He gave her a small smile.“I wished to invite you to join us for a tour of the theater with the new owner.”
Several of the other reporters around her murmured with surprise.The man next to her spoke up.“Can I come too?”
Matthew shot him a hard look.“No.”
Elizabeth stared daggers at him.
He held out a hand.“It’s an exclusive opportunity to speak to Mr.Howell.”
“Harper, if you don’t want to, I will take your place,” a man from behind her said.
She glared over her shoulder at the man and then huffed out a breath.She slid her hand into his.Matthew guided her under the rope and tucked her hand into the crook of his arm.She immediately pulled her arm from his.“Why are you here?”she whispered furiously as they walked across the street.
“You’re welcome.”He couldn’t help but chuckle at her prickly reaction.“This theater used to belong to my uncle before he died.I am a patron and was invited to get a private tour.Consider this an olive branch.I would like to speak with you about the other night.There are things to explain.”
She shook her head.“I’m not so sure there are.Your family…I can’t.I need to think about my son.”
Her halting words were hard to hear.But he wasn’t surprised by her reluctance.He came from a family tree rotted by greed and madness.Why would she want anything to do with him?He sighed.They stepped up onto the pavement in front of the theater.“May I introduce Miss Harper, the editor of thePiccadilly Press.This is Mr.Howell, new owner of the Seven Stars.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Elizabeth replied.
“And you remember my sister, Stella?”
Elizabeth nodded stiffly.
“It’s lovely to see you again, Miss Harper.”Stella gave her a warm smile.Bless the girl’s sunny disposition.
Howell turned to a couple standing next to him.“Let me introduce Mr.and Mrs.Kensington, two of my most valued patrons.Where is Monty?”
A phaeton rolled up with a dramatic whistle coming from the man at the reins and the horses came to a perfect prancing stop.The man stood and doffed his hat with a flourish.He gave a bow.“Sorry I am late.”He hopped down from the tall conveyance with the grace only a young man could pull off.
Howell raised a hand and gestured for one of his people.The employee hurried over to grasp the leads of the pair of horses.
“Glad to see you made it.Everyone, this is Hugh Montague, another patron of the Seven Stars.”Howell finished introductions and then, with the dramatic flourish of a true showman, he threw open the great doors and raised his hands in the air.“Welcome to the new Seven Stars Theater!”
Stella clapped her hands enthusiastically.Matthew took her hand and guided her inside.Elizabeth followed along, walking next to the Kensingtons.Matthew couldn’t stop from admiring the swing of her hips.She moved with such grace.What was he doing?He had all but decided to let it be.To let their love affair be only one glorious night.But the moment he saw her across the street, he had to speak to her, to touch her, to explain things he had never spoken to anyone about.She had gotten under his skin and become his addiction.
Entering inside the Seven Stars, he was struck by nostalgia.Howell really had invested in the project.The seats had all been recovered in a rich burgundy velvet.The carpeting down the center aisles was new as well.
Howell guided them to the stage.“The floor of the stage has been sanded and refurbished.The lighting uses gas.I had a line pulled in from the street.”
“I see my money is being well spent.Very impressive, Howell,” Mr.Kensington said.
Matthew nodded in agreement.The gas lamps that lined the front edge of the stage would illuminate the actors and sets far better than just the overhead chandeliers.“Harry would have thought it capital.”
Howell smiled.“I hope the old man is haunting the place so he can see.”
Elizabeth looked back and forth between him and Howell.“Who is Harry?”
“Harry Reeves was the original owner of the Seven Stars,” Howell replied.“He gave me my first big break as an actor.This theater launched my career.He passed away fifteen years ago?”
“Fourteen,” Matthew corrected.“If the theater has any ghosts, it would be him.He loved this place.Worked himself to an early grave, some said, but he had a passion for putting on a great production.He was a true showman.”
“Well said.”Howell slapped him on the shoulder.“Let’s go onto the stage and take a peek behind the curtain.”
They walked to the side of the stage, and Matthew turned the small brass knob that opened a wall panel, revealing a short staircase that led backstage.Stella scampered ahead up the stairs, but Elizabeth paused next to him.“How did you know that was here?It looked like part of the wall.”
“Reeves was raised in this theater.He is one of us.”Howell grinned as he passed them to escort his guests to the backstage area.
