Page 64 of The Scoundrel of Drury Lane
“It’s from Flory.”
“Flory?” Kit vaguely remembered the name but couldn’t recall from where.
“The stage manager at the theater. Someone’s ruined the sets for the play! All my work... Oh, Kit, we must go back to London. I need to fix the sets. They don’t have anyone else who can work as quickly as I can.”
The hazy contentment he felt slipped away, but she was right—Suzannah would have to go back. The play and crew needed her. He would not deny her something that mattered so much to her.
“Palmer, please have Nolan pack my things and one of the maids pack Suzannah’s clothing for our return to London. Have our coach made ready.”
“Are we all to return with you?” Palmer inquired.
“You, Henry and Mrs. Swanson, yes. Leave half the footmen and maids here to continue cleaning. While we’re back in London, we’ll begin the hunt for new staff as well as new furnishings.”
“Yes, my lord.” Palmer left them alone.
Kit caught Suzannah by the shoulders. “Darling,” he breathed. That term of endearment came so easily to him when he spoke to her. “It will be all right. We shall be back in London this very evening, and you can go to the theater straightaway. I’ll go with you.”
“You will?” she asked, the hope in her voice knifing through his heart.
“Of course, darling. If there is any way I can help, I shall.” He cupped her face with a soft smile, then brushed the paint from her nose. He kissed her deeply. She melted into him and he felt as though he was falling, but in a wonderful, wild, uncontrolled sort of way, like when he’d been a lad and rolled down a hillside meadow, gaining speed.
“I love you,” he whispered against her lips. She stilled, her mouth trembling a little, and he opened his eyes to look at her.
“You do? You’re certain?”
In answer, he kissed her again, opening his heart fully to her. He felt her arms tighten around his back in response as she sensed his love and reciprocated it.
I love you, I love you, I love you...,he repeated over and over in the most ancient language of love that needed no words to be understood. He would let no shadows gather, not now, not when he was so full of light.
16
Flory paced nervously behind Suzannah. “Do you think you can fix it before the house opens this evening?” He nodded at the ruined scenic drops she’d worked so painstakingly on.
Suzannah glanced at Kit. “If we put our all into it. And perhaps if someone could help us with the underpainting?”
“I’ll see who I can spare,” Flory said. He turned to say something to a man who was with him, but a crash from behind Suzannah’s scenic drop stopped him.
The play was opening tonight, and there was still much work left to do. After a frantic day of work, she had managed to repaint the damaged sets. Other props and even parts of the theater had been damaged as part of the mysterious vandalism, but Suzannah’s responsibility was limited to the backdrops.
Kit put an arm around Suzannah’s waist and kissed her temple. “I know we’ve been here most of the day, and I wish I could stay longer, but I’m afraid I have to go, darling. Darius is here. He’ll keep watch and escort you home tonight.”
She could see Darius and Vincent standing side by side at the edge of the stage. She didn’t want Kit to leave, but he and Vincent were meeting with a magistrate today to discuss Captain Murray’s testimony, and Kit could not miss such a meeting.
Reaching up, she brushed a spot of green paint from Kit’s cheek with her smock apron, making him smile in a charmingly boyish way.
“I’ll see you tonight.” He stole another kiss, this one far less innocent, which roused a few whistles from the stagehands nearby. Blushing, Suzannah shoved at him.
“Go on, you mustn’t be late.”
He smiled at her and gave Darius a slap on the shoulder before he and Vincent left. With a sigh, she turned back to her work.
Three hours later, she’d done all that she could to repaint the countryside and the villa scenic drops, which had been crudely painted over. It wasn’t her best work, but it would suffice.
Jude strolled over to her, admiring her work. “Always working miracles.”
Suzannah chuckled. “I try.”
“How’s Henry?”
