Gail Whitiker - No Place For An Angel

‘Yes,’ Catherine said, turning around so that Lily could fasten the pins at the back of her gown. ‘Mrs Rankin is looking into arrangements for the coach.’

‘I’m glad I don’t have to go.’ Lily wrinkled her nose. ‘I don’t like travelling on public coaches.’

‘Neither do I, but at least we will be riding inside.’ Catherine stood up and smoothed back an errant curl. ‘There, I think I’m ready. I shall meet you outside the theatre in half an hour.’

Catherine heard the sound of voices and laughter long before she walked into the crowded lobby, but as soon as she did, people turned and began to cheer her arrival. It still humbled her, these overwhelming tributes to her performances. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that one day, she would achieve this kind of fame. Indeed, when Miss Marsh had first put forward the idea of singing on the stage, Catherine had been convinced that no one would pay good money to hear her sing, let alone provide her with enough to establish herself as an independent woman. But they had paid to see her, filling the seats and the boxes of the Gryphon Theatre night after night and giving her back far more than she could possibly have given them.

‘Catherine!’

She looked up to see Theo Templeton shouldering his way through the crowd, dapper as always in formal evening attire, his trademark black cape swirling around him. Theo didn’t study the dictates of fashion. He set them; dressing as he pleased because he was rich enough to do so. Even his hair, once as black as midnight but now liberally sprinkled with grey, was worn longer than fashion decreed, but it looked dashing on him and he had the confidence to carry it off.

He reached her side and embraced her in a fatherly hug. ‘A marvellous night, my dear, and you were wonderful. Come and meet your adoring public and celebrate your success!’

He stayed by her side for the next twenty minutes, acting as both buffer and host as Catherine moved through the crowd, acknowledging the accolades and compliments. The gentlemen were all there, of course: the green lads begging for kisses or calling out invitations for supper, the older men like Lords Styles and Tantemon lounging by the stage door, watching her with barely veiled desire. Others, like Lord Hugh Nelson and Mr Stanton, merely smiled and winked.

Caught up in the giddy whirl of the evening, Catherine smiled back, knowing Theo would intervene if any of them came too close. But when she heard his voice rising above the others, she stopped and immediately turned around. ‘Lord Valbourg,’ she said, extending her hand. ‘You came.’

‘Did you think I would miss your final performance?’ He raised her hand to his lips and brushed a kiss against her fingers. ‘Which, I must say, was one of your finest.’

Catherine blushed like a schoolgirl, as though she had never been offered a compliment before. ‘Thank you. Last performances are always special,’ she said, wondering if she would ever develop an immunity to this man’s charm. ‘We strive to send the audience home with good memories.’

‘Judging from what I saw tonight, you succeeded admirably. So, what now?’ he asked, drawing her to one side as Theo moved away to speak to Lady Pearcy. ‘A well-deserved holiday, perhaps?’

‘You could say that. I leave for Cheltenham the day after tomorrow.’

‘Cheltenham! What a coincidence. So do I.’

Catherine’s stomach tightened. ‘Really?’

‘Lord and Lady Brocklehume are hosting a gathering at their country estate,’ Valbourg said, nodding at an acquaintance before turning a thoughtful gaze back on her. ‘Would you care to travel with me?’

Catherine hesitated, but only for a moment. ‘Thank you, but I have already made my arrangements.’

‘And they are?’

‘To take the coach into Gloucester and rendezvous with the lady with whom I shall be staying. She has written to say she will meet me in the square.’

‘She still can, but since we are both bound for the same destination, why not journey together?’ Valbourg said. ‘Time always goes faster when one has company.’

‘But I will have company. My companion, Mrs Rankin, will be travelling with me,’ Catherine said, aware even as she said it that it was a flimsy excuse. A lady of quality never travelled without a maid or a companion, but the thought of spending two days in a carriage with Valbourg and having to make conversation with him was disquieting to say the least. ‘There won’t be room for all of us in your carriage.’

‘There will be if I take the barouche.’

‘But surely your father will need it while you are gone?’

‘Not for the brief time it takes to drive there and back, no.’

Catherine bit her lip. For every objection she put forward, he countered with a solution. If only there weren’t the risks... ‘Lord Valbourg, I am most grateful for your offer, but I’m really not sure it would be wise.’

‘And you, Miss Jones, must stop throwing up roadblocks in my path. If it is your reputation you are worried about, don’t be,’ Valbourg said. ‘You will be travelling with a respectable companion and I can hardly ravish you with her looking on, now can I?’

Shocked, Catherine burst out laughing, only to regret it a moment later when she realised that amusement would not have been the reaction of a well-brought-up young lady. ‘No, I am quite sure you can’t. And were I a respectable young lady, the presence of a companion would likely be enough to quiet wagging tongues. But I am an actress and therefore anyone travelling with me might be equally suspect.’

‘Even though Mrs Rankin is a widow?’

‘Perhaps more so because of it.’

‘Very well. Then I shall make one further suggestion. You and your companion can travel in the carriage and set off first thing in the morning while I shall set out on horseback a few hours later,’ Valbourg said. ‘I will no doubt catch up with you at some point along the road, but for all intents and purposes, we would be leaving London separately, thereby giving the gossips nothing to talk about. Does that meet with your approval?’

Catherine wanted to find fault with his suggestion, but found she was unable to do so without sounding ungracious. Yes, there was a possibility she would be seen riding in the Marquess of Alderbury’s carriage, but what harm could come of it if neither the marquess nor Valbourg were with her? Especially since Mrs Rankin would be at her side the entire time. ‘Very well, Lord Valbourg, I accept your offer and thank you for it.’

‘Splendid. Because I have a favour to ask in return. Would you consider singing for Lady Brocklehume and her guests one evening?’ he asked. ‘For a fee, of course.’

Catherine looked at him in surprise. ‘You have taken it upon yourself to arrange your hosts’ entertainments?’

‘Only when it comes to you. The countess enjoys your performances, and I am hopeful if she is very pleased with the arrangements, she will put in a good word for me with her husband. I have been trying to persuade him to sell me one of his prize stallions for some months now.’

It was such a male justification that Catherine couldn’t help but smile. ‘Fine. If that is all that is required by way of repayment, I am happy to comply.’

‘Ah, but I did not say that was all that was required,’ he said, his voice dropping. ‘Have you given any more thought to what we talked about the other night?’

In a heartbeat, Catherine’s mood of joyous optimism faded. She knew what he was referring to and wished with all her heart he would let the matter drop. ‘I have given it no further thought whatsoever. I told you how I felt about the subject at the time.’

‘Yes, but I am not willing to let the matter rest. However, this is neither the time nor the place to discuss it,’ Valbourg said as a cluster of giggling girls made their way across the lobby towards them. ‘Hopefully, we will have an opportunity to converse during the journey to Cheltenham. Or while you are at Swansdowne. I will, of course, arrange for a carriage to collect you from wherever you are staying and return you there after your performance. Unless you wish to spend the night at the manor?’