SOLVED. Set in 16th-18th century France, travelling acting troupe [s]

[Trixie]

This was a paperback "bodice-ripper" that I read in late 1989 or early 1990s. The heroine's name is Ninon Guillemot. She is the illegitimate daughter of a French nobleman. This is in France, sometime in the 16th to 18th centuries. She works in the house of a guy she has a crush on, a nobleman named Phillippe, but he is married. His wife is older than he is and doesn't care for sex. Ninon almost gives into Phillippe's lovemaking but is interrupted and then runs away with an acting troupe.

The acting troupe includes a woman who dyes her hair black and who is pregnant with "someone's" child, but she doesn't know whose, so all the men who have enjoyed her favors throw some money in a hat, so to speak. There is a "good male friend" character in the troupe whose name might be Chanticleer or something else beginning with "Ch." Another acting troupe member is a saturnine grouch, possibly named Valentin, who is Ninon's designated soulmate. He is also the one who interrupted Ninon's lovemaking with Phillippe, so he didn't realize this was a first-time thing for her, and when they have sex, he doesn't realize he has taken her virginity.

Near the end of the book, she is undressing for Valentin and her corset has a poem inscribed on it. Valentin asks why women cage their bosoms,and she answers " 'Tis a sweet cage."

With so many details, you'd think I would have no trouble finding this book, but noooo.

[Serendi]

How about Dreams So Fleeting by Louisa Rawlings?

And yeah, that was surprisingly hard to find.

[Trixie]

WOW!!! I really had given up hope I would ever find this book again. Thank you a thousand times, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Color me solved!

[Serendi]

You're very welcome!