No Place for a Lady by Joan Smith

Author:Joan Smith [Smith, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1994-10-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

We were wafted to Covent Garden in the unaccustomed splendor of velvet squabs and silver appointments, with a crest on the carriage door to tantalize the hearts of less favored mortals. In other words, Mr. Alger borrowed Lord Dolman’s rig for the evening. “Don’t I wish Hennessey could see us now!” Miss Thackery said sotto voce to me.

I had thought the Theater Royal at Bath was grand, but it could not hold a candle to Covent Garden. Covent Garden had burned down a few years previously—and had been rebuilt as magnificently as a cathedral. The imposing marble facade gave way inside to more opulence. It was constructed on classical lines with porphyry columns, plaster statues, and plush sofas in the long gallery. The boxes were similarly grandiose. I felt like a queen when we were shown to our box on the grand tier.

Around and below us, a sea of turbans, feathers, jewels, fans, and opera glasses waved gently. We arrived early on purpose to ogle the audience. Mr. Alger was busy pointing out Lord and Lady Castlereagh, a royal duke or two, and other celebrities. With my embroidered shawl and my three orchids—and Mr. Alger—who made as fine an appearance as any of the gentlemen, I felt I was finally a part of fabled London. If this was how life could be, then I must revise my notion of running home to Radstock.

Mr. Alger saw I was ravished with delight. He leaned over and whispered, “I have asked for wine to be brought to our box during the first intermission. I expect a few friends will drop in. During the second, we shall go on the strut in the lobby.”

“Splendid, Mr. ... Algie,” I said, and smiled to show my pleasure.

A hush fell over the audience. A man in formal clothes appeared onstage to announce the play, and at that precise moment, a page boy came into our box. I looked to see what other treat Alger had arranged.

“Here, this is Lord North’s box,” the page said, glaring at us as if we were a bunch of heathens. “Yez’ll have to clear out.”

“My good man!” Mr. Alger exclaimed, jumping to his feet. “There must be some mistake. I have tickets for this box.” He handed them to the page boy, who condescended to glance at them.

“For last week, sir,” he said. “Lord North is just on his way in with a party of six. Yez’ll have to vacate the premises.”

“That is impossible!” Alger exclaimed, snatching back the tickets. As he studied them, a frown grew on his face. “You are right. Ladies! There seems to be some misunderstanding.” His face was as red as a rose when he turned to make his apologies to us. “There must be some box empty,” he said to the page. “As you see, I am escorting two ladies.”

“Ye’d ought to have checked your tickets then, mister. Come along. I’ll see if I can find yez a corner to squat.”

As we were hustled out of our magnificent box, the commotion drew attention to us.

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