Rage of the Assassin by Edward Marston

Author:Edward Marston [Marston, Edward]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780749022860
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2020-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Once they’d taken her back to the house, Dorothea Glenn seemed to calm down slightly. Though still tense and anxious, she was no longer desperate and tearful. Grateful that they’d come to her rescue, she was ready to cooperate with Paul and Hannah in any way they suggested. Once the three of them had settled down in the drawing room, Paul let Hannah do most of the talking because Dorothea had complete trust in her.

‘It’s clear from what you told me earlier,’ said Hannah, ‘that Orsino was entranced by you.’

‘He was,’ confirmed Dorothea. ‘You saw the letters he wrote. They came from the heart. Unlike other gentlemen who’d taken an interest in me, Orsino was kind and considerate. He never tried to … lead me astray.’

‘I’m sure that he was the perfect gentleman you describe. But there were several things you didn’t tell me about him. For instance, where did he live?’

‘He didn’t say, Miss Granville.’

‘Weren’t you curious to know?’

‘It wasn’t something that we ever talked about.’

‘Did he mention his family?’

‘He did make a passing reference to them,’ said Dorothea, ‘but I didn’t press him. All I wanted to talk about was the time when we could be together for good.’

‘Was Orsino a man of means?’

‘Oh, I think so. He always dressed so well.’

‘Yet, according to you, he hadn’t established himself as an actor.’

‘It was not because he lacked talent,’ insisted Dorothea. ‘I’ve never met anyone with such presence and easy command of language. He was a born actor kept off the stage by envy and spite.’

‘Are you saying that he had enemies?’ asked Paul.

‘Yes, Mr Skillen. People conspired against him.’

‘Why was that?’

‘He didn’t go into detail. Orsino simply said that he would turn the tables on them all one day by blazing across the stage in the greatest parts ever written. Also,’ Dorothea went on, ‘he was kind enough to praise my own work.’

‘And so he should,’ said Hannah. ‘You’ve done well.’

‘He even went so far as to claim that I’d have been a memorable Lady Macbeth because my performance would have had subtleties of which most actresses were not capable.’

Hannah was roused. ‘Did he not see me in the role?’ she demanded.

‘Oh, yes, and he was very impressed.’

‘Is that all?’

‘Let me go back to an earlier question,’ said Paul, jumping in before Hannah’s irritation got out of hand. ‘You don’t know where Orsino lived, or if he had a source of income, yet you were ready to entrust your future to him.’

‘He promised to look after me,’ said Dorothea, simply, ‘and I had no reason to question that. As for money, he did mention it once.’

‘What did he say?’

‘That he was about to earn a large amount for very little work.’

‘When was this?’

‘It must have been three or four days ago.’

‘And where was this money coming from?’

‘Orsino said it was from work as an actor, then he burst out laughing.’

‘Didn’t you press him for detail?’

‘No, Mr Skillen. I was simply delighted for him.’

‘Who was going to employ Orsino?’ asked Hannah.

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