The Marriage Maker and the Widows by Tarah Scott & Summer Hanford & Mary Lancaster & Mary Boero

Author:Tarah Scott & Summer Hanford & Mary Lancaster & Mary Boero
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Scarsdale Publishing, Ltd
Published: 2019-04-27T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“I have always wanted to see Measure for Measure,” Helena said as their carriage maneuvered between all the others lining up to deposit their occupants at the theater.

“Such a lovely suggestion by Mr. Northcutt to offer us a place in his box,” replied Lady Wickersham.

“Oh yes, he has been most obliging to think of us.”

“I am sure the compliment was meant for you, my dear. Despite his unremarkable legs, he might make you a decent husband.”

Helena chuckled self-consciously. “We shall see. Perhaps at some point in the future, when I am ready to marry again. In any case, he likes the theater. That is something.”

“Or he likes being seen at the theater, which may be much the same.”

Mr. Northcutt greeted them warmly and invited Helena and her aunt to sit with him at the front of the box. He sat beside Helena and leaned over conspiratorially. “How delightful to have you with us tonight. At the intermission, I have a surprise for you.”

“For me?” Helena said with some unease. It was one thing to receive flowers but quite another to receive anything of value. She wasn’t sure she wished to be beholden to Mr. Northcutt. It would merely embolden him to press her further.

“Why yes. But I cannot tell you now or it will not be a surprise.”

“Of course,” Helena replied, and then to say something, she added, “Measure for Measure is such an interesting play, do you not think? There is often much duplicity in moralizing men. Shakespeare knew of what he wrote.”

“And of the virtue of women. The virtuous Isabella gets her reward when she marries the duke in the final scene.”

“So, you feel that marriage is a reward for a woman?”

He looked at her surprised. “Why, of course. All good comedies end with a wedding, don’t you know.”

She was about to respond, but then the lights dimmed, and the curtain rose upon the streets of Vienna. Her attention was taken by the magic of the theater, and she became so engrossed in the play that she didn’t notice Mr. Northcutt had leaned quite so far in her direction that his leg practically touched hers and his hand rested on the back of her chair. She sat up straighter and shifted her legs. She felt a sudden unease. Surely, Mr. Northcutt wouldn’t renew his addresses in the middle of the theater. She turned back to the play.

At the end of the act, Mr. Northcutt, who had a wide acquaintance, welcomed any number of people into the box. There grew such a crowd, that Helena was separated from her aunt in the confusion. Then Northcutt appeared at her side.

“You know a great number of people, Mr. Northcutt,” Helena said.

“Let us come away from this crush. I can show you the surprise.”

He took her elbow very firmly and guided her out the back of the box and down the stairs to the main floor.

She asked him several times where they were going, but he merely smiled and pulled her along until they reached the street in front of the theater.

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