I distracted her from further comments when I asked her to call for a cab. The truth was, I had no previous experience regarding marriage other than the examples set by my father— not the best example of a loving relationship. Then there was my sister’s marriage that had ended badly. Wasn’t there a man who honored that commitment?
That little voice told me there most certainly was, however, he was off chasing down some matter for Sir Avery. Of course. That had to be it. Then again, what if something had happened to him?
I frowned as I pushed back that thought. Brodie knew well enough how to take care of himself.
The evening at the theater was to be a family affair, or as close to family as the five of us— my sister, our great-aunt, myself, and now Lily might be.
It was Templeton’s opening night, and our aunt was quite excited about it.
I had just arrived at the theater entrance separately and left the hired coach when I heard Lily call out. I wouldn’t have recognized her if she hadn’t run toward me quite excited in that way of hers since arriving in London.
She wore a long gown and someone— my sister undoubtedly— had fixed her hair, coiled and then anchored at the back of her head. Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she seized both my hands.
“I never seen anything like this!” she exclaimed. I braced myself for a list of things“she had never seen before.”It was exciting to see things through her eyes.
“Look at all the ladies and gents,” she continued on. “Everyone in their finest. The only time I ever seen such finery was the gents when they came to the Church for the evening.”
“Church?” my aunt commented as she joined us.
There were a few things I had decided not to explain about Lily’s background for now. The “Church” that had been converted into a brothel was one of those things.
And then true to her nature, our aunt was off on another topic.
“I’ve heard it’s quite a holiday production, a musical, and not one of those boring pieces by Shakespeare. Templeton does seem to have a preference for those. I cannot imagine the reason.”
If she only knew, I thought, and wondered what Mr. Shakespeare might have to say about this new production, and if he would put in an appearance— spiritually speaking of course— as he did have a way of popping in from time to time according to Templeton.
Lily’s excited chatter continued on about the lights all about the entrance to the theater, the life-size playbill that featured an image of Templeton in full costume for the play. And then there was the statue in the foyer of the theater— the life-size statue of Mr. Shakespeare himself.
“Crivvens!” she exclaimed, a favorite word I had heard a great deal of lately. “What is that?”
“That is a statue of William Shakespeare, a very famous playwright,” Linnie explained. “Templeton has performed in several of his plays.”
“He looks like he has a complaint of the bowel.” Lily commented.
I choked back laughter.
From what Templeton had shared in the past, Mr. Shakespeare was not fond of the statue either. I did hope he didn’t take offense at Lily’s observation.
“Good evening, Miss Forsythe and Miss Lenore.”
I recognized that voice from our previous encounter at Hatchards book shop. As I turned, Sir James Redstone nodded in greeting.
“And Lady Montgomery. So very good to see you once again. It has been a while.”
I caught the slight lift of one of my aunt’s eyebrows. For her part, it seemed as if a dark cloud had settled over Lily considering the frown on her face.
“Sir James,” my aunt greeted him. “It has been some time. Before your last journey to the Orient, as I remember, that has kept you away from London.”
“There are many fascinating things to see and learn from other places. Wouldn’t you agree, Miss Forsythe?” The comment obviously for me.
“That’s Mrs. Brodie.” Lily commented from under that dark cloud which brought a stern exclamation from my sister, however I found it most amusing.
“Lily has recently joined our family,” Linnie went on to explain.
“Ah, a charity endeavor,” Redstone concluded.
“I am grateful, if it’s anythin’ to ye,” Lily bluntly replied.
