Mulligan? He’d left with Frank and his brother more than twenty minutes ago.
What were those three up to?
The waiting was killing her. Every time their neighbors looked at her, Justine had to feign indifference and concentrate on the performance. Finally, the curtain opened and Justine held her breath. She exhaled. It was merely her oldest sister returning to the box.
Mamie slid into the empty seat next to Justine instead of taking a seat down front. Justine braced herself. While she loved Mamie dearly, she did not quite feel up to a heart-to-heart at the moment.
“So, Mulligan,” Mamie whispered behind her fan. “I cannot believe you brought him here.”
“I had no choice.”
“There is always a choice. Which meant part of you relished thumbing your nose at everyone tonight. Not to mention ruining my fundraiser.”
Had she? Justine hadn’t ever been brash and willfully disobedient like her two older sisters. No, she quietly volunteered and worked, instead of going to saloons and dance halls. If she were the type to thumb her nose at society, wouldn’t she have flaunted Billy around town when she had the chance? After all, even considering the drama of her sisters’ love matches, a Greene heiress with a plumber’s apprentice would have created quite a stir along upper Fifth Avenue.
No, that was not it. She’d brought Mulligan because she’d given her word about repaying his favor. Now they were even.
“You know I don’t care for attention,” she said. “This is the repayment for his favor. Nothing more. And it will not ruin your fundraiser.”
“Are you sweet on him?”
“Mamie, be serious.”
“I am serious. And your lack of surprise at the question makes me wonder.”
“A waste of time on your part, then. There’s nothing between us.”
Her sister made a noise in her throat. “Tina,” she said, using her childhood nickname for Justine. “There’s unsuitable, like Clayton Madden. And then there’s catastrophic, like Mulligan. Do not confuse the two. Daddy and Mama might come to terms with unsuitable. However, you’ll be shipped off to a convent in Europe before they allow catastrophic.”
Justine bristled, her shoulders pinching. She hated being treated like a child, especially from older sisters who had certainly caused their share of scandal. The truth spilled out of her mouth. “You do not need to worry about that. He flat out declared I am not his type.”
Mamie’s eyes rounded. “I don’t believe it. I saw how he looked at you. How he treated you. He’s interested. Mark my words.”
Ludicrous. Justine would never appeal to a man like Mulligan. Her sister Florence, a vivacious and beautiful vixen, was more his type. Justine wasn’t a woman to command a room; she was happiest in the background, helping people.
The first act ended and the audience broke out into polite applause. Mamie came to her feet. “There are a few boxes I must visit. I’ll return at the start of the second act.” She flung the velvet curtains apart and disappeared.
Justine didn’t bother getting up. She would rather poke herself in the thigh with a sharp stick than mingle in the ladies’ retiring room.
Her grandmother came up the aisle. “Would you care for a drink?”
“No, thank you. I’ll remain here.”
Granny sat and began fanning herself. “I am curious how you are acquainted with this dangerous man.”
“Through my work at the legal aid society.”
“He visits the legal aid society?”
“No, but I like to be in the neighborhoods, calling on the clients and helping out.”
“I do hope you are being safe. Does your father know you are unescorted on the streets?”
“No. I wouldn’t want him to worry.” Or lock me in my room.
“Indeed, I worry about what you are doing. It was bad enough your sisters went higgledy-piggledy in their day. What can you hope to accomplish through this recklessness?”
“I am helping families. Women and young children in this city. People who are starving, who are struggling. The legal aid society offers assistance, but only in the short term. Which makes sense, given their resources. Frank cannot serve meals at the soup kitchen. Mamie cannot tend to five children for a mother who must spend all day looking for work. That’s the kind of thing I do. I assist them with seeing a physician, filing paperwork with the city. Locating a place to live. Mr. Mulligan helped me track down a wife deserter some weeks back. In exchange for his assistance I promised a favor in return. Tonight is that favor.”
“I admire your dedication but you could be hurt on any of those errands. At