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Epilogue
Six months later…
Jo stood before the vanity table as her hands perspired and her heart was slamming against her ribs. Her stomach churned, and she felt as nervous as if this was her first time coming out onto the stage.
And itwasthe first time. The first time she was to come out ontoherstage.
This was the opening night of the Medusa Theater.
She had accomplished a lot during the last six months. Their Scandalous company was licensed to perform musical entertainments, pantomime, and burletta. She was still working on getting the patent to perform the plays, and she was certain she would get that in a few months.
But for now, their opening night had sold out of tickets and Jo could not be more terrified.
Her dressing room was filled with flowers from her partners who now all sat in their theater boxes, waiting for the show to begin among the crowd of 1500 people. Her stomach churned at the thought.
The door opened, and Jo whirled around to see her handsome husband. He leaned his arm against the doorway as his eyes smoldered with passion.
He was dressed in all black except for his favorite blue waistcoat, crisp white shirtsleeves, cravat, and gloves.
“You are mesmerizing to look at,” he said, then walked into the room and locked the door behind him.
“I hope 1500 people agree with you and don’t hold it against me if I freeze up on stage.”
Richard reached her side then and ran his hands along her arms, soothing her. “You shall be amazing. Just like you always are.”
Jo chuckled. “Have you ever actually seen me in a play before?”
Richard raised an arrogant brow. “Don’t you remember why I fell in love with you?”
Jo bit her lip. “During a tryst in the garden?”
Richard threw his head back and laughed. “Perhaps. But that play during my sister’s house party definitely cemented the feeling. I could not take my eyes off you. I don’t even remember the damn play, I just remember your radiant features, your graceful movements…” He lowered his head and kissed her neck as he spoke, then her shoulder.
Jo relaxed in his arms and leaned into his heat. “I wish we could just go home and make love,” she breathed.
Richard raised his head. “Why do we have to wait to get home? We can do it right here.”
Jo swatted at him. “We can’t! I can’t go on stage all disheveled and with makeup running all over my face.”
Richard narrowed his eyes at her. Then he lowered his head and kissed her throat. “I shall be very careful, I promise. I’ll just raise your skirts, you won’t even know I am there.”
Jo laughed loudly and disengaged from his arms. “Won’t know you’re there? Who are you trying to fool, my dear husband?” She looked pointedly at his tenting breeches.
Richard frowned. “We don’t have to do that. I can just… use my tongue.”
Jo’s entire body tingled, and she groaned. “Do not tempt me, husband.” She leaned into his arms once more, feeding off his strength.
Richard wrapped his arms around her and rubbed soothing circles down her back. “Fine, I’ll wait until the end of the show. But I shall not wait until we get home.”
Jo chuckled. “Deal.” Somehow this soft banter with her husband chased the butterflies away. She wasn’t as frightened anymore. She didn’t care that 1500 people were going to watch her, as long as he was one of those people.
She drew away and then placed a tender kiss on his lips. Richard moaned, his hands rubbing her arms in soothing motions.
“I have to go,” Jo whispered.
Richard leaned down and kissed her again, soothing her, and exciting her.
Jo drew away, her eyes still closed. “You make it so hard for me to leave.”
“Hard? You should choose your words wisely, wife.”
Jo grinned as she walked away from him. She reached the door, then turned toward him with a smile. “I love you.”
“I love you,” he said without skipping a beat.
Her heart slammed against her chest again, this time not because she was nervous, but because she was happy. And the reason for her happiness stood right in front of her.
She wasn’t nervous about facing a cheering crowd any longer. When he was by her side, she was fearless.
The End
