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She seemed to accept the answer and relaxed back as Damon and Silva entered.
They made conversation, and as always, Damon mocked his sister. But it was clear he was so happy that even his insults to her were affectionate in nature. It was all so sweet that I truly could not wait to watch a tragedy, if only for balance.
“Oh, that reminds me,” Damon said. “Do strike up a conversation with Dr. Darrington should he be alone.”
“Why?” I asked, though I was looking forward to seeing him more than I was looking forward to the play.
“There was some trouble at the club today, so there is sure to be talk about him tonight. He is our guest in the box, and I wish to dispel as much embarrassment as possible.”
“Since when are you so nice to strangers?” Hathor questioned.
“He is hardly a stranger at this point,” Silva reminded her. “Besides, he is this family’s…what shall we call him? We are not all his patients, but he is—”
“A friend,” I said, causing them to look at me. “Our friend.”
“It is not becoming of a lady to have male friends,” Silva replied, which caused me to frown. “So we will say he is Damon’s friend. Or your brother’s friend, Verity.”
I could only nod, but then I asked, “Should he not have met us at the house?”
“He had some affairs to clear up but shall meet us there,” Damon answered me as we neared the opera house.
“I do hope it is the actress I like for Ophelia. The new one they employed recently has the most terrible facial expressions,” Hathor said once we pulled to a stop before the theater.
I believed she was still speaking. However, I did not pay any mind, as right outside the door was Theodore, waiting and dressed in his best.
My heart began to race further.
It felt like years went by, waiting for him to finish speaking to Lord and Lady Monthermer, then greeting Damon and Silva, followed by Hathor, then finally me.
“Lady Verity,” he said with a slight uptick in his smile.
“Dr. Darrington.” I finally exhaled. “I do hope you are fond of Hamlet.”
“Yes. I sometimes, odd as it may seem, find Shakespeare’s tragedies comforting,” he replied, and I found myself unable to look from him, nor could he look from me.
“How strange. Verity, only moments ago, said the same thing.” Hathor pulled my attention. “I came to cry beautifully, not to be comforted.”
“You cry beautifully?” Damon tilted his head to the side. “Never in this world. I have seen a corgi weep more prettily.”
“I hope you have a daughter that relentlessly mocks you,” she snapped.
“Hathor!” He groaned, looking around.
Her eyes widened, and she clasped her hand over her mouth and looked at Dr. Darrington.
“Luckily, he knows, but will you please not inform the whole ton tonight?” Damon shook his head, leading his wife away.
“My apologies!” she said as she went after them.
“So, they are always like this?” Theodore whispered to me.
“Always,” I whispered back.
“How amusing for you,” he said.
We were escorted to Lord Monthermer’s box by the staff, and it was only when we were seated next to each other that I could whisper back.
“Sometimes, it is amusing, while other times, I feel as though I am a fury in a room with angels.”
“You are far too beautiful to be a fury,” he said.
I looked at him, but he was looking over the crowd below. He did peek at me from the corner of his eye briefly. And somehow, maybe it was just timing, or maybe it was by his wish or mine, but somehow our hands touched, and it filled my heart with air.
His fingers brushed past mine once more and though I looked upon the play, my thoughts were only of him. It felt like the air was becoming thicker and thicker, to the point that breathing became more difficult to maintain. It did not help that when I glanced to him his gaze was upon me and the look in his eyes, even in this darkness, did not help matters at all. Gently I felt his touch drift slowly up my arm. So gently it reminded me of that night…in the drawing room, when we kissed.
I longed for another.
“Silva, are you well?”
I turned to see Damon looking over his wife’s flushed face.
“Forgive me, I feel a bit warm,” Silva whispered, trying to smile and defuse the attention upon her. It was only then that Theodore’s touch left me as he stood to aid them both. Slowly they helped her from the booth.
“Do not be so concerned, my dears, such things are to be expected in her condition,” the marchioness said to Hathor and me as we watched them go. Though I believed only Hathor was truly concerned, for I was only saddened to see Theodore go. I had not realized how selfish and uncaring I could be. It was not that I did not worry for Silva. I just felt…more for myself? Her husband was beside her, could hug and tend to her whenever she pleased. It was I who…wished for the same.
