Indeed I have performed so magnificently I believe I shall not only clear my debt to you but come out of it quite nicely too. I think we shall have a deal of fun, my sweet. Just think of all the places we can go now, the things we can see.”
Phoebe stilled in horror as she realised she recognised the second speaker: a smug, male voice that made fury rise in her like throwing brandy on burning embers.
Alvanly.
“I don’t remember saying I would go anywhere with you, Richard, and why did I have to meet you here? Why did you leave London so suddenly?” Nina demanded—if that was indeed her real name.
“Leaving London was… prudent… and as for this place, my friend is an investor in this poor excuse for a theatre, and it is out of the way. My business can be best concluded in Paris, but I thought it safer we meet here first. I did not believe anyone would think to look for me in such a place as this, should there be anyone looking.”
“And is there anyone looking?”
There was a pause, and Phoebe realised Alvanly might believe her papa would come after him. Papa would have come after him, if she had not already left with Max, but he would trust them both to arrange things as they felt best. He would trust her. She experienced a sudden longing for her papa, the kind she had not experienced since she was a girl. If only he were here. He would know what to do about Max, about Alvanly, about this entirely ridiculous situation in which she seemed to have embroiled them all, even poor Viscount Kline! Though how she could be held accountable for that she did not know.
“I don’t know if anyone is looking,” Alvanly admitted. “But it is possible.”
“Oh, Richard,” the woman said, and she sounded tired and exasperated. “What have you done?”
“I have saved myself from the Marshalsea, and you from the drudgery of a second class career as an actress. You have many charms, my dear, but you are past the first flush of youth and the role of ingénue will never be yours. You began too late in life.”
There was an amused bark of laughter. “As a romantic declaration that leaves something to be desired, and I assure you, I am well aware of both my charms and their limitations. I’m also aware that men like you are not to be relied upon. I’ll have my money back, Richard, and then we’ll see about the rest.”
“Damn me, but you’re a cold bitch.”
There was more frustration than malice in the words, and Nina did not seem to take offense for her reply was placid.
“Yes, I suppose so, and it’s life that has taught me the lesson well, Richard, dear. You may rely on only yourself in this world or else you will be taken for a fool. If I went with you, we should have a fine time until the money ran out, or you grew bored and abandoned me for a younger, sweeter girl, one who was not so aware that all the pretty words you speak have no substance.”
“I would not—”
“Oh, stow it.” Her voice was sharper this time. “You’re a charming devil, Richard, and I’m fond of you, but don’t go pretending you love me any more than I do you. Or are you proposing to marry me?”
There was a telling silence and Nina gave a low, mocking laugh.
“Now, tell me what it is you’ve done.”
Phoebe bit her lip, increasingly irritated by Alvanly as he told Nina of his daring theft, not mentioning her part in it once. She ought perhaps be thankful for that, as she wanted no one else to know, but for some reason it rankled now. She heard paper rustling and assumed he was unwrapping the painting to show it to Nina.
“That grubby little painting is worth a fortune?” Nina said, her tone incredulous. “Good heavens. I wouldn’t have it on my wall for anything, but then I never claimed to have any knowledge of art.”
“Well, it is our ticket to freedom. It has been valued by an expert. The fellow I told you about that owns a part of this theatre said there’s a Monsieur Lemoine, runs a high class pawn shop in the heart of Paris, but he also buys and sells exclusive pieces, artwork, jewellery and the like,” Alvanly said, his words interrupted by that rich, vibrant laughter Phoebe had heard earlier.