Page 91

“Not kneeling? Why?”

He was quiet for a moment. “I’ll let you in on the joke, sometime.”

His voice had sounded funny, Theo thought, frowning. She wished she could have seen his expression clearly, but he had his forearm flung across his face. Before she could question him further, he had muttered, “Take my word for it. If you don’t tone it down a bit, you’ll have us hauled up before the Moral Decency Board.”

She must remember to ask Lil what he had been referring to. She had still been too excited for sleep when they had stumbled in, so she had spent another hour scribbling in her notebook and sipping on water before she had blown out her candle. Doubtless, that was why she was not feeling seedy herself, though the balls of her feet did ache a little.

Setting down her glass, she let her mind flood with memories of the previous night’s performance. Applause, congratulations, and Lil’s high glee afterward in the dressing room. Her friend had practically danced along the corridor as they had made their way back to change out of their stage clothes.

“Three curtain calls, Theo!” Lil had caroled with delight, seizing her, and then enfolding a startled Harold into her perfumed embrace. “Three!”

Harold had seemed a little dazed by their rapturous reception and she knew full well he had been shocked as anything by the lyrics she had put to his music. Still, he had not murmured a single disapproving word on that subject, bless him, merely polished his eyeglasses and cleared his throat a lot during rehearsals.

Theo smiled now as she thought of it. Lil had been ecstatic, and she had not yet told her what Clem had said about top billing. Her toes curled with delight. Of course, he might not actually give them top billing, she reminded herself firmly before she grew quite carried away. Florrie Foss, his current star turn, might be under contract after all. And in truth, she was not sure she was yet ready to topple the mighty Florrie from the top spot. She was sure she had room for improvement

She hugged herself a moment, letting the sheer joy of her success wash over her. Everything had turned out better than she had ever dared dream it would. Every joke had landed, every nuance had been savored, every song had been a hit. Their audience could not have been more appreciative, even if they had been coached. She already knew what tweaks she wanted to put in place for the next performance.

“Mmm, Dora?” Clem’s husky morning voice startled her.

She turned her head quickly. “Yes? I did not realize you were awake.”

“I am now,” he sighed, his eyes still closed as he reached down to scratch his muscular belly. His long underwear was riding low on his hips and Theo tried not to ogle him. She was not sure she would ever get used to sharing these private moments with him.

He turned his head toward her, a pucker between his brows, though his eyes remained closed. “It’s early,” he complained. “Why are you awake?”

“It is not early,” she gurgled with laughter. “We got in so late Clem; it was after three you know.”

He frowned, still without opening his eyes. “What time is it?”

“Almost half past eleven.” He grunted. “Water?” she asked. When he shook his head, Theo poured herself another glass and tossed it down. She could feel his eyes on her as she swallowed her drink, and after replacing the glass on the table, she turned back to him with a quizzical look.

Clem cleared his throat. “How about I take you out to breakfast? Well, I suppose it’s near enough lunch now,” he said glancing at the window.

Theo’s spirits lurched crazily. “I would love that, Clem,” she admitted, drawing her knees up and hugging them tight.

To her surprise, he did not turn to kiss her cheek or indulge in any of his customary affection when they lay in bed together. Usually, he could not keep his hands to himself. This morning, however, he simply sat upright and swung his legs over the side of the bed. “What happened to Allsop last night?” he asked unhurriedly.

“I’m not sure. I think he fled after our second encore. He seemed a little overwhelmed in truth. He’s quite shy and retiring after all.”

“And what about Lil? Where did she disappear to?” he asked, still in his casual tone.

“Oh, she had to get back home,” Theo explained as Clem sauntered across to the wardrobe to pick out a pair of trousers. Today he chose some of the blue and gray check plaid. “One of the elderly ladies she lives with has been under the doctor. Lil wanted to get back to make sure all was well. I expect they were agog to hear how our act went down as well,” she confided. “They would have been waiting up for her, to hear the news.”

Clem’s eyebrows rose as he reached for a shirt. “She supports them both?” he asked.

Theo nodded. “Yes.”

“Where is Mr. Longdon?” he asked, threading an arm through one sleeve. “Does he exist?”

“Oh yes, one of the old ladies is his mother. Lil had to take her on after her investments hit rock bottom. The other is Lil’s old dresser who had to retire from the business. She’s now blind as a bat, poor thing, and can’t fend for herself anymore. Lil’s husband left for the Americas years ago. He went off prospecting.”

“And abandoned his old mother at the same time?” Clem asked starting on his buttons.

Theo lowered her eyes which had been following his progress with a little too much interest. The close fit of Clem’s trousers showed quite clearly the size of his muscular thighs. Aloud she continued, “There is a sister who works as a companion, but she finds it hard enough to make ends meet without contributing to her mother’s upkeep. Funnily enough, old Mrs. Longdon did not care for Lil above half much before her Johnny left. It is only in the years since that they have grown so close.”

Clem snorted. “What’s ‘funny’ about it?” he asked dryly as he tucked in his shirt. “I imagine it’s hard to remain disapproving of a daughter-in-law that’s keeping a roof over your head and food in your belly.”

Theo smiled wryly. “Yes,” she agreed. “Lil has always had a heart of gold.”