Page 69 of In Compromise with the Earl
Sitting up, she brought the covers to her chest and looked at the window. It seemed to be midmorning, mostly likely past ten o’clock and she wondered how she had slept so long.
The memories of last night and the flicker of the draining emotions came back and she sighed in understanding. The horrible, mortifying party, the tears she had shed and the soft comfort Oswald had given her had all made a heady mix of drugging emotions; no wonder she had slept so long.
Sliding her legs from under the sheets, she hurried to don a dressing robe and went to the bathing chamber. After a quick but thorough ablution, she put on a maroon day dress and went to fix the tangled mess her hair was.
“Good gracious, no wonder Medusa didn’t look herself in the mirror,” she muttered.
Oswald laughed. “She was a gorgon, Sweetling, with the power to turn men to stone. She would have killed herself by gazing into a mirror.”
Twisting on her seat, she smiled. “Good morning, again.”
He leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Same to you. How do you feel about a jaunt to Convent Garden this eve? The theater has ‘Much Ado’ playing.”
“I’d love that,” she replied while lowering the brush to her lap. Then she grew concerned. “How…how is your Mother?”
“I spoke to her, and if she decides to take my words to heart then we won’t have any more problems,” Oswald replied. “And if not, we’ll have to separate.”
She wanted to ask, but Aphrodite kept the question to herself. “When does she leave?”
Chapter Twenty-Three
The prickles that raced over Aphrodite’s did not come from the cold London air outside the theater. It came from the possessive look Oswald gave her now and then.
Then again, he was glowering at any man who looked twice at her. With her hair pinned up with pearls that night, and a matching ivory gown stunning against her complexion, she understood why.
Tightening her grip on his arm, she leaned into his ear. “Don’t worry, I only have eyes for you.”
He grunted. “I’d hope so.”
As the entered the lobby, a crowd of theatergoers, mostly women, were gathered, giggling and whispering for the show’s opening. Three gigantic prints of Alaric Hudson, the man who was to play Benedick were being fawned over by the ladies.
The actor was wickedly handsome, with dark hair, piercing green eyes, and the smirk of the devil on his face.
“I do believe they are about to create a cathedral and pray to him,” Oswald said dryly. “I am sure they will give their eyeteeth to have a glance from him.”
Taking out her fan, Aphrodite smiled. “I don’t believe they only want a look from him. Rumor is histalentsspan far beyond the stage.”
“And how the devil do you know that?” Oswald asked darkly.
She snapped the fan close. “My, my, I do believe you are jealous, my dear husband.”
Resting a hand on the small of her back he led her to the stairs. “Of an actor, surely not.” He led them to their reserved box and stood while she sat. “I do not need such attention from anyone but you.”
She gave him a brilliant smile, “I still think you have a thread of jealousy, but fear not. Hudson might be talented, but he has nothing to compare to you. Besides, I heard that he juggles women like balls and is an honored customer at the Black Rose.”
“The Bawdy House?” Oswald asked, his tone a bit distant.
“One and only,” she replied while dropping her fan and taking up her lorgnette. “Now, hush, its starting.”
The play started and drew constant laughs throughout from the audience with Beatrice and Benedick’s antics. Aphrodite snickered at Beatrice’s scalding insults and laughed at Benedick’s reaction.
Oswald was a bit quiet, but she didn’t mind it much, most men were not fond of such things. He did snort heavily when Borachio and Conrade were arrested while bragging and during the confession about Hero’s innocence.
When the play ended with the couples dancing, Aphrodite turned to him. “You’ve been more pensive than a judge during it all. Are you all right? Is something worrying you?”
“I’m fine,” he replied then sighed and shook his head. “Actually no, I’m not. I keep thinking what is happing back at the Hall and if Mother is going to do what I asked.”
“Oh,” she replied, while the actors and actresses came for final bows on the stage. “I keep torturing myself with asking if she will ever accept me.”
