8
YOUNG AND FOOLISH
LYON, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 1717
Never dwell on the mistakes of the past. Learn from them.
Francis de Brangelton to Henrietta d'Arringnon – 1694
By the sultry summer months, feminine curves rounded off Charlotte's body and heralded the beginning of her difficulties with men. Now her childhood friends avoided Charles, although the young men, plus a stray officer or two from the garrison, sought out Charlotte at all social functions. Even Simon and Renaud de Paulet treated her with a certain reserve. She was happy to escape from all that nonsense to Lyon.
“I must admit, Wildcat, you are pretty,” Raoul commented with his usual candor.
“That causes no end of hassle for me,” Charlotte complained with a premonition of disaster. “Don't you acquire any amorous notions.”
“I
