On reaching the side door to the theatre, Clarissa passed all the tributes to a young girl—a would-be actress, who helped as her dresser—to secure in her dressing room. Cold night air greeted them outside. Within moments, they were seated in Lord Marchmere’s warm carriage and heading to supper.
A few minutes later, they halted outside the fashionable Rules Restaurant in Maiden Lane, Covent Garden.
They were escorted through the crowded restaurant and seated at a secluded private table set for four to dine. Clarissa smoothed her hand over the crisp white linen tablecloth, taking in the luxurious interior ablaze with candlelight. As a background to the murmur of many conversations, a string ensemble seated in a far corner played a popular composition.
Champagne was brought and dispensed into chilled flutes. Apparently, the restaurant kept a store of ice. She sipped the drink, savoring its tartness as it slid over her tongue.Scrumptious.
Within moments, her aunt had drained her glass. Clarissa frowned and hoped Dora would slow her pace now her thirst had been quenched. They ordered from the menu of traditional English roasts and game.
Keeping an eye on her aunt, Clarissa sipped her drink and kept up conversation with Viscount Travener. To Clarissa’s dismay, her aunt simpered in response to every one of Marchmere’s compliments to her and drained another glass of champagne while they waited for their meals.
Another bottle was opened and Aunt Dora’s glass filled. Clarissa’s body tensed.Good lord, what is she about, drinking so freely? How will this evening end?
Lord Marchmere was leaning close to Dora and practically leering at herdécolletage. And her aunt seemed happy to encourage him with a delicate hand placed on his arm, as though holding him in place. Even Lord Travener lookeduncomfortable at the intimacy these two were displaying…far too close for a dining occasion.
Clarissa’s face heated and she closed her eyes. She couldn’t wait for this evening to end. Where were their meals?
In the meantime, Clarissa kept up an animated conversation with her companion about a performance currently running at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, trying to distract Travener from glancing over at the other couple.
Now Marchmere’s lips were pressed against her aunt’s neck, resulting in a flurry of giggles. She had never seen her aunt behave with such shamelessness, and frankly couldn’t understand how a man so lacking in attractiveness and charm as Marchmere inspired it.Uggh.
Not soon enough to save her embarrassment on her aunt’s behalf, the rich aroma of roast beef filled the air as their meals arrived.Thank goodness.
Now to eat quickly and get aunt out of here and return to the safety of our rooms as soon as possible.Clarissa used all her acting ability to appear merry during the meal, but her stomach was knotted with tension. Aunt Dora continued to swallow champagne as though it was as harmless as ginger beer.
Clarissa worried her bottom lip with her teeth. How far would her aunt go in her flirtation with Marchmere?She hardly dared guess.
And now that Travener had seen what liberties her aunt permitted with Marchmere, he was beginning to take some himself, with his chair edged closer to hers, and a light touch to her arm now and then. She conducted herself as politely as possible.
Her meal finished, Clarissa lined up her knife and fork on the plate and dabbed her mouth with her napkin.If only she didn’t have to pander to the egos of these so-called gentlemen on her way out. How dare they behave this way? And yet, she didn’twant such influential men to turn against her and damage her reputation and her career through malicious gossip.
Clarissa smiled into Lord Travener’s eyes. “Thank you for supper, my lord. Now, we must depart. My aunt is tired and I have a morning rehearsal at the theatre tomorrow.” That was only a small white lie and a necessary one if she was to extract Aunt Dora before Lord Marchmere slid his beefy hand down her dress front.
Without waiting for his answer, Clarissa rose and rounded the table to her aunt. “We must go home now, aunt.”
Lord Marchmere sent her a frown. His irritation at her interruption was palpable.
“Must we, dear?” Dora slurred.
Clarissa gathered up her aunt’s reticule from the table and grasped her arm. “Yes. I have rehearsal tomorrow. Come along.”
“If you say so,” Dora sighed.
Clarissa tugged her aunt to her feet and slipped an arm through hers. She turned towards the gentlemen. “Thank you for the supper and the company, gentlemen. Good evening.”
Without waiting for their responses, she started to make her escape—but Lord Marchmere was too fast. In a moment, he was in front of them and pressing a wet kiss to her aunt’s lips.Uggh!
But her aunt didn’t appear to mind and kissed him right back in full view of the other diners.
Then Travener was before Clarissa and collected her free hand to press a kiss onto her wrist.
She tugged her hand free, and her aunt from Lord Marchmere’s embrace. “Goodnight, gentlemen. I will look after my aunt from here.” She hurried Dora through the restaurant and reached the outside without further trouble from theirdining companions. Relief unwound the tension tangled in her middle.
At her request, the doorman hailed a hackney carriage. She tipped him from her purse, then assisted her more than tipsy aunt into the carriage. Dora collapsed onto the worn squabs with a groan.
You will deserve tomorrow’s headache.
The driver pushed open the sliding communication hatch between the carriage and himself on the driver’s bench in front. “Where to, Miss?”
