Chapter Nine
“Mama, it truly wasn’t that bad,” Lia said after blowing her nose for possibly the hundredth time since she’d come offstage. All week she’d staved off the cold that had swept through the company, but her luck, alas, had finally run out.
“And although my little mishap wasn’t very nice for either Miss Parker or Mr. Thompson,” she added, “no one was really hurt.”
Her mother, pacing back and forth across her dressing room, stopped to wave her arms. “Not hurt? Reggie has a lump on his head the size of a goose egg.”
“That’s because that confounded tray is so heavy,” Lia said. “Besides, Mr. Thompson was very nice and said he didn’t blame me at all.”
“Unfortunately, Serena does blame you. She was completely humiliated.”
Lia winced. “Yes, but she did overreact, you must admit. It wasn’t my fault she slipped and fell.”
Serena Parker had kicked up an enormous fuss after Lia spilled the ale, flailing around with such vigor that she’d fallen on her backside. The actress’s screeching had reached operatic levels at that point. Lia’s ears were still ringing.
“I don’t think the audience minded,” she added. “In fact, they found it rather hilarious.”
So hilarious that the gentlemen in the pit had given Lia a standing ovation. Yes, it was awkward, but they were performing a comedy, after all. Her blunder clearly had added to the popularity of the piece.
Her mother flopped down at her dressing table and began rubbing her temples. Lia understood exactly how she felt as she subsided into the old, cane-backed chair tucked next to the costume rack. Her head ached and she felt utterly miserable. All she wanted to do was to crawl into bed and stay under the covers, perhaps permanently.
“Serena certainly did not find it hilarious,” Mama said. “She’s threatening to quit and go to another company after so profound a humiliation, as she called it.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
After her mother, Miss Parker was the most popular actress in the company. She brought in the crowds, which meant she had power. “I’ll be happy to apologize to her, Mama. I tried to do so immediately after the performance, but she stormed away from me. I can go right to the green room this instant and tell her how very sorry I am.”
It was customary at the end of the evening for the performers to remain in costume and congregate in the green room, meeting the wealthier members of the audience there. It was an important part of the night, where a theatrical manager could find potential investors or patrons willing to purchase an expensive box for the season.
Her mother bolted upright. “Please do not even think about doing so. Serena would cause a scene, and you need to learn, my dear, that a leading actress in a snit is something to be avoided at all costs.”
Lia eyed her mother, who could have been describing herself. Naturally, she refrained from making that observation.
“Besides,” Mama continued, “it would draw a great deal of inappropriate attention to you. That is something we also wish to avoid.”
“If that’s the case, then I shouldn’t appear in any more breeches roles,” Lia said, stating the obvious. She’d done her best to carry it off, but she’d hated every moment of that particular theatrical experience. Feeling exposed and half-naked, she’d cringed at the leering gazes and ribald comments after the audience discovered she was a female.
“Half the company has been felled by that awful infection, which left us short of actors,” her mother said in a plaintive voice. “How was I to know you would succumb as well?”
“Please just tell me what I must do to correct the situation with Miss Parker. I’m willing to do anything.”
“Well, that’s just it, darling. I’m afraid there is only one thing you can do. You must not perform anymore.”
Lia had been fighting another sneeze, but that announcement knocked the ticklish feeling right out of her head. “You cannot be serious!”
Her mother’s chin went up in a stubborn tilt. “I’m sorry, Lia, but Miss Parker told your stepfather right after the performance that she will quit the company if you continue to perform in any capacity. Even in walk-on roles.”
“But that’s so unfair. It was an accident and she knows it.”
“I do realize that, but Serena feels your departure from the company is necessary for her to recoup her dignity. She’s deeply concerned she will become an object of ridicule.”
“And is that how you see it?” Lia didn’t have the energy to conceal the pain that her own mother would fail to defend her.
Mama hesitated, as if weighing the question. But then one side of her mouth lifted in a grimace. “I’m sorry, dearest, but it can be fatal for an actress to become the object of mockery, even a comic actress. Serena is too sensitive, but I understand her concern.”
Clearly, Marianne Lester sympathized more with her fellow actress than she did with her own daughter. That ugly little morsel of truth was a hard swallow.
“But what am I to do?” Lia felt so miserable and desperate that her chest hurt. “You know better than anyone how limited my choices are. I can’t become a governess or a companion to a wealthy invalid—no one would have me.” In any case, those professions were akin to indentured servitude as far as she was concerned.
Her mother folded her hands in her lap and adopted a perfectly calibrated expression of maternal regret. If only she truly were that maternal instead of playacting at motherhood.
“My dearest daughter, it grieves me to the soul to be the one to bring about the ruination of your fondest dream.”
When she heaved a dramatic sigh, fluttering a hand up to her heart, Lia had to work hard not to roll her eyes.
“But I fear I must,” her mother continued. “To be blunt, you are not meant for a career on the stage. You are most welcome to remain with us in London for a spell. Your stepfather and I quite value your help backstage. But that is only a temporary solution. Sooner or later, I think you must return to Stonefell. I’m sure Lord Lendale will come up with some solution to your problem if you give him half a chance.”
She shook her head. “That’s not a helpful suggestion, Mama. You know Jack can’t afford to support us. If you won’t let me continue with you, I will have to try another acting company. Perhaps you could put in a good word for me with some of the other company managers?”
Her mother practically toppled off her stool. “I will do nothing of the sort. Can you imagine the gossip if we were to compete against each other in different theaters? I would be utterly humiliated—not to mention roundly criticized for not supporting my daughter in my own company.”
It dawned on Lia that her mother’s refusal to help must be based at least partly on jealousy. Though Marianne Lester was incredibly popular and still very beautiful, the slightest hint of competition seemed too horrifying to contemplate, even if it meant depriving her daughter of the opportunity to make her way in the world.
As Lia struggled to absorb the pain of that betrayal, a knock on the door interrupted them. Her stepfather cautiously opened the door. “I hate to interrupt, my love, but you and Lia have some visitors most eager to see you.”
His wife fluttered her handkerchief in a distracted manner. “Stephen, I simply cannot bear the green room tonight. And Lia will certainly not be going out in public. You must make our excuses.”
“They’re not in the green room, they’re—”
Stephen bit off his words as the door jerked fully open and Jack elbowed him aside. Lia let out a quiet moan; it wanted only this to complete her humiliation. She’d seen Jack up in the boxes, of course, but she’d been certain he’d be too appalled by her performance to want anything to do with her.
“Sweetheart, are you all right?” he asked, crouching down and taking her hands. “You didn’t get hurt in all that commotion, did you?”
Actually, one of the other actors had trod very hard on her foot and her toes would be bruised for days. But that hardly seemed worth mentioning at the moment.
She tried to tug her hands away, fighting an absurd desire to collapse into his arms and burst into tears. “I’m fine. There’s really no need to make such a fuss.”
His fingers tightened in a gentle but determined grip. “You’re not fine. You look whey-faced and sickly.”
“Thank you for that gracious assessment. Perhaps you’d better leave before you catch my cold.”
“You know I never get sick,” he said, ignoring her sarcastic tone.
He finally let go of one of her hands, rising to loom over her. He pressed his palm to her forehead, then her cheek. Lia suffered it with a sigh, hating that he was treating her like a child.
“Right,” he said. “You have a fever. I’m taking you to your mother’s house and putting you to bed straightaway.”
Lia blinked at the image that evoked—she and Jack in a heated tangle under crisp sheets. The notion was surprisingly enticing, especially considering how wretched she felt.
He frowned. “Now you’ve gone flushed. Clearly, the London air and this theatrical environment have damaged your health. The sooner we get you well and back to Stonefell, the better.”
He punctuated that comment by scowling at Lia’s mother, who bristled like a hedgehog, albeit one dressed as a Greek goddess.
“You needn’t lecture me, my lord,” Mama said. “I’ve been telling her to go back to Yorkshire for days.”
“Good, then we’re all in agreement,” Jack said.
Lia finally yanked her hand away and stood up. When she tried to edge away from him, she found herself half-immersed in the pile of frothy, elaborate costumes hanging from the rack behind her. Impatiently, she batted away feathers from a large purple ruff that insisted on poking her in the face.
“I am not going back to Stonefell,” she said. “Jack, it’s none of your business where I go or what I do. My stepfather said I could stay in London as long as I wanted. Isn’t that right, sir?”
Stephen’s bushy eyebrows tilted up in a comically distressed slant as he cast his wife an alarmed glance. “Er, of course, my dear. For as long as you . . .” He stuttered to a stop when he took in Jack’s basilisk gaze.
“Stop trying to intimidate my stepfather,” Lia said.
“Stop trying to ignore the truth of your situation,” Jack retorted. “After tonight’s debacle, there is an even greater necessity for you to rusticate, and as soon as possible.”
“Again, thank you for such kind words,” she said caustically. “There’s no need for me to flee like a thief in the night. I didn’t do anything wrong. It was just a slight mishap and not worth the fuss you’re all making.”
“A slight mishap? Are you completely mad? Your performance gave London its most delicious piece of gossip in months. And you’ve now attracted a legion of scoundrels and rakes.” He shook his head, looking disgusted. “I cannot believe you or anyone else thought it appropriate to play a breeches role.”
“I say, that’s not fair,” Stephen piped up. “Lots of actresses do so, including my wife.”
“Well, this particular actress isn’t doing it anymore,” Jack said. “In fact, her acting days are over.”
Lia was considering running her dearest friend through with her mother’s prop spear when a woman shoved Stephen aside to enter the room.
“Confound it,” her stepfather said. “No need to push, young lady.”
The newcomer ignored him. “Do stop badgering the poor girl,” she said, glowering at Jack. “She’s correct—she didn’t do anything wrong.”
“You’re as bad as she is.” Jack shot a disgusted look at the tall, elegant man who’d crowded into the room behind the young woman. “Can’t you keep her under some semblance of control?”
“You know the answer to that question as well as I do,” the man said sardonically.
“My husband is much too intelligent to hinder me when he knows I’m right,” the woman said.
Feeling muddled by her headache and the commotion, Lia shook her head. “Excuse me. I don’t mean to be rude, but who are you?”
The woman gave her a dazzling smile. “You couldn’t possibly be ruder than I am, as my husband would be thrilled to tell you. My name is Gillian and I am your cousin.”
That announcement stunned the entire room into silence, although Lia fancied she heard a weary sigh from Jack. She stared at the tall, lovely young woman dressed in the first style and decked out in a set of obviously expensive diamonds. Everything about her and her husband shouted of membership in the upper tiers of the nobility.
Instinctively, her gaze flew to Jack, whose expression comingled resignation and annoyance. “She’s my cousin?” she managed in a thin voice.
He nodded. “You have many cousins, pet, as you know. And aunts and uncles, for that matter.”
“Not that any of them would have anything to do with us,” her mother said with an offended little sniff. “The nobs love looking down on our sort.”
“You’ll be happy to know that I’m not the least bit snobby, Aunt Marianne,” Lia’s newfound cousin said in a cheery tone.
Even Mama looked shocked by the informal address.
Gillian stepped forward and extended her hand. “But allow me to properly introduce myself, dear cousin. I’m Gillian Dryden Penley, Duchess of Leverton. And that distinguished fellow in the doorway is my husband, the Duke of Leverton. In truth, he is a bit of a snob. But because he’s also an exceedingly nice man, I hope you’ll overlook that little flaw.”
To his credit, the duke simply lifted an ironic eyebrow in response to his wife’s summary of him.
Lia weakly extended her hand to the duchess, who clasped it in a no-nonsense grip. Part of her wanted to laugh at the young woman’s forthright manner, but she couldn’t seem to process the astounding turn of events. Jack not only knew the duchess was Lia’s cousin, he was apparently quite friendly with her. That he had withheld such knowledge from her grew more annoying with every passing second.
Mama, never one to miss a golden opportunity, leaped to her feet, then swanned into a deep and graceful curtsy. “Your Graces, we had no idea you were in the audience tonight. This is such a great honor. We do hope you enjoyed the performance.”
“It was . . . illuminating,” the duke said. He glanced at Lia. “In more ways than one.”
She fancied she caught a note of disapproval in his smooth tones, which didn’t improve her rising temper. Even worse, her head was pounding like a blacksmith’s hammer. As much as she wanted to stay and speak with Gillian Penley, she was desperate to flee the confusion and noise and collapse into a warm bed.
“Jack, why didn’t you tell me the duchess wished to meet me? She’s obviously a friend of yours,” she said, focusing on the part that bothered her most.
He grimaced. “I was trying to figure out the best way to break the news. It’s rather tricky, as you must admit.”
“By telling me straight out, I would think,” she said. “‘Lia, you have a cousin and she seems very nice.’”
The duchess beamed. “Thank you, my dear. If it’s worth anything, I thought Jack should have told you weeks ago.”
“Yes, so did I.” Jack looked at Lia, his dark eyes shadowed with regret. “But your grandmother asked me to hold back. She wished you to find out at what she felt was the appropriate time.”
Now it was her turn to sigh. “I suppose she didn’t want me to get any ideas above my station.”
Although Granny certainly had her pride, she also had very definite ideas about the social order. It was understandable, given that she’d built her entire life around settling for something considerably less than what she deserved.
Jack waggled a hand. “I wouldn’t put it quite that way. But she did fear that such a relationship would ultimately lead to rejection. She didn’t want to see you hurt.”
“As if I would ever do something so shabby,” the duchess indignantly said.
Lia gave her a wobbly smile before returning her focus to Jack. “I understand that you wanted to respect Granny’s wishes, but I still wish you’d told me about Her Grace, especially after I came down to London.”
“Have you forgotten you’ve been avoiding me?” he asked. “And when I did finally see you the other day, you stormed out before I could tell you. You keep cutting me off at the damn knees, Lia.”
“Lendale, you know I’m very fond of you,” the duchess said, in what Lia could only describe as a threatening tone. “But I must insist that you address my cousin with respect or I’ll be forced to knock your—”
“Gillian,” the duke interjected sharply.
“Er, I’ll be forced to speak very sternly to you,” she amended.
Jack snorted in disbelief.
The duchess directed an apologetic grimace at Lia. “Please call me Gillian,” she said. “And to be fair, Lendale only met me a few months ago. At the time I wasn’t yet married and wasn’t even sure if I was staying in England. It didn’t make sense to tell you if we were never to meet.”
Lia nodded, feeling slightly mollified. Absently, she rubbed her aching head, pondering the best response to the fraught situation.
“Lia, please sit down before you fall down.” Jack pressed her down onto her mother’s dressing stool before stroking her cheek. “You need to rest, sweetheart, or you’ll fall into a bad state.”
Her anger dissipated another notch, but he ruined it a moment later by shooting an irritated glance at her mother. “She needs to go home, Mrs. Lester. And no more of this acting nonsense.”
“Of course, my lord,” Mama said instantly. “Lia can rest up with us before she returns home to Yorkshire. There’s no need to rush, but I’m sure the city doesn’t agree with her at all. No wonder she fell so ill.”
“I caught a cold,” Lia said through gritted teeth. “As did half the people in the company. And I have no intention of returning to Stonefell, so you can both stop nagging me about it.”
“Of course she’s not going back to Yorkshire,” Gillian said. “She’s staying right here in London with us, at Leverton House.” She shot her husband a winning smile. “Isn’t that right, sir?”
The duke, who’d been leaning against the doorjamb watching their little scene with a mostly lofty sort of disinterest, moved closer and suddenly looked uncomfortable. “My love, I don’t think that’s the best idea, either for you or Miss Kincaid.”
“Why not?” his wife asked. “She’ll receive the best of care, and we can also get to know each other.”
“You know why,” her husband said in a firm voice.
“Are you truly going to worry about gossip at a time like this?” Gillian demanded. “You know I don’t care about that sort of nonsense.”
“I’m afraid you do need to care about this,” the duke said.
“I simply ignore the opinions of idiots,” she said, “and you should, too. God knows we’ve done enough of that in the past few months. Our marriage was supposed to be the biggest scandal of the decade and yet everything’s fine. Besides, you’re going to make poor Lia feel unwelcome and that’s perfectly awful of you.”
“It is not that simple. Not this time,” Leverton said. Then he gave Lia a kind but regretful smile. “I have no intention of making you feel unwelcome, Miss Kincaid. In fact, I look forward to getting to know you better.”
Lia wondered if that was the case, although he sounded sincere. “I understand, Your Grace. I’m not offended in the least.”
“But I am, confound it,” Gillian said. “Why in heaven’s name can’t my cousin stay with us?”
“It is a lovely and generous offer, Your Grace,” Mama piped in. “I’m sure Gillian would be thrilled to spend some time with you. Wouldn’t you, my love?”
Now Lia wanted to crawl completely behind the costume rack—or, better yet, flee the room. Of course Mama would wish her daughter to cozy up to a rich and powerful duke and his duchess, especially if they were near relations. Lia had no doubt her mother planned to exploit that connection to the troupe’s advantage, likely by asking them to become investors. But she’d rather go back to Yorkshire than allow anyone to impose on the generosity of the kind young woman who seemed so eager to help.
“You see, Charles?” Gillian said in a triumphant tone. “If Lia’s mother approves, what is the problem?”
“The problem is that two royal side-slips staying under one roof would be manna from heaven for the gossips,” Jack said bluntly. “It would wash right off you because you’re a duchess and married to a powerful man. But such would not be the case for Lia. Moving to Leverton House would focus a great deal more attention on her, which is exactly what we don’t want right now.”
Gillian let out an endearing little growl. “Blast! I simply hate the Ton and their small-minded ways. I’d like to set fire to them all.”
“Small-minded but dangerous, at least for Miss Kincaid,” said the duke. “Lendale is right, I’m sorry to say.”
“We have to do something,” Gillian said, waving her arms so wildly she almost knocked the plumes out of her coiffure. “I won’t let her be shipped off to Yorkshire if she doesn’t want to go.”
“I believe I have the solution to this particular problem,” said a deep voice from the hall.
Lia looked up to see yet another stranger in the doorway. Like Jack and the Duke of Leverton, he was tall, broad-shouldered, and elegantly dressed, but he was some years older, probably in his forties. He had a rugged face with a great deal of character and carried himself with an air of powerful authority.
“There you are, Hunter,” said Leverton. “Finally.”
The newcomer gave a slight smile. “I wished to get the measure of the situation before I intruded.”
“So, you were eavesdropping on us, Sir Dominic?” Gillian asked.
The man raised his eyebrows in polite inquiry. “Isn’t that exactly what you would do, Your Grace?”
Her mouth twitched in a smile. “Yes, but how dreadful of you to point that out. Well, you’d best come in while we try to sort out this mess.”
“Indeed,” he said, easing in beside the duke. The room was now so crammed that Lia’s stepfather all but climbed up onto Mama’s dressing table to avoid being trampled.
Lia pressed the tips of her fingers to her temples, suddenly overwhelmed by the heat and by absorbing too many surprises in so short a space of time. With the appearance of the mysterious Sir Dominic Hunter, she suspected yet more revelations in the offing.
He smiled at Lia and managed a very credible bow, considering the tight quarters. “I am Sir Dominic Hunter, Miss Kincaid, and it is a pleasure to meet you. I come on behalf of your half brother, Captain William Endicott, who wishes me to extend his best wishes and his protection on your behalf. In short, Captain Endicott has made it clear that he desires you to come home with me.”