Clara shrugged. “I don’t know what we will do this year.”
Loud laughter rang out down the hall and Susanna steered them inside the dining room. The room had several long wooden tables flanked by bench seating. Elaborate brass candelabras were placed down the center of the tables along with platters of ham and potatoes, curried vegetables, breads, and a tower of fruit tarts making an eclectic feast. Mr. Maddox never skimped on a chance to show his employees that they had the best job in London.
A green damask print wallpapered the walls and the dark wood trim gleamed in the candlelight. The room was not only for the actors, but Mr. Maddox often invited important patrons of his theater to dine with him post show. This is how Susanna had first met everyone. Her parents had accepted an invitation to dine after seeing a show last year.
Clara’s husband Colonel Hadley was standing in the far corner deep in conversation with Mr. Maddox, the owner of Astley’s Amphitheatre. Susanna glanced over at Clara, who grimaced.
“Deciding my fate, no doubt.”
They slid onto the benches across from Giorgio and Julia, a brother and sister duo of acrobats. “Ah, Lady Susanna, so glad you could escape tonight and join us.” Giorgio reached for her hand and kissed her fingers.
“Yes, the party was deadly dull.” She winked at him. “I always have more fun with you lot.”
The hairs on the back of Susanna’s neck raised and she twisted to the right where she knew she would find the heavy gaze of Stuart Kinrade. He leaned against the wall, his arms crossed in front of his chest, unabashedly staring at her. Inky-black hair fell over his brow. His handsome face looked sculpted from granite, the sharp cheekbones and hard plane of his jaw covered in stubble all contributed to his dark good looks. Susanna had immediately been drawn in by the air of danger he carried effortlessly in his rangy powerful gait and his fearless trick riding. In the show, Stuart and his horse jumped through rings of fire. His trick was a perfect metaphor for his personality. She sent him a small private smile. How in the world was she going to end things with him?
Mrs. Maddox swept into the room; her royal-blue skirts swished around her imposing form. She spread her arms wide. “Time to feast, darlings. Tonight’s show was marvelous!”
Everyone clapped enthusiastically. Mr. Maddox crossed the room and grasped his wife’s hand, kissing her fingers with a flourish before leading her to the table where Susanna and Clara sat. Maddox settled into a chair at the head of the table his wife settled to his right and Colonel Hadley came and sat next to Clara on Maddox’s left.
Maddox took a sip of wine. “It was a good show, except for Lady Godiva’s tumble into the arms of her knight in shining armor.”
Clara’s cheeks reddened. “I’m sorry Mr. Maddox. I lost my balance. I’m not used to my changing body.” Her husband squeezed her hand.
“Tis to be expected my dear.” Maddox’s smile was kind. “Your husband is right to be concerned for your welfare and the child’s. I agree that it’s best if you step down from your role as Lady Godiva.”
Clara’s sigh was audible and Susanna sent her a sympathetic look. Poor thing. “Who will replace her?” she asked.
Maddox shrugged his shoulders. “I can teach one of the girls in the chorus, perhaps Zelda.”
Susanna snorted. Zelda was a talented singer but she had no grace. She barely kept up with the other girls in the simplest of dance moves.
“You do not approve, Lady Susanna?” Maddox raised one dark eyebrow.
“She lacks Clara’s grace,” Susanna replied.
“Do you think you can do better?”
“I certainly could.” She shot him a saucy grin.
Next to her Clara nodded her head. “She could. Jared has been giving her lessons for almost a year now.”
Maddox turned to Colonel Hadley. “I know that you give riding lessons to little rich girls but lessons in trick riding? I was not aware ladies of the ton were interested in learning how to vault on and off their horses.”
“Just this one.” Jared nodded his head at Susanna. “She is an accomplished horsewoman, better than most of the men who served in my cavalry.”
Susanna felt her cheeks warm at the compliment, high indeed from the former military man.
“She wouldn’t take no for an answer when I tried to dissuade her. She is a fast learner.” He shrugged. “She could do the show.”
Maddox glanced over at his wife who was assessing Susanna with a careful eye.
Susanna looked from Mrs. Maddox to her husband and then to Hadley. Wait, were they actually considering her? She laughed and held up her hands. “I was jesting. Thank you for the compliment, Colonel Hadley. But my mother would have vapors for certain.”
“Hmmm, yes.” Maddox nodded. “It’s true, women of your background are not allowed the same freedoms as us common folk.”
“Oh, I think Lady Susanna knows how to escape her cage. She is here tonight, is she not?” Stuart’s voice came from behind Susanna. He looped one leg over the bench and settled next to her. His fingertips grazed her waist. “Isn’t that right, luv?”
She flashed him a tight smile. “Appearing in a public show is not the same as coming to dine with all of you lovely people. There are rules and then there arerules.” Susanna looked directly at Stuart. “I am, in the end, hemmed in by my status and my respect for my parents.”
