Melinda shivered. “He yanked me into the corner behind the stage, the darkest one. He pinned me against the wall and kissed me.” She gagged. “He tasted of sweat and cheap cigars and whiskey. Then he started grinding his hard, disgusting cock on me.”
Adelaide grasped both her hands. “Oh, dearest, he didn’t…”
She trailed off and Melinda turned her face. “No. I managed to push free of him and ran. That’s why I hid in the dressing room. He was looking for me, I could hear him blustering up the hall, calling me all matter of names, but he didn’t find me.”
Lydia let out a sigh of relief. “I’m so sorry he hurt you,” she said. “But I’m glad it wasn’t worse. We really must tell Toby to find someone to guard the back. There are too many men of Sir Archibald’s ilk who think they can take what isn’t offered to them, especially by women such as us.”
“Pleasedon’t say anything to Toby,” Melinda whispered, her cheeks flaring.
Adelaide stared at her. “Why ever not? It is his job as manager to ensure—”
“I know, and he’d feel awful if he knew the truth.” Melinda ducked her head. “Anyway, Toby did hire some men, but Sir Archibald actually crowed about paying them off.”
Rage pulsed through Adelaide at the thought. There were so many men from her sphere who thought they were entitled to more than a woman was willing to give. Their power was a weapon and a shield. “But certainly wemustprotect you and the others.”
Melinda shrugged. “The next time I’ll be sure Robin’s understudy stands with me. Or I’ll stand near Toby. That should help, shouldn’t it?”
Adelaide wasn’t so certain, but before she could say more about it there was a knock on her door and Toby, himself, ducked in.
He shot a glance at Melinda and the smile on his face fell. “What is it, Melly?”
Melinda brightened, putting on her best stage face. “Nothing at all, Toby. We were just practicing a few lines together.” She leaned in. “What’s that you’re hiding behind the door?”
Toby didn’t seem convinced by Melinda’s lie, but he shifted a vase of beautiful flowers into view. “Flowers for Lydia,” he declared. “From—”
“Me,” a voice finished for him, and the door was pushed open all the way to reveal Graham standing there.
Adelaide rushed to her feet as she stared at him. She’d been thinking of nothing else but him since the previous night with James and Emma. He was the cause of her distraction both then and now.
“Your Grace,” she managed to croak out as she watched him enter the room. Fill the room. Steal the air. He was impossible. But once again, he seemed not to recognize her for who she truly was as he smiled down at her.
“Mrs. Ford,” he said, just as formal but with a lilt of teasing to his tone.
Melinda had shoved to her feet as he came in and now she hustled to the door. “Come, Toby, I’ll help you with the break down.”
Adelaide didn’t take her eyes off Graham as the two exited, closing the door behind them as they did. She swallowed hard. Alone again. She’d been alone with this man more in the past few days than she had been with any man since…
Well, since a good long time ago.
“Was your friend quite well?” he asked.
She stared at the unexpected question. “Melinda?”
He nodded. “She looked as though she had been crying.”
Of course he would notice. Adelaide was beginning to realize that while Graham put on a face of distance, he was actually very aware of his surroundings and those within them.
“She’s…fine,” Adelaide said, since there was no use in telling him the truth about Sir Archibald. What would he do about it? Men of his rank were allowed to do what they liked. She and Melinda would have to work out their own way to handle this.
He tilted his head, as if reading that response, but then he moved closer. “You were wonderful tonight.”
“I was distracted,” she admitted before she thought it through.
He arched a brow. “By what?”
He was so close now. Too close. He was looming, though there was nothing intimidating about it. Just alluring. Warm. Strong. Safe.
Although the last thing Graham was wassafe. She had no idea why that descriptor had come to mind. Nor why she couldn’t think of any response to his question except for the truth.
