Whether that was a warning to him or a statement of fact Kane didn’t know, but his face expressionless, he went on, ‘Unfortunately, there are occasionally circumstances when a young lady has little choice in the matter. But regarding your wish to become an actress, may I ask where your ambition lies? Do you intend to play fashionable dramas, ones where women who look like you do enjoy a heyday of popular success by exhibiting themselves in pretty frocks and playing gentle, virtuous wives and mothers? Or does your taste lie more in “new drama”? Plays like Candida or The Master Builder, for instance?’
Sophy stared at him. She had no idea what he was talking about, never having heard of these plays or the term ‘new drama’. For a moment she thought about prevaricating. But only a moment. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Gregory. I don’t know what you mean.’
Inwardly Kane smiled. He’d thought as much. An innocent in every term of the word, and yet . . . There was something about this young woman that was different to the dozens of fashionable middle-and upper-class would-be actresses he’d seen over the last decade. Her face was undeniably beautiful but there was a depth in her eyes that spoke of . . . What did it speak of? he asked himself. Tragedy? Heartache? Desperation? If she could project that when on the stage, she’d bring the house down.
Putting his thoughts aside, he cleared his throat. ‘My line of work is in the theatre, Miss Hutton.’ He didn’t go on to say he had a financial interest in several theatres and music halls and a touring company. ‘One theatre is putting on a new play next week and the actor-manager is a personal friend of mine. I can arrange an introduction but the rest will be up to you.’
Again he stopped her with a raised hand as she went to speak. ‘A word of caution. The theatre is a world within the world, and far from a glamorous world at that. For every Marie Tempest and Eva Moore, there are a hundred other girls who never make it beyond the chorus and struggle to support themselves all their working lives, often leaving the boards when they are too discouraged to continue, only to find that real life has passed them by. You will work hard and be paid little, and the touring side is harsh, but necessary if you want to learn your craft. Provincial theatres are ill-equipped and draughty, you will have to adapt fast to a nomadic existence in lodgings not fit for a dog, and the stage-door gallants will assume that because you are an actress you are fair game. I’m sorry to be so blunt, but that is how it is.’
Sophy’s eyes were shining, she had barely heard anything beyond the magic words ‘I can arrange an introduction’. ‘I want to be an actress, Mr Gregory. It’s the only thing I want.’
He smiled. ‘That’s what they all say, but time will tell.’ He brought out his pocket-watch and glanced at it before standing up and throwing some money on the table, calling across to Horace, ‘Tell Vicky that was even better than usual this morning,’ and then adding in an aside to Sophy who had also risen, ‘unless it’s the company.’
Sophy was conscious of two things as she left the restaurant; one, Mr Gregory was even taller than she had realised, and two, her feet had only just got warm and now they were going to freeze again. Once in the street, Mr Gregory took her elbow, saying, ‘Be careful, the pavements are icy under this latest snow and it would be a shame to break your ankle now, don’t you think? The theatre is only a short distance away on the other side of the Strand, it’s not worth taking a cab.’
‘We’re going there now?’
He looked down at her quizzically. ‘Is that a problem?’
‘No, no.’ It was a massive problem. Huge. A sick agitation about the unknown was filling her as they walked on, and this wasn’t helped when she saw that the theatre was none other than the Lincoln. It wasn’t the largest theatre in the area – few could hope to compete with the Theatre Royal or the West End theatres surrounded by a host of supper clubs which stayed open until after midnight – but since being in London she had learned that the Lincoln was a cut above the other smaller theatres it competed with.
They didn’t enter by the main doors but by a side entrance, which Mr Gregory unlocked with a key. Sophy found herself in a long narrow corridor with various doors leading off, but Mr Gregory led her right to the end and then down a few steps to another door which he opened without knocking. A middle-aged, very good-looking and rather distinguished gentleman was sitting at a large desk. He looked up as the door opened and then his face split into a grin. ‘Kane. What are you doing here? I thought you had to be at the Empire first thing?’
‘I’m on my way.’ Kane drew Sophy in front of him. ‘I’d like you to meet Miss Sophy Hutton. Miss Hutton, meet Augustus Jefferson, a fine actor and the manager of this establishment.’
Sophy was so covered in confusion she almost curtsied, just managing to restrain herself in time and say weakly, ‘How do you do, Mr Jefferson.’
He didn’t answer, looking straight at Kane with raised eyebrows.
In answer to the unvoiced question, Kane said, ‘You still have one or two sylphs to find? Then perhaps Miss Hutton might do. I’ll leave her with you.’ And to Sophy’s alarm, Mr Gregory smiled, nodded, and said, ‘Goodbye, Miss Hutton,’ turning and closing the door behind him.
Her eyes had followed him but when Mr Jefferson said, ‘Miss Hutton?’ she snapped them back to the man behind the desk. ‘Mr Gregory has told you we open next week?’