He took her arm and together they entered the majestic hall. “This, at least, is still very fine,” she said. “The rotunda is so lovely.”
“It is. And the productions are reasonable, no matter the look of the place.”
There were more people in entry hall and as they moved toward the entrance to the boxes, he noted when the others began to recognize them. There were stares and a few whispers as they went past and Evie’s hand tightened in his elbow as she tugged herself a little closer to his side.
“Look down at me adoringly,” she whispered.
He jolted and then did as she requested, staring down into those dark eyes for a moment. There was something calming about her even stare and his heart rate slowed a little as he drew a long breath. “It’s going to be more intense once we enter the box. Especially if my sources are correct that Southwater and Florence are in attendance in his box.”
“Oh,” she said, and her throat worked as she swallowed. “I wondered if he might be here. And I suppose he would bringhernow that they aren’t hiding things anymore.”
He leaned closer. “Is it too much?”
She shook her head too quickly and any worry she’d shown was erased. “Of course not. His box is directly across from yours. It will almost be a showdown.”
“We’ll win the showdown by pretending not to care. Are you ready?”
She nodded as he helped her into the small hallway behind the boxes and maneuvered her to where his was located. A footman held back the little curtain and they stepped into the box.
The gazes of those around them pivoted to them, both below in the main gallery and in the boxes surrounding the stage. The buzzing crowd quieted a moment and then a burst of whispers began again, this time pointed and without trying to hide her name or his. He looked at Evelina and found she was staring across the way. He followed her look and saw that her gaze was pinned on Southwater’s box. When he let his eyes move to the same spot, he found the duke was there and Florence was with him.
As for their former partners? Well, both were also staring at him and Evelina. Southwater looked just as enraged as he had a few days before when he encountered Vaughn at Evelina’s new home. His face was actually red and his hands fisted at his sides. Florence kept looking up and then back into her lap. She was too far away to make out her expression, but her posture was tight and unhappy.
Vaughn wanted the thrill at that fact to be stronger and more pleasing, but it left a raw emptiness in his chest instead.
“Staring should be theirs, not ours,” he suggested gently.
She started. “I hadn’t realized I was staring,” she whispered.
He felt her hand slide into his and he put all his focus onto her. She smiled up at him, her eyes brimming with tears but her expression calm. No one would know about her pain. She was remarkably strong, it only made him like her more.
“Why don’t we sit?” she suggested. “Try not to look at them again, just keep focused on me.”
He arched a brow as they settled into their places and the lights of the theatre flickered to tell the crowd that the opera was about to begin.
“That won’t be difficult,” he said. “My companion is the loveliest woman in attendance.”
She laughed lightly and placed their still-entwined hands into her lap. “That’s very convincing.”
“It’s verytrue,” he said. “You really are beautiful in that color.”
He reached out and brushed a stray curl from her cheek. Her breath caught at the motion. None of this was real, of course. He knew that even if it took a little reminding. But shewascertainly gorgeous.
The lights went down in the house and they didn’t talk anymore, but focused on the opera. But even though no one could see them anymore, he was keenly aware that she kept his hand on her lap through the entire show, their fingers intertwined. And he made no attempt to separate them.
* * *
Evelina wished she could have said that she lost herself in the opera. She actually loved the art and was enraptured most of the time. But she hadn’t been able to focus all night, not when she knew Harry and Lady Blackburn were across the way, cuddled up in the very box whereshe’donce watched opera with him. She’d been far too aware of them. And also very aware of Vaughn beside her, his lean, strong fingers tangled with her own. How was he feeling? And was this a good idea, to lean into their worst impulses in order to tweak those who’d harmed them?
She didn’t know the answer, but as they made their way through the slow crowd after the performance, she tried not to think about it too hard. She’d lost track of Southwater and Lady Blackburn at some point and hoped she’d not see them again.
A hope that was denied when she and Vaughn moved toward the door and there the other couple was, just ten feet away in the milling crowd.
She froze in her place, causing Vaughn to come up short next to her. He followed her gaze and she felt him stiffen, his posture reflecting what his unreadable expression didn’t.
Lady Blackburn really was beautiful up close, with perfect blonde hair and pretty, bright eyes, not to mention her elegant brocade gown. She was also wearing a large, brightly bejeweled necklace. Evelina’s stomach turned when she realized it was a piece Harry had given to her and demanded back a month ago.
The other woman leaned up toward Harry and they spoke for a moment, then she looked back at Evelina and she…shesmirked. The bright rage Evelina rarely allowed herself in this untenable situation rose up in her and she tugged Vaughn’s elbow gently.
