“That is most kind of her,” Mama said. “Though you know I cannot go. All that tramping up and down stairs is too hard on my poor hip. But I realize that you admire the woman, so you should visit her.” Mama’s gaze lighted briefly on the count. “And now that you and Edwin are betrothed, well . . . I do believe it would be all right for me to remain here and entertain our guests.”
Clarissa fought to hide her relief that Mama was staying behind. Perhaps she could keep the count from dogging their steps, and that would give Clarissa a chance to speak privately to Edwin. “Yes, I’m sure it would be considered quite respectable,” Clarissa said, though she wasn’t sure of any such thing.
And one glance at Durand showed he was none too happy about her and Edwin going off together. That alone made her determined to do it.
Her mother smiled. “But do tell Madame Vestris how pleased I am that we could come and see her newly appointed theater.”
“Yes, Mama.”
As Clarissa and Edwin followed the servant to the door, her mother called out, “Oh, and tell her how much I’m enjoying the burlesque.”
“Of course,” Clarissa said.
They were nearly into the hall when her mother’s voice wafted to her. “And ask her to sign a playbill for me!”
“I will! We’re going now!” Clarissa called back.
As she shut the door firmly, the servant paused. “Are you sure her ladyship does not wish to join us?”
“We’re sure,” Edwin answered.
His rumble of a voice made her heart skip. Just a little, mind. Nothing unsettling.
No, the unsettling part was how easily he guided her through the crowded passageways. For a man who wasn’t good with people, he certainly knew how to maneuver around them.
Twice, he laid his hand in the small of her back to steer her, and she felt the heat of it like a brand. Once, he even tugged her close to prevent her being run down by a rushing maid, and Clarissa stumbled against him, forcing him to steady her with both hands on her waist.
“All right?” he asked, his gaze playing over her as if checking for injuries.
She nodded.
But she wasn’t all right. This night had thrown her into turmoil. First Durand’s deliberate meddling and now Edwin’s disturbing effect on her. She truly didn’t know what to think or how to act.
As the servant boy led them through a warren of passageways to the backstage area of the theater, she wished she could just pull Edwin into a nearby room and discuss their increasingly precarious situation. But Madame Vestris was waiting, and Clarissa didn’t mean to lose her chance to meet the famous actress.
Besides, she was curious about Edwin’s friendship with the woman. He hadn’t yet explained why he’d been asked to invest in the theater in the first place. If they had only been friends in childhood . . .
What if it was more? What if he was hiding some secret affair with the actress? Madame Vestris was rumored to be quite pretty, after all, and men were men. Even Edwin.
Oh, she was being silly. Edwin having secret affairs—the very idea was ludicrous.
Still, it was a bit unnerving to find that in person, the actress was more than pretty—she was gorgeous. With her shiny dark curls, large brown eyes, olive skin, and perfectly oval face, she had the look of a seductress.
And when the woman greeted Edwin by his Christian name and kissed him on the cheek, a sudden unexpected pang seized Clarissa’s chest.
He nodded coolly. “Good to see you again, Lucia.”
Lucia? He called the actress by her Christian name? Well, of course he did. They’d known each other from childhood. Clarissa was really letting her imagination run away with her.
After all, the woman showed no sign of caring that Edwin was with another lady. And when Edwin introduced Clarissa, Madame Vestris was more than gracious, asking what they thought of the performances and whether the box was comfortable.
Then her servant stepped up to whisper in her ear, and Madame Vestris shot them a broad smile. “I’m told, Lord Blakeborough, that Lady Clarissa is your fiancée. Please accept my congratulations.”
Clarissa sighed. The news was already starting to spread. She’d forgotten that the servant had heard Mama speak of their betrothal.
“Thank you.” Edwin took Clarissa’s hand. “We’re very happy.”
He didn’t sound very happy.
Guilt stabbed her. When she’d agreed to the scheme, she hadn’t expected Count Durand to wreak such havoc on their lives. Edwin’s life, in particular.
Madame Vestris, too, must have heard the reserve in his voice, for she assessed Clarissa with a searching glance. “Any woman who has succeeded in capturing the heart of his lordship must be exceptional indeed.”
That sent Clarissa’s mind racing again. Was the woman showing jealousy? Warning Clarissa that she’d have to work hard to deserve Edwin? Clearly, the actress admired Edwin for more than his investing, but could it have gone so far as to be intimate? How could Clarissa find out without being vulgar?
“He speaks well of you, too,” Clarissa said. “And I have long been an admirer of yours myself. There aren’t many women who can conquer the theater world so thoroughly.”
The actress dipped her head. “How kind of you to say.”