“Yes, where was I? The lady spoke with us and told us the sad tale. She had been swept away by his words and his intense love for her. But she saw that there was no way for them to be together. She was a lady of consequence and he was a writer. And when he asked her to run away with him, she said no. They had one last night together, but a servant saw him stealing out her window in the morning and told her father.”
“No.” Clara put her hand over her mouth.
Susanna nodded. “When her father confronted him and told him to stay away, her lover agreed. His last letter to her was heartbreaking. We all, my friends and I, thought maybe they reconciled, but the lady married the man her parents chose, and she never saw James, that was his name, again.”
Clara leaned back in her chair with a dejected expression.
“But the most interesting part is, James Marlow did continue to write. Several of his books became very popular. But one in particular that he wrote was calledSiren of Skye. It was the story he had started to entertain her when they were together at his aunt’s house by the sea. The dedication in his book said she would be forever his muse.”
Clara sighed loudly.
“I know,” Susanna agreed. “He never stopped loving her. This very long story is to say that I have decided to find Mr. Marlow and reunite the two. So much time has passed, but I think she still loves him.”
“That is terribly romantic and sad. But how will you find him?”
“She said that his aunt’s house was in Weymouth Bay. It has to be a sign that you all are traveling there this summer.”
Clara nodded. “You should join us. You could travel safely with Jared and me. But would your parents allow it?”
“Unlikely,” Susanna said. “But my parents will travel to Kent to visit with friends for three weeks.” Three weeks to travel to Weymouth Bay. What about Stuart? She could hardly travel with the man. No, this idea was far-fetched at best. But what an adventure it would be. She bit her lip. “Who goes on tour?”
Clara arched an eyebrow. “If you mean does Stuart Kinrade go on the tour, the answer is no. He is needed to headline the performance here at the theater.”
Susanna relaxed back against the seat. The idea took root. She would be with friends; she could enjoy the circus as it traveled to fairs across the countryside. Three weeks would give her the opportunity to track down Mr. Marlow. To convince him to come back to London and reunite with his lost love. Reuniting lost lovers had to count as a good deed, didn’t it? It would take some finagling with the staff in Marbury, but she was sure she could come up with some excuse for them. Everything would be fine as long as she was back before her parents and in time to receive the Scot at the end of July.
“We leave for Croydon on the twenty-third,” Clara said.
Susanna stood. “I will have to work out the details. I will send you a note before the twenty-third and let you know my plans.” She grinned. “This is going to be so much fun.”
Clara hugged her. “You better get upstairs before you’re missed. Make sure you behave so you don’t get into trouble with your mother, or you’ll end up traveling with them instead of being trusted to stay home.” Clara giggled. “Not that they should trust you.”
Susanna rolled her eyes. Then kissed her friend on the cheek. “You’re right. I must go.” She hurried out of the room, turning left, she headed down the long hallway for the stairs. She hadn’t made it fifty feet before a large hand grasped her arm and pulled her to a stop. Susanna looked up into the stormy dark eyes of her ex-lover. “Stuart!”
“I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay away.” He dragged her farther down the hall to a quiet spot where no one passed by.
“Stuart, I’m not here to see you. I came down to say goodbye to Mrs. Hadley.”
“Goodbye?”
“Yes, I’m leaving with my family for my father’s country house.”
“You can’t go. What about me?” His hand tightened painfully on her arm.
“Stuart, I don’t know how to make this more plain. We cannot be together.”
His eyes became wild and he gripped her other arm and pulled her against him. “No, you gave yourself to me. You belong to me.” He crushed his mouth against hers. The kiss was rough and desperate. Susanna struggled to pull away but he pinned her against the wall. Fear poured like acid through her veins. She kicked out with one foot, her silk slipper ineffectual against his riding boots.
“Hey, unhand her!” a voice rang out.
Stuart lifted his head and Susanna twisted her face away. In the next moment Stuart was wrestled away from her by Hamish and Mr. Maddox. Stuart’s face was a mask of rage. “No, she’s mine. She’s mine,” he ranted.
Giorgio entered her line of vision. His gray eyes filled with worry. “Did he hurt you?”
Susanna nodded. She rubbed her arms willing the blood to flow again where he had gripped her. She would certainly have bruises. Giorgio wrapped a gentle arm around her shoulders. “Here, let’s go back to the costume room and sit down.”
The hallway was full of performers gaping as Stuart was dragged away. She shook her head. “No, I must get back upstairs.”
“That’s quite enough gawking.” Mrs. Maddox’s voice boomed. “There is a show going on if I’m not mistaken. Places everyone.” She strode down the hallway to them. “My dear, are you harmed?”
