Page 108

“I disagree,” said Theo staunchly. “I find Lawrence dull and predictable in his stage craft. He relies on his looks and brings very little else to the table. I think Spence should dump him and find someone else.”

“Let’s not get too carried away,” Lil said on a gurgle of laughter. “Lord, when you like someone Theo, you don’t half take their cause to your heart.”

Theo ignored this. “I also think Lawrence is only pleasant to our faces because he imagines I hold some sway on who gets to stay and who falls by the wayside,” she persisted.

“Lord, as to that Theo, that’s the only reason any of ‘em speak to us!” Lil responded with feeling.

“Not Spence,” Theo argued, though she knew Lil had a point about most of the temporary turns. “He’s sweet.”

“Who’s sweet?” Clem interrupted them, coming suddenly into the room. Something about his tone made Theo look up quickly.

Lil let out a tinkling laugh. “That little urchin what sells the newspapers,” she said, fluffing her hair and gazing at her reflection. “Little devil’s sweet on her. Star-struck, I should say.” She sighed. “It’s a difficult age for boys, is twelve.”

Swiftly, Theo masked her surprise at Lil’s lie. Clem’s shoulders relaxed and he told her that, unfortunately, he would not have time to meet her that day for lunch or indeed any of the remaining days that week. Dora nodded. “I understand, do not worry,” she told him, ignoring the pang in her chest. Clem beheld her frowningly a moment and then left just as abruptly.

When the door shut behind him, Lil turned to look at her gravely. “You need to watch yourself, Theo love, that man of yours has a touch of the green-eyed monster. You want Spence to have a shot at a permanent slot on the bill, for gawd’s sake don’t go calling him sweet in front of Clem. He’ll show him the door soon as look at him.”

Theo blinked. “Clem?” she asked in startled accents. “Jealous?” Suddenly, she recalled his words about being jealous of Albert the other day, but that had plainly been a joke.

“I know the look,” Lil said, pressing her lips together. “Take it from one who knows. My Johnny couldn’t hack my being surrounded on all sides by admirers. That’s why he took up and left me.”

Theo drew in a quick breath. “I can’t see it somehow,” she said with an uneasy laugh. “After all, he just breezed in here to cancel our plans for lunch! Our marriage was, well, first and foremost a business arrangement …” Her words trailed off at the skepticism in Lil’s face. It was the first time Theo had admitted as much aloud to anyone, and her heart sank a little at the confession.

Lil simply gave her a disbelieving look. “Was it?” she said dryly, and Theo felt rather at a loss in the face of Lil’s blatant skepticism.

She looked down at her hands in her lap. “Well, that was how it started, in any event,” Theo mumbled.

Lil sniffed. “Maybe for you.”

Theo was so astonished by this retort, that she could think of no other response before they were interrupted by a stagehand telling them they had ten minutes before they needed to make their way to the stage for their practice session and that Mr. Allsop was already set up there waiting for them.

“He’s keen,” Lil observed. “Never thought he’d take to it like he has, but he hasn’t tried to make any excuses even once!”

“I think he feels he’s coming out of his shell and seeing a bit of life,” Theo answered. “He was saying as much the other night at dinner, but Clem made an unfortunate remark about how he should tell his Great Aunt Emma and Harold clammed up.”

“Oh, so Clem didn’t like the idea of Allsop being joined at the hip to you these days, fancy that!” Lil said poking her tongue in her cheek.

“Now, Lil!” Theo retorted, but she could not help her answering smile. She knew it was stupid, but she could not help but feel a little flattered that Lil could think Clem might nurture feelings for her, let alone suffer pangs of jealousy over her now. The notion was patently ridiculous. Wasn’t it?

Strange to say, Theo found herself remaining silent to her oldest friend over the recent business about Henrietta. In recent years, relations between Lil and Hetty had been strained and both had viewed the other askance. As such, Theo decided against confiding in her or mentioning the gossip column to her at all.

Instead, she asked after Peggy’s health and Lil went into raptures over a new tonic that really seemed to be picking the old girl up. “In a few weeks she’ll be well enough to come along and watch the show! Such a relief, I can’t tell you,” Lil sighed. “I really don’t know what Mother Longdon and I would do without her. The three of us have come to rely on one another to such an extent. I can’t even imagine ever living with a man again, much less anything else!”

“Your many admirers would, no doubt, be quite cast down to hear that,” Theo teased, and Lil chortled.

“Get away with you!” she said. “I’m far too old and wise for any of those shenanigans!”

When Sidney sidled up moments later for his usual chat, Theo greeted him cheerfully enough. “You got more floral tributes than Florrie Foss this week,” he told her, eyes twinkling. “Wot u fink about that, eh?”

“Oh, well … there’s two of us, isn’t there, and only one Miss Foss,” she pointed out, hoping Sidney had not highlighted this fact to any of the other performers.

“I weren’t including Miss Longdon’s tributes in the count, as it ‘appens,” Sidney sniffed, adjusting the fit of his cap. “Everyone’s whispering the boss will give Foss the old heave-ho sooner or later’n you’ll be top of the trees then.”

Theo glanced about uncomfortably. She and Lil had only just managed to make a few friends among the other acts. She did not want any further setbacks at this point. “I am sure gossip is rife,” she murmured. “That aspect of theatrical life remains the same, it seems, no matter the venue.”

“I just thought you’d like to know,” Sidney responded, clearly disappointed he did not get a more excited reaction from her. He shuffled off bearing his broom with an injured air. Theo sighed and walked over to Lil who was sat studying the new song lyrics. “Ready for a run-through of the new number?” she asked.

“We’ll have to wait for Casanova,” Lil remarked dryly, nodding toward Harold who was talking to two dancing girls. One reached out to smooth his lapel.