“It wasn’t Rose who was there,” I said and gave her the abridged version of the tale as we climbed the stairs to my room.
“You’ll find her soon! I’m sure of it,” she said with an optimism she must have learned from her stepbrother. “But there must be something more! You spent an entire night there! Was anyone’s virtue . . . compromised?”
I shook my head, feeling a faint envy for Laura’s boredom. Between the horrors befalling Rose, Mr. Braddock, and Miss Grey, there seemed to be merit to the comfortable tedium of my life a week ago. “The Argyll Rooms were much like a ball or dance,” I said gently, slipping behind the dressing screen to begin removing my attire. “Nothing terribly special.”
“Oh! Oh! What about Mr. Braddock? Was he still dark and mysterious and far less charming than my brother?” I gave her a harsh look over the screen as she squinted her blue eyes and sucked in her cheeks to remind me what dark and mysterious men look like. Like fish or Miss Verinder, apparently.
“Mr. Braddock is a reprehensible man, and we will not talk of him again.”
She must have sensed something in my tone, because she immediately pounced on the idea and my bed. “Oh, Evelyn! Don’t tell me you are in love with him! Oh, you are! Look at how red you are, Evelyn! My poor brother. You love him!”
“Goodness, I’m in love with no one, least of all him. He has done horrible things, and he’s dishonest and dangerous, and, well, he has many awful qualities. Not that I ever think about him anyway—no, no, Mr. Braddock is nothing to me. Nothing at all! In fact—” I could hear myself rambling, and a certain quote about protesting too much flitted through my head.
Judging by her subject change, Laura still seemed to think I was putting on an act. “Well, since you won’t admit to anything, I have exciting news about our theater outing for tonight!”
“The Lyceum . . .” I sighed. I didn’t quite miss society yet.
“I know, they are performing some ancient play, but more important, Mr. Edwards will be in attendance! Sadly, he was not able to join our party because the family already had a commitment, but we will surely see him during intermission!”
“How lovely,” I lied. “Did you say our party?”
“Yes! We have a box, remember? It will be us, the Verinders, and of course my brother!” Oh hell. Could I fall sick again?
She sighed and fell back down, staring at the canopy over my bed in utter contentment. “Oh, Evelyn! I don’t think Nick would have come if it weren’t for you! What it must be like to have two men in love with you!”
THE LYCEUM THEATRE might have been a magnificent sight, had the night’s plans not been so unappealing. Six gigantic Grecian columns planted by the curb created a portico that loomed over the sidewalk, like a monstrous mouth threatening to devour the entire street. Arched doorways led into a vestibule that opened on a large, warmly lit lobby decorated in dark shades of purple, green, and elegant glints of gold. Thick hangings and portieres were serenely draped about the room, interrupted only by the wide staircase at the center, leading up to the box tier.
Waiting by this staircase was Mr. Kent, who managed to both grimace at his stepmother and smile brightly at Laura. I received a knowing nod and a quick smile as he met us with bows. I gave him a curious look in return, wondering whether he had news and whether he’d have the opportunity to tell me. We should have arranged a secret code beforehand.
Lady Kent, with the air of a street cleaner getting a foul task done quickly, greeted her stepson. “Nicholas . . . a . . . most welcome surprise to have you here.”
“Yes, well, life would be so boring without a surprise here and there. You certainly have given me a few,” he said, the joke rather too dry. Lady Kent forced out a guttural, clacking laugh that I hoped never to hear again.
Mr. Kent managed to keep his eyes from rolling too high in his head by rolling them toward Laura. “And my dear Kit, are there enough dinner parties and outings keeping you and Miss Wyndham busy?”
“There are less and less!” Laura whined, her voice shaking querulously. “After tomorrow’s dinner, there’ll be nothing to look forward to for the whole winter!”
“Don’t worry just yet. I’ve spoken to some friends all over London this afternoon,” he said, flashing me an enigmatic smile. “Not everything is set, but I hope to have good news tomorrow.”
Well. It seems we did have a secret code.
Laura beamed. “Oh, I cannot wait! Please be sure to invite—”
“Ah, here they are!” Lady Kent interrupted. Her eyes lit up, and she smiled broadly, exposing too many teeth. “Nicholas, do you see Miss Verinder has arrived?”