Free To Seduce a Bride by Nicole Jordan

older courtesan. “You mean blackmail, do you, Fleur? That is totally out of the question. Not merely because it is unprincipled, but because I don’t want to make enemies of London’s elite set. Were I to do so, I could find it difficult to remain employed.”
    Fleur offered a graceful shrug of her shoulders. “Well, I do not see how we are to come about if you insist on being so virtuous. Beggars cannot afford to be choosers, Fanny.”
    â€œI am not reduced to begging yet,” she said tartly.
    â€œIt is a pity our boarders cannot help us,” Chantel lamented with a heavy sigh.
    Fleur’s scoffing sound was very much like a snort. “Indeed. But they earn a pittance compared to what we once did.”
    â€œBecause they haven’t our former skills
or
our former beauty,” said Chantel.
    â€œOr our refinement,” Fleur added sagely.
    Chantel gave a sad nod.
    Lily comprehended what they meant by a lack of refinement. There were over a dozen female boarders lodging in the mansion, all from the lower classes, some who were just beginning to become established as members of the muslin company, or
demimondaines,
the polite term Chantel insisted on using instead of prostitute or harlot. Of the girls who roomed here, the majority were opera dancers and actresses who supplemented their meager incomes by becoming part-time mistresses. But several sold their wares in various clubs and pleasure houses in the nearby theater district.
    Fleur and Chantel, on the other hand—and Fanny also—could claim superior birth and breeding, which had allowed them to excel at their profession and command a much higher class of clientele.
    Looking despondent, the elder courtesans fell silent, until Fleur finally mused aloud. “What we need are some very rich men to come to our rescue.”
    â€œThat goes without saying,” Chantel agreed. “But how do we acquire such men? You and I have lost the ability to attract wealthy patrons.”
    â€œAlas, that is true. But several of our lodgers are beautiful enough to take our places. With the right guidance from us, they could be groomed to act in our stead.”
    â€œBut what would be the point?” Chantel asked dismissively.
    â€œDon’t be such a slow top, love,” Fleur chided. “If some of our boarders could land rich protectors, they could help us pay off our debt to O’Rourke.”
    â€œBut how would they even meet any rich protectors?” Chantel huffed. “Such prizes are not scattered about waiting to be scooped up, you know.”
    â€œOf course not, but some could be found if we search hard enough. Just consider, Chantel. We could hold a soiree just like the old days. And we could invite everyone Fanny knows. She has valuable connections among the ton, and we still have a few ourselves.”
    For more than two decades Fleur and Chantel had reportedly held elegant soirees and entertained the cream of artistic and intellectual London society, even though they now no longer entertained at all.
    â€œWell…I suppose we
could
hold a soiree,” Chantel answered. “But the effort would be futile, since our boarders will never become more refined.”
    Fanny suddenly sat up as if her interest had been piqued. “Perhaps it would not be impossible with the right tutor.” She cast a glance at Lily. “Do you think you could instruct some of our boarders in the social graces, Lily? Just as you do at your Academy for Young Ladies?”
    Lily’s brow furrowed. “Why do you ask?”
    Fleur’s expression also brightened as she regard Lily. “Because, darling,” Fleur explained, “our boarders need cultivation if our plan is to succeed. Demireps from the lower orders cannot easily attract wealthy noblemen or gentlemen. Members of the Quality want refinement, not bawdy manners and coarse speech. The girls here would have been drummed out of our former soirees