Page 43 of The Study of Seduction
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 menweremen. 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’tsoundvery 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’slife, 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.”
Her servant murmured something in her ear again, and she said to him, “Go tell them I’ll be along shortly.”
As soon as the lad darted out, Clarissa said, “I understand that you and his lordship are very old, very dear friends.”
It came out more coldly than she’d intended, and that seemed to give Madame Vestris pause. She stared at Clarissa. “Are you asking if I am his lordship’s mistress?”
The blunt words brought Clarissa up short. But at least the woman wasn’t beating about the bush. “Well, are you?”
When the actress didn’t answer at once, Edwin snapped, “No, she is not.”
Clarissa glanced at him. “I should like to hear it from the lady, if you please.”
“Have you ever known me to lie?” Edwin asked, his hand tightening on hers.
But Madame Vestris laughed. “Forgive me, my lady, for toying with you. I am not, nor ever have been, his lordship’s paramour.” Humor gleamed in her eyes. “Though not for lack of trying. After all, Lord Blakeborough is that rarest of gentlemen—handsome, generous,andintelligent. An intelligent man always deserves an intelligent woman, don’t you think?”
“Indeed he does.” She thrust out her chin. “Fortunately, he has found one.” While she knew it was foolish to tout their faux engagement, she felt oddly possessive of her pretend fiancé. She liked Madame Vestris . . . but not well enough to see the woman romantically involved with Edwin.
The actress softened her tone. “You have nothing to fear from me, Lady Clarissa. His lordship is indeed an old friend, but it was never anything more. And these days our friendship centers around his investment in my concern, naught else.”
Her servant appeared in the doorway, and she looked up. “Yes, yes, I’m coming.” She took Clarissa’s hand and pressed it warmly. “I hope to see more of you, my dear. You are always welcome in my theater. Now, forgive me, but I must get the players in their places.” Then she swept out in a swish of silk skirts.
Her servant looked at Edwin. “Can you and the lady find your own way back, sir?”
“Yes,” Edwin said. “Go on.”
As the servant rushed off after his mistress, Edwin led Clarissa out into the passageway. They had to push their way past actors and actresses rushing the opposite direction to take their places onstage for the beginning of the final portion of theRevels.
