Nicholas could feel the stares of the occupants of boxes opposite theirs, watching Samuel charm his way into Amelia’s company.
“Better late than never,” Samuel whispered as the first actors began their performance. “You would not believe how busy the town can get at this time of the evening! Naughty young scholars going about their naughty business, no doubt. The roads were packed tight.”
Amelia smiled. “We are glad to have you.”
“You flatter me, dearest sister. But your husband does not look glad,” Samuel said, shaking his head playfully at Nicholas. “Did you not know I was coming?”
“No,” Nicholas replied, wondering who had invited him, Amelia or George. “But so long as you are quiet—”
“He is always like this,” Samuel whispered to Amelia, leaning in too close for Nicholas’s liking. “So serious at the theatre. Did you know he wanted to be an actor when he was young? Father strictly forbade it. We were not allowed to visit the playhouse for years because of Father’s fear that Nicholas would elope with a troupe of actors and never be seen or heard of again.”
Amelia giggled, covering her mouth.
Nicholas scowled. “You exaggerate.”
“I do not!” Samuel argued. “If your marriage to our loveliest duchess is to survive the year, you will need to start being honest with her about all the elements of your past.Especiallythe embarrassing ones.”
“You are too harsh on your brother,” Amelia chuckled, patting Samuel’s leg. The blood inside Nicholas boiled at the gesture. “He has proven an exceedingly forthcoming gentleman so far.”
“Ha!” Samuel laughed too loudly, then realized his error as several pairs of eyes turned on them from other boxes. “If that is the case, then he is merely on his best behavior to impress you,”he added quietly. “And who can blame him? Any gentleman would be eager to get themselves in your good graces.”
By the time the intermission arrived, the program Nicholas held had been twisted into a stiff roll of paper. He shoved it into his vest pocket as his party were rejoined by their private usher, taking orders for drinks.
Samuel and George excused themselves with Philippa for air while the drinks were prepared elsewhere, leaving Nicholas and Amelia alone.
She leaned forward on the balustrade, staring down at the pit below.
“You will fall if you are not careful,” he said, crossing one leg over the other. “And that will put a quick end to this abysmal play.”
Amelia turned her head on her hand. “What hasvon Kotzebuedone to offend you so terribly? You have been surly all evening.”
“It is what he hasnotdone—written a compelling piece of theatre. The character of theStrangeris inelegantly misanthropic.”
“Perhaps you see too much of yourself in him.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“A man deeply mistrustful of others… But the play has a happy ending for him, does it not? Your brother spoiled the final act, though I do not mind. I like to know what awaits me at the end of a story.”
He fought a smile. “Your unflagging optimism is also inelegant.”
“It is far fromunflagging,” she argued, straightening. The light of the chandeliers made her hair glitter, illuminating her long eyelashes, transfixing him. “There are many things which I am pessimistic about.”
“Such as?”
She shrugged one-shouldered. “I shall not tell you now. That would ruin all the fun. Samuel joked that he was trying to get in my good graces, but perhaps I am still trying to work my way into yours.”
Smiling, she scooted back her chair and positioned it next to his. The proximity of their bodies immediately comforted him. And he leaned forward conspiratorially when she did.
“Are you happy for them?” she asked.
He correctly assumed she referred to George and Philippa. “They make a successful pair.”
“And what constitutes asuccessful pairto you, Your Grace?”
“One which appears to fit to the other. Two individuals who suppress what is worst about each other and work toward common goals.”
“It is a good thing you do not write plays, then,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You would depress all of England with that sort of rhetoric.”
