Page 116 of Three Weeks with a Princess
“Madatme, more like it,” Lia said with a false little laugh. “It doesn’t matter anyway. We’re not suited.”
Amy frowned. “Why not?”
“He’s an aristocrat and I’m the illegitimate daughter of an actress. Lord Lendale needs a proper lady, a person of his own social standing, not someone whose very existence is a scandal. And other reasons,” she added vaguely after a moment.
Amy took her hand. “Lord, miss, you’re the daughter of a prince. You don’t get more highborn than that.”
Lia gave her a rueful smile. “That’s not how people see it.”
“I’ll tell you what I see. I see a bang-up girl who’ll do anything for the people she cares about. That’s why your man loves you, not because you’re some nose-stuck-in-the-air lady of quality. Besides, what truly matters is whether he treats you like a lady, whether you were born one or not.”
Lia’s throat went tight, so she simply gave Amy’s hand a grateful squeeze.
The dancer sighed and shook her head. “You’ll do what you think best, but it would be a shame to let such a handsome bloke slip away. Anyway, what will you do with your ma dead set against you acting?”
“My half brother and his wife have invited me to stay with them in Vienna. Perhaps I’ll do that.”
Lia had toyed with the idea before, although only as a last resort. But now that Mama had promised to look after Granny, it was an option to seriously consider, at least until she had some idea what to do with her life—a life without Jack, which was an idea so dreary it made her chest feel hollow and cold.
“That sounds lovely,” Amy said enviously. “I’ve always wanted to travel.”
“Then I’m sure you will someday,” Lia managed. “Forgive me, Amy, but I must be off. My cousin is coming for tea and I promised to be home by the time she arrived.”
“I’ll walk out with you, miss. I’m finished for the day.”
Lia waited while Amy fetched her cloak and bonnet, and then they took the stairs down to the back door and to the alley behind the building. Sammy, the boy who watched the stage door on the days the theater was dark, scrambled down from his stool to let them out. He was an engaging scamp, not much more than ten, and had a large mop of curly hair and a grimy but friendly face.
Sammy was also a good deal more reliable than the regular doorman because he was apparently immune to taking bribes from overly bold gentlemen wishing to get backstage. He took his duties very seriously and always responded to requests from company members with alacrity.
“Evenin’, Miss Lia, Miss Amy,” he said, holding open the door for them. “It’s lookin’ stormy out there, so you best trot on home as quick as you can.”
Amy gave his cheek an affectionate pat. “Thank you, my lad. We’ll be sure to do that.”
“Your face is ever so much better,” he said in an earnest tone. “I’d like to kill the bastard that done hurt you, I would.”
“I wish you could,” Amy said. “Lord knows he deserves it.”
Lia shot her a quelling glance before addressing the boy. “That’s a noble sentiment, Sammy, but I think we’d best leave that sort of thing up to the authorities.”
Sammy snorted his disdain. “Then we’ll be waitin’ forever. The swells never get their due when it comes to hurtin’ regular folks like us.”
That one so young had such a cynical—and accurate—view of the world made her want to weep. “I’m afraid that’s too often true. But in this case, I’m confident the villain received his just due.”
Jack had been vague on the details of Prudhoe’s punishment after discussing the situation with Dominic and Leverton, but he’d assured Lia that he had everything well in hand and that she was not to worry about it. She’d been annoyed at his well-intentioned but condescending attitude, but she understood that men didn’t like to discuss these matters with ladies, thinking them too tenderhearted or softheaded to deal with such unpleasantness. It was a ridiculous assertion for anyone to make, especially if they knew her cousin Gillian.
“I hope they got him good for hurtin’ you, Miss Amy,” he said. “But you come tell me if he ever bothers you again.I’llgive him a bit of home-brewed.”
“I will be sure to do that.” Amy’s tone was solemn, but her eyes twinkled with laughter. It was wonderful to see her sunny disposition coming back to life.
“Don’t forget to lock the door behind us, Sammy,” Lia said as she followed Amy down the steps to the cobblestones.
“No fear, miss. I’ll keep everything right and tight.”
They set off down the long alley between the theater and the warehouse next door, heading toward the street. Dark clouds roiled overhead, casting a premature dusk. A gust of wind forced their heads down as they clutched their bonnets.
“Goodness, we’ll be lucky to get home before it rains,” Lia said.
Amy glanced up, but then her gaze darted ahead to the end of the alley, some yards ahead. “Why is that coach parked like that in the alleyway? We’ll never get around it.”
