“A reward?” It took a moment for Ella to fathom Minette’s meaning. “You mean . . . give him me?” She took a step back, affronted. “I’m not a prostitute.”
meMinette sniffed. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“I beg your pardon,” Ella said hastily. She hadn’t meant to offend Minette, who’d been a fille de joie as well as an opera dancer and who was unashamed of either profession. “What I meant was . . . I don’t wish to intrigue with Mr. Pryor.”
fille de joie “No? You like his looks, c’est évident. And why not? He’s a very pretty boy.”
c’est évident.Ella ignored the first part of that statement. “He’s not a boy. He’s at least as old as I am.”
Minette waved this quibble away. “Boy, man, who cares? He did us a favor; now you may do him one. Teach him finesse.”
Ella opened her mouth to
