Madelyn wore her heart on her sleeve, uncharacteristically brazen for a woman of society. But she was a spinster, and French, and there was very little to dampen her spirits when she was determined to enjoy herself. True, her dance card was quite bare and her years advanced but she had learned long ago that not all pleasure came in the form of a husband. This man was strikingly handsome all the same and she felt her heart leap at his query. “Mademoiselle.” Her eyes danced as glanced towards the door then back to him. “Will you safeguard me?” she lifted her shoe to indicate she meant to slip it back on without being found in a compromising position.