“Of course not,” Jonathan lied and then swept his hand toward the box.“We should probably find our seats before the performance starts.”
They sat on the four red velvet chairs lined up in the box.Elizabeth sat between Jonathan and Beau.As the curtain rose, she sighed.Thisjust might prove to be a very long evening, she thought.
Looking over the edge of the rail at the gallery and pit, she could see everyone scrambling to find a seat.The auditorium was shaped like a horseshoe with three seating areas.The pit on the ground level, was close to the orchestra.The second level, where they sat, was considered upper class, and high above the boxes was the gallery where the common folk and servants were seated.
Everyone in the pit appeared every bit as excited as the ladies and gentlemen in the boxes.Elizabeth could smell the beer being served below, and she was thankful they were not drinking tonight so she wouldn’t have to have that stale smell around her.
While Elizabeth watched the crowd below, she didn’t realize that she herself was also being observed.
Revenge was sweet,but sometimes the best plans didn’t always work out as they were laid.
However, Elizabeth and Jonathan might prove useful substitutes and give him the satisfaction that drove him almost to the brink of insanity.
He desperately needed revenge.
And he would have it!
Rubbing his hands together, he looked up at his victim like a vulture planning his attack.His gaze caressed the lovely Elizabeth.He’d forgo the play this evening to put his plan into motion.
Justice would be swift and deadly.
He licked his lips.He loved it when a plan came together.
Elizabeth shivered.She felt that evil stare again, but this time she shook off her silly notions.Why wouldn’t others be looking at her as she’d been looking at them?It was merely nerves, she reminded herself.That was all.
Finally, the orchestra sounded and everyone quieted down.Elizabeth slid back in her chair and fanned herself.She could feel Jonathan’s leg pressed against hers, and she found it was hard to concentrate on what went on below.However, she had to ignore Jonathan if she was going to make him jealous.
She leaned over and talked to Beau.They laughed and carried on about the performance, and she found it was impossible not to enjoy herself in Beau’s presence.
On her other side, she could feel the tension in Jonathan, and she wondered just what he was thinking.Something about her, she hoped.
Jonathan’s temper was being held in check by a slim thread.He’d watched Beau whisper and touch Elizabeth all through the play, so when the final curtain went down he stood abruptly and said, “Let’s go.”
The other three turned and looked at him, but said nothing as they followed him out of the box.As soon as they emerged into the hallway, several people stopped and wanted to talk to Beau.
Jonathan pulled Beau to the side.“Look, you can stay and socialize all you want with Tiffany, but Elizabeth and I are leaving.I’ll send the carriage back for you.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay?”Beau asked innocently when he knew what the answer would be.He dared not smile for fear of having blood splattered on his pristine neck cloth.He’d watched Jonathan all night, and if Beau guessed correctly they had finally made the man quite jealous.Poor Elizabeth.Hopefully she could hold her own.
“Positive,” Jonathan bit out.He yanked Elizabeth out of the crowd.“We’re going.”
“What about a chaperone?”Tiffany asked.
“She won’t need one,” Jonathan quickly told her.
“But—” Elizabeth couldn’t finish because Jonathan was pulling her along, and if she stopped him, she could tell there would be a scene.She also couldn’t believe that he was rudely leaving their companions behind.
Once inside the carriage, she asked, “What about Beau and Tiffany?”
“I’ll have the carriage sent back to get them.”
“But why couldn’t we stay?”
“I need to talk to you, and the theater isn’t the place to do it.”
“Oh, really?What do you want to talk about?”Elizabeth stared at him, waiting for an answer.She didn’t receive one.
Instead, Jonathan simply stared at her.She waited for him to say something but the silence grew, as did the tension.By the time the carriage dropped them off in front of Jonathan’s town house, she was just as irritable as he was.
