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At that moment the conductor tapped his baton on the music stand and the orchestra began to play. The lights were dimmed and the buzz of conversation from the auditorium died away as the curtains were drawn back to reveal the stage illuminated by gaslight. Freddie reached out to hold Nancy’s hand and she glanced nervously at Mrs Fitzallen, but she was enthralled by the action on the stage, and seemingly oblivious to anything going on around her. Nancy knew that Felicia would not approve of such forward conduct but she did not care. She curled her fingers around Freddie’s hand and settled down to enjoy the rest of the performance.
When the final curtain went down Nancy sighed. It had been a delightful interlude but now she must interrupt the tryst in the next box. She went to knock on the door and when there was no answer she opened it and looked inside. She rushed back to Freddie and Mrs Fitzallen.
‘They’ve gone. There’s no one in the box.’
Mrs Fitzallen threw up her hands. ‘Oh, no. Hubert will be furious if they’ve run away together.’
Nancy turned to Freddie. ‘Did you know what William planned? Were you party to this, Freddie?’
He shook his head. ‘No, on my honour, I only arranged for William to be present. I didn’t know that he had other ideas.’
‘I assisted them by suggesting that they have some time alone together,’ Nancy said sadly. ‘I’m sorry, Mrs Fitzallen.’
‘What’s the matter?’ Tamara’s voice from the doorway made them all turn with a start. ‘Why are you looking so worried?’
‘Where have you been?’ Nancy demanded. ‘We thought you and William had eloped.’
‘It was tempting,’ Tamara said with a smile. ‘But William came to tell me that he has found another position in the City with better pay and prospects. I went to the foyer with him, but I said goodbye and came back straight away.’
Mrs Fitzallen clutched her hands to her bosom, closing her eyes. ‘Please don’t give me a fright like that again, Tamara. Your papa would never speak to me again if I allowed you to do anything rash.’
Nancy glanced at Freddie. There was something about his innocent look that made her suspicious. ‘Do you know anything about that, Freddie?’
‘Me? Of course not. I dare say William had his eye set on a better position all along. We should give the man credit for trying.’
Mrs Fitzallen reached for her cape. ‘I think it’s time we went home, Tamara. Perhaps your papa will change his mind about William in the light of recent events.’
‘I won’t marry the man Papa has chosen for me. I will elope with William if there is no choice, although I would far rather marry him with the approval of my family.’
‘I believe the company that William will be working for is very reputable,’ Freddie said innocently.
‘I don’t think anyone mentioned where he will be employed,’ Nancy said in a low voice as Tamara and Mrs Fitzallen left the box. ‘You had something to do with this, didn’t you, Freddie?’
‘Of course not. I never interfere in other people’s lives.’
Nancy tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. ‘Why don’t I believe you?’
‘I have no idea. I think we should all go out to supper to celebrate. What do you think, Nancy?’
‘In my opinion you are very clever, Lord Ashton. Forgive me if I don’t believe a word of what you just said, but I would love to go out to supper. I really don’t want to go back to John Adam Street just yet.’
‘Don’t worry about Mrs de Marney. She’ll be the toast of the house party at Christmas. My father will make sure that she is kept very busy entertaining the guests.’
The prospect of being entertained at one of the grandest houses in England overcame Felicia’s anger and distress at being side-lined by a younger up-and-coming star of the opera world. Bertha Bannister was called upon to complete the garments already ordered and to make several more outfits for Felicia. The poor seamstress was in tears at the end of her visit to John Adam Street.
‘What’s the matter, Miss Bannister?’ Nancy asked gently. ‘I thought you would be happy to have more business put your way.’
Miss Bannister mopped her eyes with a scrap of material. ‘Of course, miss, but I have only one pair of hands and even if I work all night every night I will never get the gowns finished in time.’
‘You had this problem before. I thought you would take on another seamstress to help you.’
‘I let you think that, miss, but the truth is I can’t afford to pay anyone. Mrs de Marney is like a lot of my clients – she doesn’t settle her account for a few weeks, and in that time I could be evicted from my lodgings for not paying the rent.’
‘But I thought you were living above Mr Wilkins’s shop. Surely he wouldn’t turn you out?’
‘My dear mother passed away and Jedidiah thought it unseemly for me to stay on. He found me the new lodgings, which are nice, but when my clients don’t pay on time I find myself in difficulties.’
‘That’s very serious. If I had any money I would pay you myself.’
