But I see it is time for us to withdraw; the Actors are preparing to begin. Play away the Overture...
The men bowed and left the stage, accompanied by music from the orchestra. Any ease Henry had shown when we first entered the box had vanished, and he now sat motionless, with his arms crossed over his chest. The hard line returned to his jaw. Tension rolled off of him, and I braced myself for a long uncomfortable evening.
What followed was a production unlike anything I expected. Despite its title, The Beggar’s Opera had little in common with real opera, offering instead a ribald mockery of its formal Italian namesake. The first act opened with the corrupt thief-catcher, Mr. Peachum seated at a large table, studying a leather-bound ledger. His wife and servant came out next and I felt my tension match Henry’s in anticipation of the infamous Justine.
Lady Saxby tilted her head toward me. “The gentry turned out in force tonight,” she said, so only I could hear. “Your presence is garnering equal attention to the actors.”
Her observation startled me. “What do you mean?”
“I have been watching the other boxes, and without doubt you are the topic du jour. Look straight across. Do you see those two old hens? That’s Mrs. Bradshaw and Lady Osbourne. They’ve been speaking behind their fans since the overture. To their right in the next box are Mr. Thornton, his sister Miss Thornton and his fiancée Miss Upton. They aren’t even pretending to watch the stage.”
As Lady Saxby spoke, I glanced across the pit. The three young people quickly looked away. The two old ladies raised their fans a little higher and continued talking.
“And then there is Lord Stroud in the next box,” Lady Saxby continued. “I swear, the man hasn’t taken his eyes from you for a single moment.”
I looked to the right of the Thornton’s box and saw Julian watching me just as Lady Saxby had described. He met my eyes and smiled. I returned his smile without a second thought.
Loud clapping and cheers erupted from the pit below. “My, my,” Lady Saxby said, “the diva has finally appeared. Polly Peachum never fails to draw a hearty applause.”
Snapping my head toward the stage, I nearly groaned aloud. Without doubt, Justine Rose was one of the most beguiling creatures I had ever seen. Thick copper locks framed a near perfect porcelain face. Her full mouth had been stained the color of red wine, and seemed to beckon every gentleman in attendance for a kiss. Loose curls fell down her back, a few slipping over the front of a bodice that was cut to emphasize the deep cleavage of her ample bosom.
While waiting for the applause to die down, she stared out at the main audience, her radiant smile befitting an angel. After several long seconds, her almond shaped eyes moved up to the boxes for a subtle survey of her more affluent admirers. Moving from right to left, the graceful turn of her neck followed the circular line of the outer wall, coming to a stop when she saw Henry. Her composure never faltered. Nor did her smile, which took on a seductive quality akin to a fallen angel.
Only when the crowd had quieted down, did she move her gaze from Henry to the stage where Mr. Peachum waited expectantly. Placing her hands on her hips, she sauntered over to her father and started speaking.
I know as well as any of the fine Ladies how to make the most of myself and of my Man too. A Woman knows how to be mercenary, though she hath never been in a Court or at an Assembly. We have it in our Natures, Papa. If I allow Captain Macheath some trifling Liberties, I have this Watch and other visible Marks of his Favour to shew for it. A Girl who cannot grant some Things, and refuse what is most material, will make but a poor hand of her Beauty, and soon be thrown upon the Common.
During the last sentence, Justine let her eyes wander unabashedly back to Henry. Much like her character, she was making the most of herself tonight. By the looks of it, she welcomed Henry to come hither to partake of those trifling Liberties and possibly even that most material.
Jealously flared inside me. How dare she look at him that way! As though they were still lovers and shared some intimate secret. My first inclination was to plead a headache and ask to be taken home at once. But Nora would insist on accompanying me and her night would be ruined. So I stayed and watched Justine flaunt her goods from one end of the stage to the other, throwing seductive looks toward Henry at every opportunity.