“Thank you, Soames.” Kate smiled at the footman who poured her more coffee. How could one be so busy and yet feel so lonely?
*
It was Kate’sfirst experience of King’s theatre. After extensive renovations, the interior was light and elegant with Gainsborough’s two picturesque figures representing music and dancing painted in white on the side wings before the curtain.
In the boxes around the walls, ladies chatted in their finery, their jewels sparkling in the candlelight. Kate spied the Duchess of Devonshire, who waved her lorgnette.
The theatre was well lit during the performance, and the noise in the audience continued unabated. Thetongossiped, flirted, and laughed. The prime minister, William Pitt, was engaged in heated debate with a man seated next to him. Noblemen and dandies wandered from box to box and often visited their box for a word with Robert. Some descended to the pit benches to wander the aisles and view the boxes above.
“Why do they walk the aisles?” she asked Robert.
“That’s called fop-alley,” he said. “After the performance, they’ll go backstage.”
“To flirt with the dancers?”
Robert shrugged with a grin.
“Have you ever done that?”
Robert shook his head. “Never wandered fop-alley. But I haven’t lived like a monk, Kate,” he said with a frown. A silence followed while she considered how he was living now.
She wanted to ask him more but knew he wouldn’t tell her. And it might cause a strain between them when the evening had been so pleasant.
During the opera, those in the surrounding boxes continued their conversations. “Don’t they care for the opera?” she asked Robert. “Or are they debating the merits of the new singer?”
“They might have seen this opera several times. But I expect them to make their opinion of the performance known.” Robert bent his head close to hers. “The Prince of Wales is in the royal box with a lady. He appears to be in his cups.”
Fascinated, Kate watched the prince as he patted the lady beside him on her large bosom.
“I consider him quite oafish.”
Robert placed a hand on her arm which warmed her through her sleeve. “Think it by all means, but do not voice it in company.”
“Very well, but others are voicing it.” Kate watched a running commentary on the prince’s behavior pass from box to box.
The audience paused from their chatter to hiss at a singer at the end of his aria.
Robert turned to her and winked, and Kate had to agree that his performance was sadly lacking.
High class courtesans were seated in a box not far from theirs, flirting with the gentlemen who called in. A blonde waved her fan at Robert and called something Kate couldn’t hear. She glanced at his profile. “Who is that lady in the rose-pink gown? She called to you.”
“No one of any interest.” Robert’s tone made her firm her lips on another remark. He made no effort to acknowledge the woman, who pouted and turned away. A mistress? Past or present? She was lovely and most likely tall. Kate suffered an annoying flush of jealousy. She turned away, determined to enjoy the opera.
A loud cheer went up when the star singer appeared. Several minutes passed before he began to sing.
At interval, she and Robert rose to leave.
“Did you enjoy the opera?” He settled her evening cloak over her shoulders.
“It was enthralling,” Kate said. And it had been.
They stood at the door waiting for their carriage to be brought. In a sudden deluge, grooms rushed about with the umbrellas. A lady standing beside them darted out into the rain, sheltered beneath her footman’s umbrella.
“Did you notice her hat?” Kate asked Robert. “There was quite a large boat decorating it.”
“It’s to be hoped it doesn’t sail off without her,” Robert replied with a grin.
Kate chuckled. “I shall have one made.”
“You will not.”
“Why not? If they’re all the rage,” she said teasing him.
“Because you’re my wife, and I refuse to allow it.” His smiling eyes held hers, and she wondered if what they spoke of had little to do with the hat. Her ermine-trimmed claret velvet cloak and the beautiful silk gown were in perfect taste.
“You dress elegantly, Kate. You have natural good sense and don’t choose to adopt the more outrageous fashions, for which I’m grateful.”
She smiled, pleased with his answer because it came from the heart. Their carriage arrived, and they hurried out through the rain.
