“My Lady—”
“Pretty please?” she pressed.
She knew the moment she’d won. The coachman winced and rubbed the back of his neck. “Three hours. Not a minute longer,” he relented.
“Not a minute longer.” It was not much time for what she had to do, but still more than she had expected.
Waving, she all but skipped to the theater door, feeling as though her world wasn’t quite so tragic all of a sudden.
She hadn’t taken three steps inside before running into Mrs. Grey, who looked every bit her usual all-knowing self.
“Whose conveyance was that?” the woman asked. “Surely, it isn’t the Duke of Marbury’s coach?”
“No!” Elle’s stomach dropped. “A friend arranged… It’s nothing important.” She backed away. “I best get upstairs to the office. Mr. Dodd and I are almost finished going through all three acts and I’m already late.”
Mrs. Grey narrowed her eyes. “Hmm…”
Anxious to get away before being forced to lie again, Elle nearly tripped as she shuffled to the staircase leading to Mr. Dodd’s office.
Mr. Dodd—the man who incited more passion than she’d thought herself capable of feeling.
Another person she would have to lie to today.
On the landing outside his door, she stopped to pluck at the lace on her bodice. Since working at the theater, she’d told more untruths than she had over the course of her entire life. Not only to her parents and to Mr. Dodd, but in hiding her true identity, she’d been deceitful to Mrs. Grey and the set workers as well.
And she hated it! But she had no choice.
Taking a fortifying breath, she pushed open the door and stepped into the office with less certainty than she had before.
“You’re late,” Mr. Dodd greeted her in the same way he had for weeks now. He did not give her a knowing look. He did not give her any look at all.
Had he forgotten about what had happened between them? Had he only almost kissed her in order to go over the scene authentically?
“I’m right on time,” she countered and then, tamping down any romantic expectations, uttered yet another lie. “My sister and her baby are ill. If you don’t mind, I promised I could help her later this afternoon…”
Her request had him looking up from his work. He met her eyes, but then his gaze dropped briefly to her mouth.
And the heat behind his stare proved he had not forgotten that almost-kiss.
But his expression softened. “How old is the baby?”
“He’s three months old.” Her heart fluttered. It was lovely not to have to lie about something—for once. “My sister hasn’t gotten much sleep…”
His gaze going distant, Carter leaned back in his chair. “My oldest brother and his wife just lost a babe.” He blinked, as though dismissing any sadness. “Of course. You must take the whole afternoon off if that helps. So long as we finish going over these last two scenes first.”
Elle hesitated. “I’m so sorry for your loss.” Carter rarely spoke of his personal life—aside from frustrations with his father. It was the first time he’d mentioned having a brother. “Is your sister-in-law well?”
“The physicians have warned that she might not survive another attempt…” His frown was deeper than usual. “It is what it is.”
Elle lowered herself into her chair. “You are distressed, though.” She had only ever seen him concerned by matters pertaining to the theater.
He scrubbed a hand down his face. “My father’s none too happy over it. He’s gone so far as to…” Shaking his head, Carter opened up the manuscript. “Forget I said anything. No use wasting time if we’re going to finish up this morning. Let’s go over this scene where he learns her true identity.” Mr. Dodd, resuming the role of director, was once again Mr. Dodd.
He dismissed the subject of his father as quickly as he’d brought it up, but the fact that he’d said anything at all was surprising in itself.
Nonetheless, Elle couldn’t help but sympathize. Especially today.
She opened her drawer but then, seeing it empty, groaned.
