Never Land the First Fish

Chapter Thirteen, Part 2

Julia took a deep breath as the lights dimmed in the theater. There was something about that moment of silence in the faint light, just before the music began, that spoke to her in a way the rest of the opera could only try to emulate.

She had hidden herself the best she could in the back of the box, allowing Maddox and Emily to be the center of attention, beside Lord Rookscombe and Benjamin and Sharada Kilbrierry, while she and Gills sat in the shadows—as it must be, if she were to stay out of the newspapers.

Not that she would be able to do that. She was certain her attendance with Lord Joseph Gildeforte would be marked, as would Emily on the arm of Lord Maddox. She could only hope no one would know who she was. "Companion to Miss Emily Kilbrierry" in the fine print was the best she could hope for.

And wasn't that a piece of unwelcome news? She supposed she should be pleased to be made Emily's companion. The work was much the same, but with more authority among Lord Rookscombe's staff, a higher salary, and a higher standard for working attire. She had been forced to buy enough dresses to get rid of the grey and brown entirely, which had been a good day's work, not that she would say so to Gills.

But she immediately lost the anonymity of being Miss Kilbrierry's maid. Now, instead of just doing the mending and taking in seams, she was expected to join family functions, to attend public events with Emily, to visit with her and her friends, among them Lords Joseph and Maddox. She even acted as chaperone on occasion, as little store as Emily set by propriety, for as a female performer of a darker complexion, Emily's companionship with men was too often scrutinized. No chaperone was required tonight, however, with Lord Rookscombe himself in attendance, as well as her sister and brother.

So, Julia might as well put the newspapers out of her mind and enjoy the music.

Gills leaned over, his pinky finger tracing her shoulder, his hand landing on the back of her chair. "The soprano is exceptional."

"I can hear that." She arched a brow at his transparent maneuver.

He chuckled and sat back, but he didn't remove his hand from her chair, just tapped his finger to the rhythm of the libretto.

"I am thinking of taking a job," he said beneath his breath. "I believe you must be a good influence on me, my lady."

"Do stop calling me that."

"Of course, my darling."

"Not that either. Who have you found to hire you, my lord?"

At that, Emily turned and shushed them. One did not disdain musicians in her presence.

Gills continued looking straight ahead, but tugged at a strand of Julia's hair falling to her shoulder, twisting it around his finger until she took it between her fingers and pulled it away. He simply dropped his hand back to its resting place on the back of her chair.

"You. Are. Infuriating," she said, leaning toward him and speaking softly enough to avoid detection. He chuckled, equally softly, and touched her cheek, making her blush.

"You look beautiful in that color. It perfectly matches the pink in your cheeks."

Emily just glared when she turned this time.

They made it to the interval without further incident, and as soon as the lights came up, while the others rose from their seats to socialize, Julia demanded to know what job he thought he was taking, and he explained his plan to apprentice to Mr Vandenburg.

"You'll be shunned if you go into theatrics for a living, Gills." Far from disapproving, however, Julia only offered, "If you want to do it, you should stay here. Americans are much more susceptible to showmanship than Britons."

"It seems as though perhaps we should both stay here a while."

"Do not ask it again, Joseph Gildeforte."

Gills laughed. "I wouldn't think of it, my lady. Now, would you like me to fetch you a glass of champagne before the interval is over?"

"Thank you, Lord Joseph. That would be very kind." And Julia would stay here, where she could continue to avoid public notice.

***

Julia settled back in her chair to watch the people in the other boxes, wondering who they were, admiring their costumes or imagining small changes that would show them off to better advantage. The door opened and shut behind her. Gills, with her champagne. "Do you see the slender girl in pink in the third tier of boxes?" she asked. "I'd like the dressing of her. In that shade of pink, she looks all washed out."

"It's Marloughe, isn't it?" The voice was a woman's, a husky purr with a sneer in it.

Julia turned and narrowed her eyes at the intruder. Emily had pointed her out after the incident with the two playboys in the dressing room. Mrs Van Heusen, known as Didi, rich society lady, merry widow, and would-be collector of titled-Englishmen. "She was making up to Maausa, until she insulted me and Maausi, and he and Mr Vanderberg gave her a public set down. I am afraid the attack on you was merely a way to get back at me."

"Do you want to earn ten dollars?" the woman asked. It was a perfunctory question, in a tone that implied that Julia would, of course, scrabble in the dirt for a few coins.

Julia contented herself with raising one brow. Better find out what this was all about.

Mrs Van Heusen frowned. "Has your darkie mistress taught you no manners? Stand up when a lady addresses you."

Julia stayed where she was. "Ten dollars?" she reminded the old bat.

Mrs Van Heusen's scowl deepened, but whatever errand brought her here proved stronger than her indignation at Julia's refusal to cower. "Perhaps more." She managed a smile that didn't reach beyond a stretch of the lips. "Five dollars now, and another five every time you give me useful information about your mistress and the Englishman, Lord Maddox."

Years of practice allowed Julia to show none of her feelings on her face or in her measured tone. "You wish me to spy on Miss Kilbrierry?" As the door behind Mrs Van Heusen began to move, Julia stood, pushing her chair with her knees so it scraped. It worked to hide the sound of the door opening, and to soften Mrs Van Heusen for the coming blow. "Let me be clear about what you are offering, Mrs Van Heusen. You will pay me five dollars every time you judge my information about Miss Kilbrierry and Lord Maddox to be useful? Useful in what way?"

"That is none of your business, girl," the woman barked as Gills flattened himself in the doorway to allow Lord Rookscombe into the room, followed by Maddox and Emily and then the other two girls. Julia addressed the latter. "Emily, Mrs Van Heusen places a high value on information about your social calendar. Would you like me to make a copy of it and send it to her?"

Mrs Van Heusen spun on the spot, the natural colour leaching from her face to leave the cosmetic enhancement in a vivid patch on each cheek.

She addressed Lord Rookscombe. "This insolent girl is offering to sell me information about your household," she claimed. "Such nonsense! As if I have an interest."

Lord Rookscombe ignored her, addressing Julia. "Lady Julia, I am sorry you were harassed while in my box. May I take it that you do not want this female presented to you?"

Mrs Van Heusen gasped. "Thank you, my lord," Julia said in her most aristocratic voice. "A presentation shall not be necessary." So much for staying in the shadows. Still, as Maddox and Gills hustled the silly woman out of the box, she had to admit that she'd enjoyed being defended. A lady could get used to that.

A lady could also get used to Gills hovering over her when he returned, asking her how she felt then making her laugh with a mocking parody of Mrs Van Heusen's horror at being caught, then arguing with her about the relative merits of the singers.

She had been to the opera many times since she first made her debut, though not since she and Athol were disgraced, of course. She had never enjoyed it as she did tonight.