Behind her Theresa snickered, revealing their conversation had not gone unheard.Great.Once Nora was free of Mr.Beaumont, her friends would either tease her or try to convince her to encourage his attentions.
Best to ignore both Theresa and Mr.Beaumont, then no one’s fantasies would be nurtured.Nora firmed her lips and, as they passed through the auditorium door, turned her attention to the stage.
Oh my.
Nora had been in many opera houses during her travels with Mum and Father, but none of them came close to the elegant grandeur before her.Everywhere she looked, elaborate frescoes of Grecian scenes were offset by marble and gilded paneling.A proud phoenix surmounted a shield at the key of the proscenium, and Greek temple facades framed the wings with marble statues atop their entablatures.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”Mr.Beaumont asked.
“It is.”
He led them to the first row of the balcony and pointed to the black curtains of the furthest wing.“If you get bored with the show,it’s possible you might catch a glimpse of me on that side.I try to stay out of view, but from this angle, you tend to see more than others.”
“I am sure I’ll be too enraptured with the performance to pay you any mind.”
Mr.Beaumont threw a hand over his heart and stumbled backward.“You wound me.Here I hoped you might be more interested in catching a glimpse of me.”
“You do put on quite a show.”
He bowed.“Thank you, m’lady.I’m afraid I must return to my duties, but if you will do me the honor of lingering after the show, I will give you that promised tour and any introductions I can manage.”
Before Nora could deny the request, Flossie answered.“We will wait for you by the cloakroom.”
“Ah, before I forget—” He retrieved a thin book from inside his coat and handed it to Nora.“I thought you might like a copy of the libretto to share with your ma.”
Nora gaped.He must have specially procured it, for it was unusual for an opera house to have librettos on hand.Patrons were generally expected to come with prior knowledge of the opera’s plot.His thoughtfulness shouldn’t have astounded her so, but his inclusion of Mum destroyed all ability to categorize him as Don Giovanni.
It could still just be a ploy.You can’t give in to his charms.
But oh, how tempting it was.
Mr.Beaumont bowed.“Enjoy the performance, ladies.I look forward to hearing your opinions afterward.”
She stroked the paper cover as she watched him weave through the stream of attendees flowing into the auditorium.
“Should we take our seats?Or would you like to stare at him a little longer?”Theresa’s tease was accompanied by the snickers of Flossie and Lydia.
Nora slid into the row, hoping to claim the end where fewer Guardians could directly heckle her.Unfortunately, Flossie perceived her plan and bumped Nora against a seat as she cut around,leaving Lydia and Theresa vying for the seat on Nora’s other side.Lydia won.
Lydia snapped open her fan and fluttered it.“My, my, my.If I weren’t so madly in love with Abraham, I think I might become besotted with Mr.Beaumont.What about you, Nora?”
Nora opened the libretto, not willing to look anyone in the face while giving an answer she didn’t believe herself.“The man is a stranger and flirts like a rake.”
“He didn’t flirt with me,” Lydia pointed out.“Or me,” Flossie added.
“He didn’t so much as wink at me.Not tonightoron Tuesday.He can’t be a rake if he only has eyes for one woman.”Theresa ended with a sing-song melody.
“Or he’s so good at being a rake that he knows better than to flirt with said woman’s friends in front of her.”Nora flipped the page, not having the faintest idea what she’d read.
“Why do you have to believe the worst of him?”Lydia plucked the libretto from Nora’s hands.
Nora grabbed it back but didn’t bother to open it again.“Why do you have to believe the best?”
“I believe there are more good men than bad in this world, and the fact that he is interested in one of my best friends proves he’s a man of good taste.”
Theresa leaned across Lydia’s lap.“The fact that he keeps flirting despite you putting him off means he’s determined.”
Lydia’s romance stories must have gone to all the Guardians’ heads but Nora’s.“Or my rebuffing him makes me a tempting conquest.”They should realize those types of characters always ended up as the villain.
