one ever put him out of countenance. Except her, it appeared. He coloured a little and seemed to gather himself.
“Forgive me,” he said, his jaw rigid, his usually amiable face a blank. “That is… I humbly beg your pardon, Miss Barrington. That was unforgivably rude. I ought not have spoken so. Only, Baron Alvanly… please, stay away from him. If I can say nothing else right this evening, I do know that your father would echo my words.”
“Thank you for your warning,” she said tightly, pushing her slippers back on and ignoring the pain in her toes as she did so. “I shall tell Papa how well you play your role of guard dog. I’m sure you’ll be well rewarded. Would it be all right if I go and speak to the duchess now?”
He said nothing, knowing he was being taunted, but he got to his feet as she stood.
“Good evening,” she said, before turning and walking away from him.
Drat the man. How dare he presume to tell her how to behave and who to talk to? Perhaps he was right about Alvanly, but there had been no need to act as though she might be fool enough to elope with the man. What kind of ninny did he think she was? Fuming, Phoebe stalked back to the ballroom, fully determined to dance with Baron Alvanly before the night was out.
***
15th March 1827. Drury Lane Theatre, London.
“Goodness,” Bonnie said, looking to her husband, Jerome, who pulled a face as they walked out of the St Clair’s private theatre box.
“What a load of hysterical drivel,” he said, deadpan, at which Bonnie went off in peals of laughter. “Well it was,” Jerome insisted, shaking his head. “I’d much rather have seen a comedy than that mawkish display. I felt like opening a vein myself by the end of it.”
Phoebe frowned a little, having been rather disturbed by the story of unrequited love. The young hero of the piece had fallen madly in love with a woman who was, in turn, married to an older man. Eventually, aware he could never have her and would bring her nothing but disgrace, he shot himself in the head. It did seem rather overblown and mawkish, and yet, she had heard stories of people dying for love. Was such a fierce emotion attainable? Was that the kind of helpless passion she wanted? It certainly did not seem advisable. How uncomfortable to feel such desire for someone you could never have. Phoebe could feel nothing but pity for the poor soul.
Waiting patiently, she tried to keep out of the way of those leaving the theatre as Bonnie and Jasper chatted to some acquaintance of theirs.
“The man was a fool,” whispered a voice in her ear, the flutter of warm breath against her neck making her shiver.
“Baron Alvanly,” she said, as she turned to discover he was standing rather too close. She attempted a step back, only to discover there was not one to be had. There was a dreadful crush of people milling about still, so she supposed he had little choice but to stand so near. “In what way was he foolish?”
The baron took her hand, eyes twinkling as he held her gaze. “Not to take more decisive action, of course. Surely a woman does not want a man who sits on the sidelines and does nothing but sigh with melancholy that he cannot be with his beloved?”
Phoebe frowned, pondering the question as she removed her hand from his grasp. “No, but he did not wish to bring her disgrace or cause problems in her marriage. He was trying to consider her feelings.”
Alvanly snorted. “By blowing his brains out on her account. I’m sure she was touched.”
Phoebe bit her lip, trying not to laugh.
“You say the most dreadful things,” she said, once she had mastered her voice enough not to snigger.
“If what I hear is true, we are well suited.”
There was such a gleam of amusement in his eyes she could not take the comment as a slight. Besides which, it was true.
“What should you have done, then?” she asked, curious now.
“Me? Why, I should have been her lover. Nothing and no one would have kept me from my beloved, but then I’m wicked to the bone, Miss Barrington. Surely you know that. Has no one warned you off yet?”
“Yes,” she replied, as delighted by his honesty as she was scandalised by his words. “Of course they have.”