She had smiled back at him, while thinking she didn’t know if she wanted the world as her oyster. In fact, she didn’t know what she wanted these days. Life had suddenly become very complicated and she wasn’t sure why.
‘Where’s my wife?’ Toby was calling from the head of the table where the guests were gradually being seated, and as she made her way over to him she thought he had never looked more handsome. He smiled at her as she joined him, his eyes soft and warm, and suddenly she felt better. Everyone was on edge before they got married; it was only natural – it was a huge step to take. But this was Toby, her Toby, and she loved him.
‘We make a stunning pair, have you considered that, Mrs Shawe?’ he whispered in her ear as she sat down beside him. ‘The Golden Couple, that’s what a couple of our friends have said – and who am I to disagree with them?’
He had already had two or three glasses of the champagne cocktails Kane had provided and his speech was slightly slurred. Sophy forced a smile and then, as Toby’s best man – a fellow actor playing at the same theatre – stood up to make a toast, she took a deep breath. Relax, relax, she told herself. This was her wedding day and she was sitting in the most beautiful surroundings with the man she loved. She had been so incredibly fortunate since arriving in London, and she would always be grateful to Mr Gregory for giving her her chance. She wished he was here today so she could tell him so.
The meal was superb. Six courses, beginning with soup and finishing with a choice of desserts, half of which Sophy had never heard of before. She laughed and chattered, and, having had two further glasses of champagne after the champagne cocktail before the dinner, felt light-headed and giggly, but in a nice way. And then, as coffee and liqueurs were served and the party began to circulate once more, she saw Rosalind glide to Toby’s side and take his arm in a proprietorial gesture that caused Sophy to become instantly sober. She watched as his face came down to that of Rosalind’s, and after the woman whispered something in his ear, he threw back his head and laughed before saying something to her that caused Rosalind to smile in reply.
There was nothing to the exchange in one respect; in another it spoke of intimacy and the fact that the couple were extremely comfortable with each other. She found her eyes were riveted on them. It was Cat, appearing at her side and standing directly in front of her, blocking her vision, who caused Sophy to blink when she said, ‘Don’t look like that. It’s nothing. She’s nothing. He’s married you, hasn’t he?’
Sophy didn’t try to pretend. ‘You don’t think they . . .’
‘No, I don’t,’ Cat lied stoutly. ‘Rosalind Robins is getting on, Sophy. She must be all of thirty-five. She knows the parts are going to start drying up soon and she likes to think every young man of her acquaintance is dancing to her tune. And Toby’s not daft. He humours her. That’s all.’
Sophy felt a sickness in the pit of her stomach. She hadn’t been happy about inviting Rosalind and her husband to the wedding but had felt unable to say so. But she didn’t like her. And in spite of the actress’s gushing comments about her appearance today, she felt Rosalind didn’t like her either. Was it because Toby wouldn’t become the latest conquest in what was undeniably a long line, or – she swallowed deeply – because he had? But no, she wouldn’t think that. And if she told Cat what she was thinking, her friend would say that Rosalind didn’t like any woman unless they were in their dotage. That she was that kind of woman. Which was true enough.
Giving herself a mental shake, she hugged her friend, forcing lightness into her tone when she said, ‘You’re right as always, wise woman, but one thing’s for sure. Whenever I thought about my wedding night as a young girl, I didn’t imagine I’d spend it on stage.’ Owing to their contracts, neither she nor Toby could take time off for something as unimportant as getting married, but they had promised themselves a proper honeymoon some time in the future.
Cat grinned. ‘Only part of it, surely, darling, unless you’re thinking of shocking the audience out of their tiny minds.’
Sophy laughed as she was meant to, but in truth she was more than a little nervous about the night ahead. Thanks to Dolly, she had a pretty good idea of the rudiments of what went on, and she wanted to belong to Toby, more than anything, but still . . .