Francis eyed his brother, ignoring William’s disbelief of his motive. “Don’t you wish to be introduced to her?”
“Not in the least. I’m happy to continue to admire her from afar.”
His response surprised Francis a little—his brother was an unattached and red-blooded male. At times like this, Francis wondered whether perhaps there was someone in William’s past who had left a lasting impression, whom he was unwilling to reveal.
Francis dismissed the thought from his mind as William waved him onward down the corridor. He turned towards his goal. He had long ago formed a friendship with the manager, a well-dressed balding man of middling years, to facilitate hisentry to the theatre in order to speak with the actresses. “George, a marvelous performance this evening,” he said, extending his hand to shake.
The man gave a brief smile of welcome and shook hands. “Reverend Francis, I wondered when you would turn up to see my latest sensation.”
Francis smiled in response the manager’s welcome of sorts. “She’s remarkable. You’ll have no trouble filling your theatre for this production.”
“I’m hoping her popularity lasts beyond this season.” His brow lowered, sending Francis a stern look. “You had better not be here to talk her into becoming a nun or some such,” he grumbled.
Francis held up his hands in defense. “Not at all. My only function here is to make sure she and the other actresses know there is somewhere to find support should they find themselves in difficult circumstances due to one or more of these gentlemen.” He waved his walking stick towards the noisy, milling crowd of men backstage.
“As long as that’s all you do,” George answered gruffly.
He grinned at the man. “On my honor. And in order for me to do that, would you introduce me to Miss Bartlett?” He was eager to discover whether she was as attractive in-person as she appeared on the stage and whether her personality matched her beauty.
The theatre manager cast an assessing look over Francis. “Aye, come on then.” He led the way into and through the green room. They passed into the actresses’ dressing room—a communal cluster of small dressing tables that served all the female cast except the leading lady. They strode onward to her room at the rear.
Francis knew its location from his past visits here. From every side came the chatter and high-pitched laughter of theactresses and the low hum of gentlemen’s voices as they flirted with the ladies and invited them to supper.
George reached the closed door of Miss Bartlett’s dressing room and rapped loudly. A flurry of excited anticipation reverberated within his stomach.
The door opened to reveal a glamorously dressed woman approaching middle-age, with still-dark hair, good looks, and a welcoming smile.
“Mrs. Jenkins, good evening,” the manager said, with a brief bow.
She inclined her head in response. “Mr. Prentice, you’ve come to congratulate my niece on her spectacular performance?”
He raised his arms wide. “Indeed I have, and to introduce someone to her.”
The woman’s eyes glittered and her gaze swept over his shoulder. As soon as her eyes took in Francis’s somber black evening clothes and modest white cravat, all her interest in him evaporated. She gave a weak smile of welcome and stepped back into the room. “Any friend of yours…”
From behind them, came the sounds of the crowd of jostling gentlemen, eager to meet the leading lady. Francis followed the manager into the room and closed the door, dimming the noise from the pack outside.
His gaze swept the room. To one side, richly colored costumes hung on an open rack. Against another wall stood a dressing table full of glass jars of potions and make-up, hairbrush and comb, with a candle-lit mirror above.
Miss Bartlett emerged from behind a lacquered black screen. She still wore the costume from her last appearance on stage—a gown of low-cut, flowing silk that clung to her curves. His mouth went dry at the sight of her creamy decolletage. Rich strawberry blonde hair cascaded in corkscrew curls from aGrecian knot atop her crown, while a few wisps floated around her perfect oval face. He longed to reach out a hand and test the springiness of those curls.
Clearly caught while undressing her hair, she held an ornate hair comb in her hand, while its partner remained in place. Her gaze met his over George’s shoulder, a half-smile on her face and a look of interest in her eyes.
Francis’s heart pounded out a greeting.
“A wonderful performance, Miss Bartlett,” the manager said in his brisk manner. He sent her a hearty smile, then his face sobered. “We will discuss a slight change of timing in your first line of the second act tomorrow afternoon at rehearsal.” He dipped his chin ending that part of his message and half-turned to Francis beside him. “And now, may I present Reverend Francis Brody, curate of St Paul’s Parish, Covent Garden. He periodically visits the theatre to provide any spiritual guidance that the cast and crew might want. Reverend Brody, meet Miss Clarissa Bartlett, my most recent discovery.”
The young lady held out her ungloved hand to him with a challenging look in her eye. The scent of lilacs wafted to him. His nostrils flared.
Large aquamarine blue eyes, outlined with kohl emphasizing their size, looked up at him in a coquettish way from beneath long darkened eyelashes. A sprinkle of freckles smattered her nose and cheeks giving her an appearance of fresh wholesomeness. This was totally at odds with the come hither look she seemed to give him now…and to which he was sorely tempted to respond.
Francis took her slim hand in his. “Miss Bartlett, I’m delighted to meet you. May I congratulate you on a wonderful performance. You delighted the whole audience.”
“You may, Reverend Francis,” she answered, a pert look on her face and her eyes sparkling at the compliment.
“I’ll leave you now. Work to do,” the theatre manager interrupted and wrenched open the door before striding out and closing the door with a sharp click.
Francis returned his attention to the vision of loveliness in front of him. “I try to attend the theatre periodically to meet the cast and ensure they are aware of the support available to them should they need it at any time in the future.”
