He halted in the doorway, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him. Cecily, seated at the end of the table, looked serene, as if it were the most normal thing in the world to have dinner with three ladies of the evening. “Hello, Charles,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind that I’ve invited Madame LeFleur and her girls to join us.” He fixed his most charming smile on his face and nodded to the women, who at least were decently, if rather colorfully, dressed. “Delighted. I hope you’ll excuse us for a moment, ladies. There is a small matter I need to discuss with Lady Thorndale.” He walked over to Cecily and offered his hand. “Would you come with me a moment, dear? Won’t take a minute, I assure you.” He led her into the small office, just off the dining room. Only then did the smile drop from his face. “You do know what Madame LeFleur and her ‘girls’ do for a living, don’t you? She busied her hands straightening the ruffle around the neckline of her dress and avoided looking at him.
