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‘Claude, do come in and shut the door. There’s a terrible draught.’ Felicia’s peevish tones made Claude back away with a rueful grin.
‘We’ll see you in the foyer, Nancy. You and I can have a long talk then.’ He retreated into the dressing room and closed the door.
‘What a lovely kind man,’ Tamara said wistfully. ‘I wish my papa would speak to me like that. He barks orders as if I were one of his underlings.’
‘Claude is a really nice person. Felicia is lucky to have him. She can be a bit dramatic, as I recall, but he knows exactly how to handle her. Come on, let’s go and tell Miss Sharp. I’ll be in her good books forever.’
Miss Sharp was suitably impressed, and when Felicia breezed into the foyer dressed magnificently in a purple silk gown beneath a matching satin cape trimmed with swansdown, there was a sharp intake of breath from students and teachers alike.
‘My dear ma’am, how kind of you to spare us a few minutes.’ Miss Sharp smiled ingratiatingly.
‘It’s a pleasure to meet an appreciate audience,’ Felicia said sweetly.
‘We’re honoured, ma’am,’ Miss Franklin added shyly.
Claude stepped in, bowing to Miss Sharp and Miss Franklin in turn. ‘I hope you will forgive us, ladies, but Mrs de Marney needs her rest. The part she plays in the production is very demanding.’
‘Of course,’ Miss Sharp said hastily. ‘We are honoured that you have given us this much of your time, Mrs de Marney.’
Felicia leaned against her husband, waving gracious to the girls as he led her out of the theatre to a waiting hansom cab. Nancy followed them out onto the pavement.
‘I really did enjoy the opera, Mrs de Marney. Will you be visiting the family at Rockwood soon?’
Felicia hesitated. ‘I don’t know. Is it in our itinerary, Claude?’
‘No, my love, but we can always make a detour. We’re staying in rooms in John Adam Street. It’s not far from here. Why don’t you come and see us tomorrow morning? Not too early, mind you.’
‘I will,’ Nancy said eagerly. ‘I’m sure Miss Sharp will give me permission to miss the deportment class just this once.’
Claude pulled a face. ‘It sounds a bit like prison to me, Nancy. Anyway, do come – and bring your friend, if she’s a mind to join you.’ He handed his wife into the cab and climbed in after her.
‘Do you think Miss Sharp will allow it?’ Tamara asked anxiously.
‘Maybe a couple of tickets to see the next production might persuade her.’ Nancy smiled mischievously. ‘I’m sure that could be arranged.’
‘A morning off would be so exciting.’ Tamara’s eyes shone with excitement. ‘Maybe we could get a cab to the City and I could see William in the shipping office.’
Nancy was feeling reckless. ‘Why not? We might as well take advantage of an hour or two of freedom.’
At first it seemed that Miss Sharp was about to refuse but, fortunately for Nancy, Miss Maughfling happened to overhear the conversation, and she gave her permission on the understanding that she would be the first to receive complimentary tickets for the next performance. Nancy agreed somewhat recklessly, taking it upon herself to speak for Claude, but she was certain he would agree to help. Claude could be relied on, whereas Felicia was as changeable as the weather.
With Miss Maughfling’s blessing, a cab was summoned. Nancy and Tamara were on their way to John Adam Street and both were in high spirits.
‘It feels like a holiday,’ Nancy said as they alighted outside the terrace of eighteenth-century houses.
‘I am so excited.’ Tamara clasped her hands, her eyes shining. ‘I’ll see William before we return to the Academy.’
Nancy knocked on the door. ‘Yes, we will go to the office, I promise. But I think it’s time you and William told your papa that you want to marry.’
‘I know, but I’m so scared he will refuse and he might sack William. Without a job we can’t even think of getting married.’
‘Then your papa must be persuaded.’
‘Could you do it for me?’
Nancy shook her head. ‘No. I’m not the right person. I don’t know your papa, for one thing.’
The door opened before Tamara had a chance to argue and a maidservant showed them upstairs to a sitting room on the first floor, where Claude greeted them with a warm smile.
