew the sash tight around her waist. Barefoot, she slipped into the adjoining room.

The furniture had been pushed back, leaving a large clear space in the middle of the floor. Thick mats were spread on top of the rug.

Figg was waiting in one of the mahogany armchairs. He wore a costume similar to hers.

As Liliane entered he rose to his feet and stood silently staring straight ahead, the perfect footman, able to open doors and perform other small services while at the same time appearing deaf, mute and blind.

Able, also, to instruct a young woman in what he called the Art of Yielding and Pliability.

They bowed to each other. Liliane approached until she stood only an arm’s length away.
Take his balance,
she silently recited.
Remember your timing. Position. Leverage.

She turned her back on him, bent her knees, ducked under his arm. Right foot in front of his right foot; her left arm across her body to grasp his right. Hip and buttocks tight against the front of his thighs. Bend forward and pull and—

“Voilà!”

“Well done, Miss Liliane,” said Figg, from his supine position on the mat.

“Arsy varsy,” agreed Liliane, and grinned.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictionally.

Copyright © 2012 by Gail Clark Burch

Cover illustration based on portrait “Jean-Baptist Isabey, Miniaturist, With His Daughter 1795”, by Baron Francois Gerard. Original located in the Musée du Louvre, Paris, France 

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

ISBN: 978-0-9826239-8-5

This book is an original publication of Vintage Ink Press, Los Angeles. For further information contact
www.vintageinkpress.com

 Books by Maggie MacKeever

Quin (a Regency novella)

Point Non Plus (a Regency novella)

The Tyburn Waltz

Vampire, Bespelled

Waltz With A Vampire

An Extraordinary Flirtation

Lover’s Knot

Love Match

Cupid’s Dart

Lady Sherry and the Highwayman

French Leave

Our Tabby

Sweet Vixen

An Eligible Connection

Strange Bedfellows

Lady Sweetbriar

A Notorious Lady

Fair Fatality

The Misses Millikin

Jessabelle

Lady Bliss

A Banbury Tale

Lady in the Straw

Lord Fairchild’s Daughter

El Dorado

Outlaw Love

Caprice