Free Rouge by Leigh Talbert Moore Page B

dark lines. Rather than a sanctuary, it looked more ominous, like a haunted mansion.
    “I was experimenting with perspective there,” he said.
    I looked up at him again. He somehow looked different to me, more possible than before. “Would you teach Teeny some of this?”
    “Christina,” Teeny interjected, then quickly cried. “Oh, would you, Beau?” She grasped his arm and he looked back at me, puzzled.
    “Is that something you’d like me to do?”
    “It’s just that, well, I need to find something Teen… Christina might be good at.” I lowered my voice. “Something that might help her earn her keep.”
    Beau chuckled. “Haven’t you heard the expression, ‘starving artist’?”
    I frowned. “Well, yes, but it doesn’t have to be much…” Anything would help.
    Over the bustle of the square, a familiar voice called my name. I turned and my eyes landed on Freddie, looking rich and handsome as always in a fashionable tweed waistcoat. I froze in panic. How in the world could I have such bad luck? But he smiled and began weaving his way toward us. Within moments he was standing in front of me.
    “Darling, what a wonderful surprise!” He took my hand. “Are you out enjoying the cool day?”
    An invisible curtain lifted, and suddenly I was onstage again, the smooth, displaced lady. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
    “But surely you’re not here unescorted?” He inspected the three of us.
    “I… I was…” My mind raced. I couldn’t tell Freddie I’d been pawning my possessions to buy Teeny shoes. He didn’t even know about Teeny.
    “I escorted them,” Beau stepped forward, his posture straightened and his acting rivaled mine. I had to look twice to recognize him. “Miss Christina has her art lessons on Sundays.”
    Freddie studied Beau, dressed in brown pants, a vest, and shirtsleeves. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
    “Freddie Lovel, Beauregard Faire,” I said gesturing between the two. “We just call him Beau.”
    They both nodded slightly. “How do you do,” Freddie said with a smile, but I detected a note of disapproval. “And Miss Christina is…”
    “My cousin,” I said quickly. Teeny smiled and curtsied, and I silently prayed she wouldn’t speak. I hadn’t spent as much time coaching her as Roland had me. “She’s visiting me right now, and she loves art. Beau’s training her. He works at the theater, actually.”
    “How nice,” Freddie said, still not entirely convinced. My shoulders felt tense. “Darling, if your escort and your jeune cousine would allow the deprivation of your courtesy, would you do me the honor of joining me for lunch?”
    “Oh, I don’t know...” I wasn’t sure I could maintain my lady-charade through a meal, but Beau cut me off.
    “I’ll see Miss Christina home, if you’d like to go.”
    I glanced at him. “I hadn’t planned—”
    “Oh, yes, Hale!” Teeny jumped in. “I won’t mind.”
    “It’s all settled then,” Freddie said. “I’m so delighted. There’s this wonderful new café over on Royal. I’ve been longing to experience it with you.”
    “It sounds divine.” I bit my lip. “If you’ll excuse me one moment…”
    “Of course.”
    I took Teeny’s arm and pulled her aside, pressing two coins into her palm.
    “Bring me what’s left,” I whispered.
    She nodded, taking the money, and we walked back to where Freddie and Beau stood politely not speaking to each other. I slipped my hand into the crook of Freddie’s arm.
    “Enjoy the day,” I said and smiled.
    Beau nodded and Teeny jumped beside him, taking his arm. She was in heaven getting to spend the afternoon alone with Beau, and I watched her follow him back to his waiting chair. Freddie patted my gloved hand, and I glanced at him and smiled. I hoped he didn’t recognize my dress as a former costume. Rosa ’s sewing skills produced gowns that rivaled anything you’d find in a boutique, but if he looked closely enough, he might recognize the raw materials.
    We