The Study of Seduction (Sinful Suitors, #2)(27)

She froze, then whirled on him. “Madame Vestris’s Olympic Theatre?”

“You know about it?”

“Are you mad? Everyone knows about it! If not for the fact that Mama and I were sequestered in the country for months, I would have bought tickets to Olympic Revels as soon as they went on sale.” She narrowed her gaze on him. “There’ve been none to be had for love or money these past few weeks. So how did you get them?”

He shrugged. “I’m an investor. I have three tickets, actually, but with Keane and Yvette in America—”

“You’re an investor.” She couldn’t keep the incredulity from her voice. “In the Olympic Theatre.”

“You needn’t look so shocked. When Madame Vestris approached me, I agreed to put some money on her venture if she’d agree to hire a couple of the more promising lads from Preston Charity School for posts in her business office.”

“You know Madame Vestris?” she breathed. “The most celebrated opera singer, dancer, and actress in London?”

With a sudden gleam in his eyes, he waved three tickets in the air. “I could introduce you.”

She gaped at them, then snapped her mouth shut. “Give me twenty minutes to get ready.” Picking up her skirts, she hurried for the door. “We’re most certainly going with you.”

“Twenty minutes?” Edwin snorted. “I ought to make a wager on that. I’d win handily.”

She paused to stick her tongue out at him, then rushed into the hall.

“But Clarissa,” Mama called from behind her, “what about dinner?”

“Tonight we shall live on music!” Clarissa cried with a dramatic wave of her arm.

“Music isn’t very filling, my dear!” Mama cried.

But Clarissa was already rushing up the stairs, calling for her maid. Madame Vestris! The town had been buzzing for the past month about the actress’s venture—how she’d renovated the theater in its entirety, how she meant to provide spectacular entertainments. The famous contralto and another actress were partners in it, and no one could wait to see what they had in store.

Clarissa had nearly cried when she’d realized she couldn’t get tickets. And Edwin had meant to go without them? She would punish him for that, just see if she didn’t. She had the perfect gown for it, too. If he did notice her bosoms, as he’d said at the ball, then she would certainly make him notice them tonight. And choke on his disapproval of her attire, as well.

When, an hour and a half later, she and Mama descended the stairs in full regalia, complete with satin opera cloaks, she caught Edwin glancing at his pocket watch.

“Don’t blame me if we’re late,” she told him with a side glance at her mother. “I wasn’t the one who insisted upon eating dinner while dressing.” And it had taken Clarissa’s maid a good half hour to get her coiffeur, a confection of feathers and curls and ribbons, done properly.

“I’m an old woman,” her mother said with a sniff. “I get peckish.”

“You are not that old, Mama.”

“No matter, Lady Margrave,” Edwin said kindly and offered her his arm. “We’re not late yet. Once I realized I’d have to change my plans for the evening, I came early enough to allow plenty of time for you two to dress, in case you wanted to attend Olympic Revels with me. I know how long such preparations take. Not for nothing do I have a sister Clarissa’s age.”

As she followed them down the steps to the carriage, Clarissa rolled her eyes at him. “You make it sound as if I’m miles younger than you. We’re only eight years apart.”

He handed Mama into the carriage, then turned to Clarissa, his gaze glittering in the glow of the gas lamps. “Eight years can be an enormous divide.”

Unnerved by the coolness of his tone, she tipped up her chin. “Are you trying to convince yourself? Or me?”

He took her hand with a wary look. “Merely stating a fact.”

“There’s no need for the reminder,” she said as he helped her in. “I already know we’re utterly wrong for each other.”

“Clarissa, for shame,” Mama murmured as they settled into their seats and he told the driver to go on. “His lordship is being very kind, squiring us about town like this. You should be grateful.”

She sighed. Mama had a point. “Forgive me, Edwin.” She was always willing to admit when she’d gone too far. “I’ve been in a foul mood all day, but I shouldn’t inflict it upon you.”

A cloud spread over his brow. “Nothing to do with Durand, I hope.”

“No, of course not. I would have told you first thing.” The truth was, Edwin’s searing kisses two nights ago had left her all at sea. One moment he seemed to desire her, the next he was cold and remote as usual. She’d spent the entire two days trying to make him out, with no great success.

The worst was, she didn’t want to care that he seemed to be withdrawing, but she did, and that alone was maddening.

“Per your instructions,” she went on, “we didn’t leave the house at all, not even to go shopping.”

“Good.”

As something occurred to her, she twisted the strap of her silk reticule. “You don’t think he’ll be there tonight, do you?”