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Jean watched Noëlle close the door to the inner room and walk toward him in determined fashion. He waited for the questions he knew would come.
“And what have we here, Capitaine? Plunder from one of your raids?”
He smiled. “You know me better than that, Noëlle. Have I ever brought home a woman from any of my trips?”
She pursed her lips and brought one hand to her chin. “Non, but I see the way you look at this one. Am I designing clothes for a new mistress peut-être?” With a smile, she moved her hand to her hip. “One who likes to wear the trousers, eh?”
“Non. Despite her appearance, Lady Joanna is the sister of a prominent English earl.”
Taken aback, she asked, “How did such a woman end up with you unchaperoned in Lorient?”
He let out an exasperated breath, supposing he would have to tell the tale more than once before it was done. “You recall that your husband and I sometimes invest in merchandise intended for English appetites?”
“Oui, but what has this lady to do with that?”
“Let’s just say one of those trips to deliver the merchandise led to an altercation with the revenue authorities while the mademoiselle was on my ship—in disguise, of course. Unfortunately, a musket ball found its way to her flesh.”
Noëlle’s expression became one of alarm. He attempted to assure her. “She has been wounded, oui, but she is healing. Which reminds me, when you fit her for the gowns, do not constrict her overmuch so that it pains her.”
“Am I to know where she is wounded?”
“I suppose you must. She may tell you herself, but the musket ball cut across her belly.”
“Mon Dieu.” She shook her head. “I will not ask how you know that, M’sieur. But do not worry for her. I will take the greatest of care. Skirts are typically full and we will not use a stomacher nor lace her gown overmuch.” She held her hands in front of her. “Now, tell me. Am I designing gowns for Lorient or somewhere else you have yet to go? Paris, as you are aware, requires more formal gowns than here.”
“For now, it will be Lorient and then on to Saintonge, but the lady does not know of the latter destination, so please do not mention it.”
“Ah yes, I had heard our favorite capitaine now has a title. Your father’s, oui?”
He nodded.
“I am sorry for your loss.”
If Jean mourned at all it was for his brother. Their youth spent together had brought them close. “It has been many years since I have seen either of them, Noëlle. The title matters little to me. And to you, I am still ‘Capitaine’.”
“Très bien, Capitaine. I will have the one gown for her before you leave today along with some nightclothes. The rest will follow in two days’ time.”
“That is all the time we have, I’m afraid. If you can have them sewn faster, I will pay for the additional seamstresses.”
“Très bien. It shall be done. The gowns shall be delivered to you the day after tomorrow. Should they require adjustments, there will be time before you depart.”
She turned toward the fitting room and then paused, looking back at him. “Am I wrong in assuming you wish to watch as I fit the lady?”
“Non, you are quite correct.”
Since the girl had to supply Joanna with stays and a petticoat, it took a few minutes before she had donned those over a thin shift. Flavie was just slipping the green gown over Joanna’s head when the door opened and Madame Provot briskly strode inside, her skirts swishing noisily as she cried for pins and a tape to measure with.
Flavie quickly tied Joanna’s laces and then scampered off to find the requested items.
Behind the modiste, Donet walked in and took one of the chairs, crossing his arms and legs as if he meant to stay and watch.
Surely not! Joanna met his intense gaze in the mirror with one of her own. “Monsieur Donet, do you intend to remain while I am fitted?”
He grinned like the pirate he had once been. “I do.”
Joanna did not like his impertinence one bit, but since she was fully clothed, she merely let out a “humph”. In the mirror she could see his dark eyes devouring her.
Even from that distance his presence had a powerful effect. She imagined his hands coming around her to stroke her breasts, his lips kissing her neck. Beneath the gown, her nipples hardened. She flushed scarlet.
