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“Tab.” Timothy knocked his shoulder against hers. “I cannot believe the words I spoke. I, who know so well the great damage they can do. I am appalled, and I am heartily sorry.”
“As am I.” She took his hand. “But there is truth in it.”
“We have been each other’s only bulwark against the vagaries of the world since we left England.” Timothy squeezed her fingers. “I am amazed we didn’t fight before last night.”
“It would not have felt safe, I suppose. As we were each other’s only bulwark, et cetera.” Tabitha forced herself to continue, “And there were many times I was sure I was surplus to your requirements. You were a shining star in any social firmament we found ourselves in, and I held you back, I know I did. What I didn’t know was that you were so homesick. It never would have occurred, you were so happy and free.”
“I only wanted you to be out amongst people who wanted more than your healthful advice. I wanted you to star in your own social sphere.” He linked their fingers together. “I thought being home again might make it easier for you to branch out. No language barrier and all that.”
She must tell him the truth, the truth of herfeelings. “I am afraid you wish to be rid of me.”
“In a manner of speaking.” He yanked on her hand until she met his gaze. “I wish you the life you threw away without even trying for it, the life apart from your baby brother whom you do not trust out on his own.”
“It’s the world I don’t trust.”
“That’s beyond your power. Well, mostly. You can be quite doctrinaire when the mood takes you.” They leaned into each other and watched the Lowell Pack drift toward the playing area. The prince was escorted to an elevated pavilion, constructed overnight, that he may enjoy the performance at a comfortable distance from the crowd. “Holy Venus, I do hope someone has warned the Peasleys that His Highness is in attendance—”
“I didn’tthrowmy life away.”
“You did, you scarcely had one Season!” Timothy slapped the boulder for emphasis. “It was your first chance to find your place away from the benign neglect of our parents, your first opportunity to enjoy sophisticated company. But no, you ran home at the slightest indication that Father was unwell. And then you insisted upon coming to my rescue. You didn’t have a chance to find your way—”
“Or every step I took off the conventional path led me here, where I am meant to be,” Tabitha said. “Stuff that into your philosophical pillow and sleep on it.”
“Into my what now?”
“I know you abhor a pipe.”
“Au contraire.”
They both roared with laughter, loud enough to draw more than one look from the green beyond.
“Timothy Barrington.” She laid her head on her brother’s shoulder. “I love you exactly as you are.”
“As I have always known. And I you, Tabitha Barrington.” He rose and extended a hand. “Come. I am sure this is one performance we shall not want to miss.”
Beatrice waved them over to join her family on their blanket just as the harp signaled the parting of the curtain. Alwyn was nowhere to be seen. Mr. Peasley, as if the events of yesterday had not occurred, repeated his introduction to the play.
“I understand a traveling company seeking to make use of everything at their disposal,” Osborn grumbled, “but I cannot justify a bear inHamlet.”
“I doubt Mr. Quincy will let her out of his sight for a good while,” Tabitha said. The strongman held the bear’s harness, and the look on his face dared anyone to venture near them.
Tabitha found she must dare, for again it seemed the bear was looking straight at her. Even across the distance that separated them, she knew it was she who was being stared at. She knelt up, to the annoyance of the folk on the blanket behind. “Pardon me,” she whispered.
She crawled a little to the left and knelt up again. More hissing ensued from the next blanket. “So sorry,” Tabitha said and was hushed roundly. Timothy shot her a look that said,Now what?Which she ignored.
The players soldiered on, quite efficiently conflating the scene featuring the ghost of Hamlet’s father with the stabbing of Polonius through the arras in Gertrude’s chamber. Tabitha rose and quickly moved out of the crowd. The bear turned her head to follow her progress.
Mr. Quincy glowered at her as she approached. His sister and brother-in-law spoke louder to draw attention back to the performance.
As if mesmerized, Tabitha drifted to the front of the crowd. The bear broke Mr. Quincy’s grasp and crept toward her. Mr. Peasley, in the midst of being stabbed as Polonius, threw his hands in the air in disgust. “Miss! What must a humble player do in these parts to properly perform his role?”
“I am sorry, I am so sorry, forgive me, but I must see to the bear—”
Despite her still-tender ankle, Tabitha climbed onto the stage and sat next to the creature. The bear laid her head in Tabitha’s lap, and she stroked her fur, ran her fingers between the ears and down around her neck—
“There is a chain,” Tabitha said. She looked up, around, and Alwyn, as was his wont, appeared out of the ether. “There is a chain, Alwyn, what do I do?”
A whispered chorus ofAlwyn?soughed through the audience, to whom the duke turned. “Has anyone a small blade or a sharp object?”
