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“Ah, Miss Snowden, My Lord, how good to see you.” He bowed to Eloise’s father, who nodded.
“Take good care of my daughter,” the Viscount said, as Jackson offered Eloise his arm.
“The best of care, I promise, My Lord.”
It was still light outside. The early evening was warm, and Jackson helped Eloise and Delphine into the carriage, glancing curiously at the maid, who sat down next to Eloise so that Jackson was forced to take the opposite seat.
“Is your maid accompanying us?” he asked.
“As a chaperone. My father doesn’t trust us to be alone in a dark theater together,” Eloise responded, smiling at Jackson, who laughed.
“Then I’m just glad he trusted us enough to walk in the park together.” His words echoed Eloise’s earlier thoughts.
She blushed and turned her face away, thinking back to the moment they had shared in the shrubbery the day before. It caused her heart to beat a little faster, and she was surprised at the desire she felt to repeat that experience.
It was only for show, she reminded herself.
She was not going to the theater that evening as the object of Jackson’s desire. This was not a courtship. This was an act. They were actors in a performance worthy of the one they were about to witness. That was all. Eloise knew she should not be caught up in believing this to be any more than that.
“Do you know the play? I’m not familiar with it,” Eloise demanded, as they approached the theater.
A crowd was gathered outside, jostling amongst itself for entry, and Jackson called out for the carriage driver to stop a short distance away so they would not be mobbed.
“I’ve seen it once, though the details of the story are vague. It’s one of Shakespeare’s comedies. I think you’ll enjoy it,” he said, opening the carriage door and climbing out.
He helped Eloise and Delphine down from the compartment. They fought their way through the crowds, coming into the entrance hall of the theater just as a steward called out for the audience to take their seats.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, please take your seats. The performance is about to begin,” he boomed.
“We’re in a box, you’ll be pleased to know.” Jackson took Eloise by the hand and led her through a side door and up a flight of steps to a corridor that wrapped around the side of the theater, with doors leading into the equally spaced boxes on the left.
Eloise knew precisely why the Duke had chosen a box. It was so they could be seen. Whoever was seated below them would look up and see the couple in the box. Tongues would wag, and everyone would be certain of what they were seeing – a courtship between the Duke of Kenwood and Miss Eloise Snowden. It was precisely what they were supposed to see, even as Eloise knew there could be no reneging on her decision to go forward with their plan. It had seemed so simple at first, but she knew maintaining such a charade would not be easy.
“We’ll be seen by everyone,” Eloise said, as Jackson opened a door marked with the number five, and ushered Eloise and Delphine inside.
The theater was lit by flickering candlelight, and the stage was arranged with a simple set – a background of a magical forest painted on a large screen. From her vantage point, Eloise could see the full scope of the audience, and they could see her, too.
“Won’t you sit there, Delphine, and Eloise, there, and I’ll sit here,” Jackson instructed, positioning himself next to Eloise, with Delphine on the far side.
A low parapet ran around the box, and plush, red satin curtains hung down on both sides. The candles were now being extinguished, and the theater was plunged into darkness, save for the candles on the stage. An actor appeared along with another, who announced the setting as the Palace of Theseus in Athens.
“Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour draws on apace. Four happy days bring in another moon. But oh, methinks how slow this old moon wanes! She lingers my desires, like to a stepdame or a dowager long withering out a young man’s revenue,” the actor began.
Eloise had always enjoyed the theater, and now she sat happily watching the performance. The actors were very good, and she was soon immersed in the story, laughing along with the jokes and delighting in the progression of the tale. They had just come to the wedding scene where Theseus, the Duke of Athens, marries Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazon, when Eloise was startled by a hand on her leg. She drew in a short breath, glancing to her left to find Jackson still concentrated on the play. Delphine was similarly absorbed. Jackson’s hand ran down Eloise’s leg and began pulling up her skirts.
“Asleep, my love? What, dead, my dove? O Pyramus, arise. Speak, speak. Quite dumb? Dead, dead? A tomb must cover thy sweet eyes. These lily lips, this cherry nose, these yellow cowslip cheeks are gone, are gone. Lovers, make moan. His eyes were green as leeks…” the actor continued, but Eloise was finding it difficult to concentrate.
In the darkness of the box, though in full sight of everyone there gathered if only they had light to see by, Jackson had pulled up Eloise’s skirt and was running his hand along the length of her bare thigh. It was all she could do not to gasp at his touch. She placed her hand on his, their fingers toying together as his grip became firmer. Eloise was uncertain about what to do next. His touch was scandalous, and yet it was entirely pleasant, too. Their fingers were locked together, resting on her leg, and now the desire of the previous day returned. Was this really a pretense?
“Isn’t it wonderful, My Lady?” Delphine whispered, and Eloise nodded, turning to her in the darkness.
“It’s most enjoyable, yes.” She gulped, as Jackson moved his hand further up her leg.
His focus appeared to be entirely on the stage, his eyes fixed forward, even as his hand went about a very different business, indeed. Eloise’s heart was beating fast, and she could barely contain herself as now her skirt was entirely hitched on the left-hand side, her stockings revealed. Jackson’s hand rested on her thigh. She could have removed it, or even screamed in protest. But the sensation was not unwelcome. Far from it, in fact. She did not remove his hand, but allowed him to guide her as now he sought out an even greater pleasure.
“If we shadows have offended, think but this and all is mended: That you have but slumbered here, while these visions did appear; And this weak and idle theme, no more yielding but a dream, gentles, do not reprehend. If you pardon, we will mend.” the actor finished, and the play came to an end.
As the audience burst into applause, Jackson’s hand sought her out, causing her to gasp so loudly that had it not been for the applause, everyone would have turned to look. Delphine appeared not to notice. Eloise shuddered, filled with such overwhelming pleasure that was almost unbearable.
