more she was free to dress up. Tonight she could look beautiful again, for him. All for him.
The dress she chose was gold satin and tulle. With it she wore a gold necklace and ear rings. She knew she looked fabulous and exotic, and a far cry from the business like female she had been recently. And when she descended the stairs, the Earl's eyes told her the same thing.
He too was dressed magnificently in white tie and tails. A glittering diamond adorned the frilly breast of his evening shirt, and for a moment she was swept back to the Alhambra and the man who had accosted her, fatuously sporting a fake diamond. But this time, instead of being upset, she could see the funny side.
"What is it?" he asked, seeing her smile.
"Nothing. A private joke." It would not be a good idea to remind him of the Alhambra.
"I wish you would not keep anything private from me."
"It isn't important."
"One day I will get to the heart of your mysteries. But I'll leave it for now."
It was a short journey to the Gaiety Theatre. They found a crowd outside, buzzing with excitement, as though awaiting some great event.
Looking at the posters, Dorina thought she knew what it was.
By Popular Acclaim the posters declared, the return of the Great Actress – Lily Langtry. HER FIRST LONDON PERFORMANCE FOR MANY YEARS.
"Lily Langtry," Dorina gasped. "Why, wasn't she – I mean – when I – that is – ?"
"She was the 'close friend and companion' of the Prince of Wales," the Earl supplied. "That's a very polite way of describing their relationship. I hope I haven't offended your sense of propriety."
"Yes – no – that is – "
Dorina answered vaguely because she was still shocked at herself for the slip she had almost just made. When she had said, "when I – ", she had meant to say, "when I met the Prince," and stopped herself just in time.
The Prince of Wales knew the value of a wealthy middle class, underpinned by successful entrepreneurs. It was even rumoured that when the horseless carriage was finally invented, he would be its first customer.
He had given several receptions for businessmen. John Radford had been invited to one and taken Dorina with him.
She could still remember the excitement of catching her first glimpse of the heir to the throne, and the extremely beautiful woman with him. Someone had whispered that it was Lily Langtry, the Prince's mistress.
All society knew that the middle-aged prince was a notorious womaniser, despite having a lovely wife and a large family.
Dorina had approached him with fascination, curtsied low, and been rewarded with five minutes of his attention, during which she had had the feeling that he was mentally stripping her clothes away. It was shocking, but she realised that he was a man of great charm.
Lily Langtry was also delightful. Dorina could see that the 'Jersey Lily', as she was known, really did have the perfect milk-maid complexion that her reputation claimed. She seemed unperturbed by her royal lover's wandering eye – possibly because she was so used to it.
Soon after that evening his eye had wandered away from Lily altogether, and he had become devoted to the Countess of Warwick, his 'Darling Daisy'. Lily had gone to America to capitalise on her fame. Now she was back in London for a sell-out season.
They were almost the last to arrive, and the auditorium was already full to bursting point. The Earl led Dorina to a box in the first tier, and held the seat for her while she sat down.
"We're only just in time," he said. "The performance is about to begin."
That was lucky, she thought, realising that she was very conspicuous here. Although she had never moved in High Society, she had sometimes met those who did. Now she noticed several people down in the stalls whose faces she recognised and who might recognise her.
Thank heavens the theatre was lit by electricity, she thought. In a few moments the lights would go down and the darkness would shield her.
But before that could
The dress she chose was gold satin and tulle. With it she wore a gold necklace and ear rings. She knew she looked fabulous and exotic, and a far cry from the business like female she had been recently. And when she descended the stairs, the Earl's eyes told her the same thing.
He too was dressed magnificently in white tie and tails. A glittering diamond adorned the frilly breast of his evening shirt, and for a moment she was swept back to the Alhambra and the man who had accosted her, fatuously sporting a fake diamond. But this time, instead of being upset, she could see the funny side.
"What is it?" he asked, seeing her smile.
"Nothing. A private joke." It would not be a good idea to remind him of the Alhambra.
"I wish you would not keep anything private from me."
"It isn't important."
"One day I will get to the heart of your mysteries. But I'll leave it for now."
It was a short journey to the Gaiety Theatre. They found a crowd outside, buzzing with excitement, as though awaiting some great event.
Looking at the posters, Dorina thought she knew what it was.
By Popular Acclaim the posters declared, the return of the Great Actress – Lily Langtry. HER FIRST LONDON PERFORMANCE FOR MANY YEARS.
"Lily Langtry," Dorina gasped. "Why, wasn't she – I mean – when I – that is – ?"
"She was the 'close friend and companion' of the Prince of Wales," the Earl supplied. "That's a very polite way of describing their relationship. I hope I haven't offended your sense of propriety."
"Yes – no – that is – "
Dorina answered vaguely because she was still shocked at herself for the slip she had almost just made. When she had said, "when I – ", she had meant to say, "when I met the Prince," and stopped herself just in time.
The Prince of Wales knew the value of a wealthy middle class, underpinned by successful entrepreneurs. It was even rumoured that when the horseless carriage was finally invented, he would be its first customer.
He had given several receptions for businessmen. John Radford had been invited to one and taken Dorina with him.
She could still remember the excitement of catching her first glimpse of the heir to the throne, and the extremely beautiful woman with him. Someone had whispered that it was Lily Langtry, the Prince's mistress.
All society knew that the middle-aged prince was a notorious womaniser, despite having a lovely wife and a large family.
Dorina had approached him with fascination, curtsied low, and been rewarded with five minutes of his attention, during which she had had the feeling that he was mentally stripping her clothes away. It was shocking, but she realised that he was a man of great charm.
Lily Langtry was also delightful. Dorina could see that the 'Jersey Lily', as she was known, really did have the perfect milk-maid complexion that her reputation claimed. She seemed unperturbed by her royal lover's wandering eye – possibly because she was so used to it.
Soon after that evening his eye had wandered away from Lily altogether, and he had become devoted to the Countess of Warwick, his 'Darling Daisy'. Lily had gone to America to capitalise on her fame. Now she was back in London for a sell-out season.
They were almost the last to arrive, and the auditorium was already full to bursting point. The Earl led Dorina to a box in the first tier, and held the seat for her while she sat down.
"We're only just in time," he said. "The performance is about to begin."
That was lucky, she thought, realising that she was very conspicuous here. Although she had never moved in High Society, she had sometimes met those who did. Now she noticed several people down in the stalls whose faces she recognised and who might recognise her.
Thank heavens the theatre was lit by electricity, she thought. In a few moments the lights would go down and the darkness would shield her.
But before that could
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