Cassius took his hat and tugged it on.‘Better find a newspaper.Reviews will be in.’
Cassius followed Daniel down the hallway to the room where Odette took her breakfast every morning—or so he’d been told.He’d have to learn the layout of the hallways and rooms soon, but for today, he was happy to go as directed.
‘I told you that you wouldn’t get there in time.’Odette lifted a pot from the tray.She poured a stream of hot chocolate into a cup that sat waiting on the table beside her.‘I have caught that train many times.But Zadora knows best.’
Cassius sank into the seat.‘I had to try,’ he said.
‘You could have stayed in bed with me a little longer,’ she teased.‘Just as much exertion, but far more fun.’
‘I wish I had.’He took a sip and allowed the rich warmth to thaw him.‘But the day is still ours.We have no rehearsals.No obligations.Nothing but each other.’Cassius chanced a hand on her knee and leant forwards to steal a slow kiss.‘You taste delicious.’
‘What did you have in mind?’she asked, nipping his lip.
‘Nora and Daniel could take the day.You could give me a private tour.Help me learn the layout.We could… test the acoustics in every room.Starting with this one.’
A cough came from the doorway.
‘Miss Vaughn has arrived,’ Nora announced, stiff and prim.‘She’s taking her bags to her room.Once she’s refreshed, she’ll come for her introduction.’
‘Thank you,’ Odette said with a nod to Nora, who slipped away once more.
‘Who?’Cassius asked.
‘Miss Vaughn.She came highly recommended.She is going to be the perfect governess for Emma.’
Cassius nodded as he took a sip.‘Emma.Who is Emma?’
‘A little girl who lost her mother.She’s going to be living here.’
‘For how long?’he asked.
‘Forever.’
A knock came from down the hall.Nora, skirt held clear of her feet, raced past the door.
‘Don’t slouch.Check your face.And your shoes.’Whispers and murmurs in high, young voices grew louder and louder until two thin children stood in the doorway.
‘Anton?’Cassius asked.‘What areyoudoing here?’
‘Anton!’Odette clapped her hands.‘And you brought your sister.What is your name, my darling?’
‘Charlotte,’ the small girl said.Anton nudged her, and she inched closer.With an encouraging murmur from Anton, she dropped into an uneven curtsy.
‘I am so happy you’re both here.Miss Vaughn has just arrived.She is going to teach you your numbers, letters, and how to talk with your hands.She’s going to teach all of us.Nora?’
The indefatigable lady’s maid stepped into the room.
‘Will you take the children to their rooms?Anton and Charlotte, you can put your things away for now.Then, if you are hungry, you can come back for chocolate and croissants.Nora may find you some oranges.Would you like that?’
Another knock at the door, another hasty scuff of feet, but this time, it was Daniel who appeared in the doorway.
‘A Miss Sheppard has arrived,’ Daniel announced, stiff and formal but with a slight flush to his cheeks.‘Would you like me to—’
A patter of steps echoed down the hall, and with a flurry of skirts and a squeak, the little soprano Freya launched into the room.‘Miss Delaney, please, do you have a moment?I need to talk to someone.I need to talk to someone who might understand, and I couldn’t think of anyone else.Last night, there were people outside the theatre waiting for me when I tried to go home.Just waiting.So many people!Everyone wanted to talk, and it took hours to walk down the alley and to hail a cab.And this morning, people were outside my boarding house.The matron was so cross.There were flowers at the door.I tried to go to the theatre, but there were journalists waiting there, too!I didn’t know where else to go.Who I could talk to.I thought you might know.What do I do?I don’t want to be rude, but I can’t spend my days just talking…’ Freya froze.She eyed the newspaper, folded on the table beside Cassius’s plate.‘Are reviews in?What do they say?’
Cassius slipped his thumbs between the creases of the paper, ready to open it, but Odette placed her hand over the print.
‘Have you eaten?’she asked.
