by Jennifer Joy
Before Anne could ask what Adélaïde meant, her friend continued, “Miss Beatrice is the first person I met when Luc and I came to England. She can be difficult, but she is fiercely protective of the people she loves. I admire that about her. While I did not learn tact from her, she did teach me to speak my mind. That has served me well.”
Looking down at the cake, Adélaïde cut another slice and set it aside. Anne looked at the clock. It was almost time for Mr. Mauvier to join them for some refreshment. He never failed to show up at the same time in the early afternoon. He still offered to accompany Anne home— an offer she still refused. His conduct toward her was as gallant and proper as her cousin, Darcy. And that was saying something.
The bell rang and Anne looked toward the workroom door, waiting for him.
His normally smoothed back hair was disheveled. His forehead was creased in worry.
He spotted Adélaïde, who was still sitting next to Anne by the worktable near the door, and walked over.
“Luc, are you well?” she asked in concern.
He ran his hand through his hair and pinched the back of his neck. “Oh, nothing to worry about. I had another encounter with Mr. Garrett. He is determined to close my theater down and takes every opportunity to remind me of it. You still see to Lady Chamberlain’s wardrobe, do you not?”
“I have done a few gowns for her over the years. Perhaps I should offer her one of my new designs.”
“Do it. It is only by her husband’s good grace that I am able to show dramatic performances. Without them, the higher classes would soon quit Le Soleil.”
Anne was appalled that someone would take away Mr. Mauvier’s livelihood without a thought.
“What a canker blossom,” she said under her breath.
“What was that? What did you say?” asked Mr. Mauvier, his furrowed brow smoothing.
Anne rolled her eyes. She had not meant the insult to be heard.
“I called Mr. Garrett a canker blossom.” She giggled at herself. It was such an old-fashioned insult, but Anne was unaccustomed to insulting people.
“You quote A Midsummer Night’s Dream. That is one of my favorites.”
“I have memorized all of Shakespeare’s plays, I believe,” Anne said with a sigh. She should have used her time better instead of learning lines she would never use.
Luc, however, looked intrigued. “Let us see about that. What is your favorite line in Hamlet?” He crossed his arms and stretched his legs out in front of him. He looked so confident he could stumble Anne.
Anne looked him directly in the eye, meeting his challenge. “This above all: to thine own self be true from Act I, Scene III.”
Luc sat up in his chair. “Mon Dieu, you were serious.”
Adélaïde clapped. “Brava, Mademoiselle. Do another one!”
“Yes, but this one is more difficult. ‘Be not afraid of greatness—’”
Anne joined, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. I do not remember which scene, but that is unmistakably from Twelfth Night, Act II."
Anne bowed her head to Luc and Adélaïde’s applause. She loved beautiful words and it felt good to speak them aloud.
“You missed your calling, Miss de Bourgh. You should have been an actress,” said Luc.
Laughing at the ridiculousness of the idea, Anne said, “I am much too shy for such a grand profession. Besides, my mother would disinherit me for sure if I became an actress.”
Luc stopped laughing and Anne realized her mistake. Only Nancy knew of her situation and she had no intention of sharing the state of her precarious relationship with her mother with her new friends. She took a bite of cake and chewed slowly.
“You should come to my theater. The Hepplewhites have a nice box along the dress circle which has been unoccupied the past two weeks. You would be so close to the stage, you could serve as the actors’ prompt should they forget their lines.”
Anne relaxed at the change in subject. What a foolish mistake she had made.
The bell sounded, announcing someone’s entry. To Anne’s surprise, it was one of Millie’s servants with the carriage to take her home. Anne looked at the clock again, astonished at how quickly the time had passed.
Giving her adieus, she grabbed her belongings and, together with Nancy, went outside.
It was quicker to walk than to ride in the carriage on the crowded streets, but Anne did not mind. She watched people and told Nancy how Mr. Carriera had seen so much improvement, he was now willing to let her help him paint some of the portraits. He had so many to do, he agreed to let her keep the full commission so long as she could do her own sketches of the ladies. Otherwise, she would receive sixty percent. So happy with the world was she, she did not notice the unknown carriage sitting outside the Hepplewhite’s door.
When she paused to let a footman carrying a cumbersome trunk by, it never occurred to her that something was amiss.
Chapter 14
Mrs. Hepplewhite greeted Anne, grasping her by both shoulders, as she walked into the foyer. “Oh, Anne, I have waited in anxiety for your return.”
“Are you well, Millie?” Anne reached out to touch Mrs. Hepplewhite’s arm.
“Yes… and no. My nieces have arrived a week early to surprise me— and surprise me they have.” She fanned her face with her hand before resting it over her chest. “Their visit is something I look forward to all year, being without children myself… But it puts me in the most awkward position of needing your room.”
Anne’s ears rang and her pulse pounded at her temples as Mrs. Hepplewhite continued, “I hate to be the cause of inconvenience. I have enjoyed your company immensely and like to think that perhaps we can remain close friends after you depart. Would it be too horrible for you to return to your home one week early?” Her face scrunched up and Anne saw the plea in her eyes to say that everything was fine. Anne did not have the heart to disappoint her.
Needing a moment to recover, Anne addressed Nancy. “Will you start packing? I will be up in a moment to discuss our plans.”
Giving her best effort, Anne turned back to Mrs. Hepplewhite and smiled. “You have been wonderful company, Millie. You should enjoy the time with your family and worry nothing about me. My health is much improved, thanks to you, and I think it will be no difficulty to find suitable lodgings elsewhere for I am not ready yet to return home.” She may never be ready to return home, but it was not the time to mention that.
Mrs. Hepplewhite sighed and visibly relaxed. “How kind of you, Anne. I have been fretting since my nieces’ coach pulled up.” Hesitantly, she asked, “Would you like to meet them?”
“I would love nothing more.” Sure, I will meet them, thoughtless creatures they are.
“They are waiting in my sitting room. Please, come with me.”
It was all Anne could do not to cry as she walked up the stairs, but she was determined to give the appearance that all was well. What else could she do under the circumstances?
Sitting at a table by the window playing a game of checkers were two young ladies who could have passed as twins. Both wore pink dresses with a pink bow tying up their blonde hair. They looked to be in their early teens, not yet out in society.
The girls stood as their aunt entered the room with Anne. One girl was taller than the other.
“Theodora, Sophia, I want you to meet a friend.” They walked over to Anne, eyes and smiles wide. The sunlight behind them reflected on their light hair, giving them an angelic glow.
“Miss Anne, these are my nieces. Theodora and Sophia Hepplewhite. Theodora is the eldest at thirteen years and Sophia is twelve. Living in the country as they do, they like to visit me to experience the excitement of town during the season. Girls, this is Miss Anne de Bourgh of Rosings in Kent.”
Theodora and Sophia curtsied and Anne regretted her negative thoughts toward them.
Theodora clasped her hands together in front of her just as Anne’s mother had taught her to do. �
�Are you having a pleasant stay in town, Miss de Bourgh?” she asked in a posh voice.
Anne tried not to smile too much, for Miss Theodora was doing her best to act like a high born lady and she did not want the girl to feel ridiculous on her account. Nodding, Anne said in a serious voice, “I thank you for asking, Miss Theodora. Your aunt has ensured a pleasant stay. Do you come often to town?”
Extending her neck to stand a bit taller, Theodora said, “Indeed, we do. Every summer, Aunt Amelia welcomes us to her home. It is an edifying experience and we return home much refreshed.”
Anne shook in her effort not to chuckle out loud. What a darling girl!
“I like the theater! Have you been to the theater yet, Miss de Bourgh?” asked Sophia. She bounced up and down on her toes, unable to stand still for long.
“Unfortunately, I have not. It is a shame, for I dearly love the theater. Do you plan to go during your stay?”
“Oh, yes! Please, Aunt, let us go tonight!” begged Sophia.
Mrs. Hepplewhite raised her hands up. “What a splendid idea, Sophia. We shall take Miss Anne with us. Will you accompany us to the theater, Anne? Please say you will come.”
Sophia jumped for joy and spun in circles. Theodora stood still, but she could not keep the happiness from her face. It was not a difficult choice for Anne.
“I would be delighted to accompany you.”
She suggested they meet at the theater. They could not very well pick her up in their carriage when she did not yet know where she would be staying.
By the time Anne returned to her room, Nancy already had half of the trunk packed. Not that there was much left to pack.
Anne collapsed into a chair, laying her head on her arm on the table in front of her.
“Today was going so well, Nancy. And now, I feel so powerless. Like a ship with no wind in its sails.”
“I thought you handled yourself well, miss, if you ask me. A month ago, something like this would have sent you to bed with a headache.”
Anne sat up in her chair. She had done well. Not once did she cower, and she decided not to start then.
“My only family in town is Georgiana. She would receive us at Darcy House, but after refusing Darcy not quite a month ago, I do not feel I should go there… It seems to me that the practical thing to do, then, is to find a hotel near the dress shop. We have some money left over from my dresses—”
“Do not forget about my earnings.”
“You have worked doubly hard and I prefer for you to keep your wages, especially since I have not been able to pay you. No, we will use my dress money. Mr. Carriera asked me to help him with two paintings. I am to begin tomorrow and will receive payment as soon as they are complete. If that is not enough, I always have my locket to sell.” She hoped it would not come to that.
“I would rather use my wages than have you sell your mother’s locket, miss. Money is replaceable. Keepsakes are not.”
With more resolve, Anne said, “We shall stay in a hotel tonight and the next. We can be closer to work and we will think clearer on the subject tomorrow.”
Nancy’s mouth gaped and she stood staring at Anne.
“What? Did I say something wrong?” Anne reached up to her face to feel for an unsightly blemish.
“You are fine, miss. Oh, please stop— there is nothing wrong with your face.”
Anne put her hand down. Nancy’s behavior confused her.
“Just now, you spoke decisively— something I do not recall ever hearing you do. I know you do not feel it now, but getting away from your habits at Rosings has done you so much good.” Nancy continued packing, leaving Anne alone with her thoughts.
My ‘habits at Rosings’… The only habit I had was feeling ill constantly. Why should I fall ill so often in the clean, country air and in cramped, polluted London feel better than I ever remember? So many of Anne’s experiences in town had caused great discomfort: leaving Rosings to live with an unknown family, meeting new people and having to speak for herself at social engagements, exposing her art to a master for him to critique, living every day not knowing what would happen, not having a place to rest her head that very evening… The list went on and on and yet… here she was, happier and healthier than she had ever been.
When she had left Rosings, her intention had been to find Father immediately. He would step in and take care of her needs while they got to know each other better. She would be free of Mother’s overbearing influence and would enjoy the independence she now knew she had craved.
Now, Anne could see how selfish her thinking had been and how much her own actions were to blame for her lazy life, not Mother. How could she assume Father would even want to meet her, much less take care of her? Besides, she was doing well enough on her own. Even Mother would be proud of what I have achieved thus far.
Anne stiffened in her chair as she thought of the burden she must have been to Mother. A woman with ambition having a daughter with none. A self-sufficient, opinionated woman raising a mindless ninny.
Mother was certainly not without her faults, but Anne felt that she could understand her better. At the thought of Mother, homesickness writhed through Anne. She let the misery overtake her for seconds before firmly pushing it aside. She had given in too easily and look at how she had become. The woman she wanted to be would not give in now. It was time to leave the comfort of Millie’s home and begin the next part of her journey— wherever that might lead.
Looking up at Nancy, she said, “We will be fine, Nancy. You just wait and see.”
“I know, miss. I know it.”
For the first time in her life, Anne knew it too.
Luc paced in front of the doors of his theater. He could not shake the worry, and he desperately wanted to be rid of it. It invaded his mind at the most inconvenient times and the activities he formerly enjoyed were no longer pleasurable to him. Earlier that very day, he had to fold at cards because he could not concentrate. He had been dealt a good hand and would have won, but he found himself withdrawing early before the other vultures at the table took advantage of his vulnerability.
What really upset Luc was his recent inability to flirt. His charisma and charm had ensured a packed theater and happy performers for the past few years. Now, he felt guilty so much as looking at a beautiful woman. This was so unlike his character, his unease grew by the hour.
He checked his pocket watch again. Miss Beatrice entered just as he snapped it shut.
Rushing over to greet her, Miss Beatrice said, “You seem to be anxious. Is there something wrong?”
“Nothing you care about.”
Miss Beatrice said nothing, just looked at Luc with her eyebrows raised.
“It is your niece.” Luc threw his hands up in the air. “You have become closer to me than a mother and it pains me to know you have a niece in need of your assistance—”
“Let me assure you then, my dear boy, that I fully intend to speak with her.” She patted Luc’s hand. “In fact, I met her this afternoon at Adélaïde’s shop and she was not so bad as I had thought she would be. I was pleasantly surprised.”
It took two weeks, but she had finally come around. His faith restored, Luc grinned all the way up to Miss Beatrice’s special seat where he left her to enjoy the show, which was about to begin.
Descending the stairs, he chanced to see a family going up the stairs on the opposite end of the foyer. He recognized Anne straight away. She stood between two girls. She was only slightly taller than them, but there was nothing girlish about her figure.
Luc looked at his pocket watch again. The first performance would start in minutes. He was tempted to run up behind her and take her to her aunt that very instant, but he had best let her enjoy the show with the family she came with. The intermission— now, that might provide an opportunity to casually see her and present Miss Beatrice as her aunt. How happy she would be!
He went backstage and saw Nancy busy at work behind the scenes next to Adélaïde. It was a flurry of perf
ormers and stagehands, each busy in preparation, rushing to beat the raising of the curtain.
Luc wondered if Miss de Bourgh would visit the theater more often with her maid. Nancy usually stayed in the shop with Adélaïde, but she had been helpful with a few costume issues. Anne still came to the shop at the same time every day. Most ladies of his acquaintance preferred their maids to do their best to be invisible, but Miss de Bourgh treated her maid more like a friend. As if they shared a past together. Luc wished he knew more about Anne’s past.
The opening act led to a ballet performance, which would be followed by a comedy. Luc had heard the acts so many times, in practice and performance over the past week, that he had memorized the lines and timing of it all. He occupied himself in his office with his ledgers until he could speak with Miss de Bourgh.
The crowd roared in laughter and Luc knew the comedy had come to its climax. He, too, had laughed the first few times he had seen it. With more pressing matters to attend to, Luc ascended the stairs to where his attendant had seated the family and Miss de Bourgh. He hoped that they would decide to mill about, as so many others did during the intermission and he could appear to bump into them by coincidence.
Velvet curtains opened along the hallway. Luc nodded and smiled to the ladies and gentlemen inside their boxes, many of them acquaintances and friends.
Miss de Bourgh was only two more boxes down, but the curtain did not stir. Two more steps and he would have to think of a reason to linger. Two steps later, the curtain opened. Looking right at him was none other than the very lady he wished to speak to.
“Miss de Bourgh, what a pleasant surprise! I do hope you are enjoying the entertainments this evening.” Luc bowed, never looking away from her face.
“Mr. Mauvier, how pleasant to see you. You know my friends, the Hepplewhites, of course.”
Mr. Hepplewhite bowed to Luc and Mrs. Hepplewhite curtsied prettily. The two girls were unknown and stood gawking, staring at him with open mouths.
Flashing his most brilliant smile, he tilted his head to the side, and said, “I do not believe I have had the pleasure of meeting these two young ladies. Are they your sisters, Mrs. Hepplewhite?”
