Fantomina

“She was young, a Stranger to the World, and consequently to the Dangers of it; and having no Body in town, at that Time, to whom she was oblig’d to be accountable for her Actions, did in every Thing as her Inclinations or Humours render’d most agreeable to her.” 

The Lady is described as an innocent at the beginning of the story, meaning not so much that she is pure as that she does not understand the difference between proper and improper comportment. She is unsupervised, which gives her a dangerous amount of freedom; she is also wealthy and beautiful, which allows her freedoms as well. All these circumstances get her into trouble. 

“He was transported to find so much Beauty and Wit in a Woman, who he doubted not but on very much easy terms he might enjoy; and she found a vast deal of Pleasure in conversing with him in this free and unrestrained Manner.”

The Lady’s disguise as a prostitute allows her and Beauplaisir conversational freedoms that they might not have had otherwise. Because Beauplaisir is certain that he can “enjoy” her, he does not have to go through elaborate courtship rituals with her and can instead talk to her frankly and openly. The Lady enjoys this lack of ceremony and is at the same time able to surprise and impress Beauplaisir with her ladylike cultivation. 

“He could not imagine for what Reason a Woman, who, if she intended not to be a Mistress, had counterfeited the Part of one, and taken so much Pains to engage him, should lament a Consequence which she could not but expect, and till the last Test, seem’d inclinable to grant, and was both surpris’d and troubled at the Mystery.” 

Beauplaisir is understandably confused by the mixed signals that the Lady has given him, over the two days of their acquaintance. He fails to understand that the Lady herself is confused and is simply trying to navigate the many roles and masks that are expected of her, as an eligible young woman.