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“Ah.” She’d expected this. “Dilch nearly always came by when you were out,” she answered, indicating the busy space around them.
“Still. It don’t seem fair that I missed all the action.” He looked aggrieved. “I’ve been dying to pay off Dilch.” Tom shook his fist.
And with that, Teresa realized that she’d purposely excluded Tom from the move on the bully. The lad was even more alone in the world than she was, and she hadn’t wanted to risk getting him into trouble. Yes, he had friends who would help him, but why put him in that position? She saw that the earl was looking at her. There seemed to be understanding in his face, and a warmth that unsettled her. She turned away from it. “How are your rehearsals for the play going?” she asked Tom.
“Pretty well,” he replied. “I’ve learnt all my speeches. Not that there’s many. Which I’m just as glad of, to tell you the truth. I don’t see how the main actors commit all them…those words to memory.”
“But you are enjoying being onstage?” asked Macklin.
“I am.”
When Tom grinned in that wholehearted way, you couldn’t help smiling back, Teresa thought. Good humor simply shone out of him.
“I’m looking forward to seeing you,” said Macklin.
“Thank you, my lord.” His grin widened. “If you was moved to give me a cheer at the end, I wouldn’t say no.”
The earl laughed. “Certainly.”
“I should get back to work,” said Teresa, rising.
“You’ll be coming to see me as well, won’t you, señora?” asked Tom.
She hadn’t considered the matter, but she realized that she’d like to.
“I reckon his lordship will be hiring a box at the theater,” the lad added.
Lord Macklin gave him a sidelong glance—surprised or amused, Teresa couldn’t tell. “I’ve engaged one for the first night of the play, in fact,” the earl replied.
“There you are then.” Tom looked pleased. “You should join him, señora. You wouldn’t want to go alone. And you can’t mill about with the rabble in the pit.” He said this as if the idea was a rare joke. “It’s all elbows and spitting down there.”
And indignities for any woman who dared the space, Teresa thought, but she couldn’t insert herself into the earl’s party. “I can stand backstage and watch,” she said. She was known at the theater. Surely this would be allowed.
“You’d see my back, mostly, from there,” Tom objected. “You won’t get the full effect.”
“I’d be pleased if you’d join us,” said the earl.
“That’s the ticket,” said Tom.
They looked at her. Teresa began to feel that she was the target of some sort of conspiracy, even though it was clear that the two hadn’t discussed this idea in advance. Who was theusLord Macklin had referred to?
“I’ve arranged an unexceptionable party,” he said, as if reading her thoughts.
Teresa gazed at him. He must know, from the place where he found her, that she was notunexceptionable. Who was this group that could include her? How did he intend to explain her presence?
“The young ladies we met in the autumn will be there,” the earl told Tom.
“Oh, good.” The lad turned back to Teresa. “You’ll like them,” he added. “And they’ll take to you, I wager.” Tom turned back. “Miss Julia Grandison too? Chaperoning, like?”
The earl nodded.
“Ah. Well.”
Teresa couldn’t interpret Tom’s expression. Was this Miss Julia a hazard? Was she important to the earl?
They exchanged a smile that explained nothing to Teresa and then went on to discuss details as if all was settled. They spoke as if her preferences mattered, as if she was the one to be considered when making arrangements. It was a novel, and admittedly pleasant, experience.
And so, although she’d intended to refuse the invitation, somehow, by the end, she’d promised to attend the theater as part of the Earl of Macklin’s party. She told herself she could send regrets later, when he wasn’t right here before her, compelling and persuasive, with Tom egging him on, but she knew she wasn’t going to do that. Her mind had already turned to the gown she might wear and the ornaments that best set it off.
