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“Oh lord no!” Lil said, waving a lacy mitten. “Mother Longdon would soon put ‘im in his place and remind him of his manners.” She smirked, then gripped Theo’s hand again. “Fancy ‘im turnin’ up now I’m at the top of me game again!” she said, eyes shining with excitement.

“Like a bad penny,” Theo said darkly. “Do not forget his abandonment this past ten years, Lil!”

“He didn’t look like he was on his uppers, though, did he?” Lil asked eagerly and Theo considered this a moment before deciding that, no, Johnny Longdon did not look like he was penniless despite his old-fashioned suit. “I wonder if he spoke the truth about makin’ his fortune.”

Before she could reply, Lil said with satisfaction, “We proper put him in his place, didn’t we girl?”

“That we did, Lil. That we did.” A knock on the door heralded Eddie’s arrival to take her home and Lil pinched Theo’s chin and whisked out of the door.

Theo turned back to look herself over in the mirror without enthusiasm. “I’m ready, Eddie,” she announced, walking to her peg to fetch her bonnet, but to her surprise, it was not Eddie stood in the doorway, but Clem.

“What’s this I hear about you getting in a brawl with some intruder?” Clem asked tightly.

“A simple misunderstanding,” Theo managed to say, pleased to hear her voice sounded calm and even.

When she went to walk past him, he reached and caught her arm. Clem’s eyes were hard and suspicious. “He threatened you?”

“Not really. It was Lil’s husband, as a matter of fact, returned from his years of prospecting in America.” She gave a short laugh at Clem’s disbelieving look. “It may even turn out he discovered gold, or diamonds, or whatever it is they dig for in those places,” she said shrugging out of his grip. “Stranger things have happened.”

“Get your coat on.”

Her breath quickened and their eyes met. “Are you coming back with me?”

“I’m seeing you home safely,” he responded shortly before glancing away. “Your brother met with your family solicitor today.”

“How do you know that?”

“Before I left last night, I told him I was a shareholder. He said he would seek confirmation today.”

“Oh.” She gave a short laugh. “A shareholder you say,” she murmured, “more like the majority shareholder.” She slipped her arms into her paletot and pulled on her bonnet as Clem stood silently watching her.

They took a hackney cab to Juniper Row but found the parlor and dining room empty of occupants. Running upstairs, Theo glanced in on Hetty for her own peace of mind and found her sitting before the hearth with her head resting on Vincent’s shoulder.

Quietly closing the door, lest she disturbed them, she turned and found Clem behind her. “Felix was in his room,” he said quietly and sent a glance of warning back over his shoulder. “I told him to come to the sitting room.”

From his conspiratorial manner, Theo deduced he did not intend for her siblings to know they had fallen out with one another. She nodded and preceded him into the sitting room which, without its fire lit, did not seem its usual welcoming self. After the stage, it was probably her favorite place in the world, but today its charms seemed diminished somehow, as though Clem’s recent revelation had tarnished it.

THIRTY-ONE

Clem felt his stomach muscles tighten when Dora made for the window seat instead of her usual spot next to him on the couch, but he made no comment. Had it really only been twenty-four hours since he had confessed his part ownership of The Parthenon? It seemed far, far longer, at least for him.

Suddenly he wished Fields was a thousand miles away. He wanted to peel off Dora’s socks and demand she rest her feet in his lap as she usually did when they relaxed here together. That he could miss such mundane domesticity boggled his mind. What the hell was he going to do about this mess?

His brother-in-law closed the door behind them and turned with a frown to face his sister. “Not sure if this should be man-to-man, Theo, no offense.”

“None taken,” she replied promptly, “as I have absolutely no intention of making myself scarce. What’s it all about? Come and sit down, Felix.”

Clem made for the drinks cabinet and poured three whiskey and sodas. He passed one to his brother-in-law and one to Dora, who looked appreciative of the gesture, though he knew she was not overly fond of whiskey.

Not that Felix noticed, for he was too agitated to be scandalized by his sister imbibing spirits. He fiddled with his collar and then stared evasively around the room. Christ, was he about to call him out or something? Clem wondered. Had their uncle Barnabus left him a couple of dueling pistols in the attic? He would not put it past Theo’s drama-loving brother.

Fields cleared his throat. “I—er—asked Henrietta outright,” he said, “if Hillingdon was formally seeking a legal separation.”

Clem darted a glance at Dora. She widened her eyes at him in response. Was Fields still hopeful that a marriage had taken place? It seemed Dora was not the only naïve member of the family.

Dora gave a small cough. “And?” she asked, leaning forward in her seat.

“She said there was no existing marriage to dissolve,” Fields answered hollowly. He took a gulp of whiskey. Dora sat back in her seat. Clem remained silent. After all, it was not his place to comment. “So, to all intents and purposes,” Fields continued doggedly, “our unmarried sister travelled to Paris for over a month in the company of a man entirely unchaperoned.”