‘You have two gifts, my dear. A beautiful face and a remarkable voice. You must use both to make a career for yourself.’
‘A career?’ Catherine had said, confused. ‘Doing what?’
‘Why, performing, of course,’ Miss Marsh said. ‘Good actresses can command very high salaries.’
An actress? Miss Marsh wanted her to go on stage and perform? Catherine had been appalled. Everyone knew actresses were fallen women who allowed themselves to be kept by wealthy men who paid for their lodgings and gowns in exchange for the kinds of pleasures otherwise found in brothels. Surely Miss Marsh did not wish to see Catherine end up that way.
Thankfully, Miss Marsh—being a great deal more familiar with the ways of the world—had agreed that, yes, while many actresses were possessed of questionable morals, some had genuine talent and managed to make enviable careers for themselves.
‘It is the morality of the woman that dictates how she will be viewed by others,’ Miss Marsh said. ‘If you are skilled at your profession and keep yourself free of scandal, you will be acknowledged and celebrated for your talent. Furthermore, if you are able to capitalise on that talent and prove your financial competence to Reverend Hailey, he might reconsider and give Thomas back to you.’
It was all the encouragement Catherine needed—and while it had seemed the flimsiest of hopes, it was one to which she had clung with desperate ferocity.
Then Miss Marsh had performed her greatest act of charity. She had taken it upon herself to pay a visit to Reverend Hailey, during which she had set out the facts surrounding Catherine’s past and future plans. She had then asked Reverend Hailey if he would consider revisiting the issue of Thomas’s custody on the occasion of his fifth birthday.
Catherine hadn’t held out any hopes of Reverend Hailey agreeing to the suggestion. To her astonishment, however, Miss Marsh had returned with the news that if Catherine was able to prove herself a responsible woman of good moral character and was able to earn an income that would allow her to support herself and Thomas, Reverend Hailey would agree to review the situation when Thomas turned five.
At the time, five years had seemed an eternity, but that date was now upon them, and knowing she had met all of Reverend Hailey’s demands, Catherine had written to advise him that she would be coming to Grafton to talk about regaining custody of Thomas.
She had fulfilled her part of the bargain. Now it was time for the clergyman to live up to his.
* * *
The following Tuesday saw the final performance of Promises and, knowing it was their last show, the cast delivered what Mr Templeton said afterwards was their finest performance of the season. A standing ovation greeted Catherine as she took her bows, and she was showered with bouquets of flowers and expensive gifts when she returned to her dressing room later on.
As always, the diamond brooches and sapphire earrings with accompanying messages and thinly veiled invitations were politely sent back, while the posies of red roses, exotic lilies, pink carnations and sweet-smelling freesia were redistributed amongst the younger cast members; girls who seldom received such tributes.
Only one pink rose, adorned with a white satin bow, was kept.
‘Your unseen admirer will have a bit of a rest now,’ Lily said as she hung Catherine’s costume in the wardrobe. ‘Whatever will he do, I wonder?’
‘Perhaps he will find someone else to admire,’ Catherine said as she removed her necklace of paste emeralds. ‘An actress in one of the other theatres.’
‘He won’t find anyone as talented as you,’ Lily said. ‘I peeked into the audience when you were singing tonight and I swear there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.’ She closed the wardrobe door and glanced around the dressing room. ‘I’ll make sure everything is packed, and I’ve asked Mr Hawkins to give us a hand with the trunk. Are you and Mrs Rankin still leaving in two days’ time?’
‘Yes,’ Catherine said, turning around so that Lily could fasten the pins at the back of her gown. ‘Mrs Rankin is looking into arrangements for the coach.’
‘I’m glad I don’t have to go.’ Lily wrinkled her nose. ‘I don’t like travelling on public coaches.’
‘Neither do I, but at least we will be riding inside.’ Catherine stood up and smoothed back an errant curl. ‘There, I think I’m ready. I shall meet you outside the theatre in half an hour.’
Catherine heard the sound of voices and laughter long before she walked into the crowded lobby, but as soon as she did, people turned and began to cheer her arrival. It still humbled her, these overwhelming tributes to her performances. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that one day, she would achieve this kind of fame. Indeed, when Miss Marsh had first put forward the idea of singing on the stage, Catherine had been convinced that no one would pay good money to hear her sing, let alone provide her with enough to establish herself as an independent woman. But they had paid to see her, filling the seats and the boxes of the Gryphon Theatre night after night and giving her back far more than she could possibly have given them.
‘Catherine!’
She looked up to see Theo Templeton shouldering his way through the crowd, dapper as always in formal evening attire, his trademark black cape swirling around him. Theo didn’t study the dictates of fashion. He set them; dressing as he pleased because he was rich enough to do so. Even his hair, once as black as midnight but now liberally sprinkled with grey, was worn longer than fashion decreed, but it looked dashing on him and he had the confidence to carry it off.
He reached her side and embraced her in a fatherly hug. ‘A marvellous night, my dear, and you were wonderful. Come and meet your adoring public and celebrate your success!’
He stayed by her side for the next twenty minutes, acting as both buffer and host as Catherine moved through the crowd, acknowledging the accolades and compliments. The gentlemen were all there, of course: the green lads begging for kisses or calling out invitations for supper, the older men like Lords Styles and Tantemon lounging by the stage door, watching her with barely veiled desire. Others, like Lord Hugh Nelson and Mr Stanton, merely smiled and winked.
Caught up in the giddy whirl of the evening, Catherine smiled back, knowing Theo would intervene if any of them came too close. But when she heard his voice rising above the others, she stopped and immediately turned around. ‘Lord Valbourg,’ she said, extending her hand. ‘You came.’
‘Did you think I would miss your final performance?’ He raised her hand to his lips and brushed a kiss against her fingers. ‘Which, I must say, was one of your finest.’
Catherine blushed like a schoolgirl, as though she had never been offered a compliment before. ‘Thank you. Last performances are always special,’ she said, wondering if she would ever develop an immunity to this man’s charm. ‘We strive to send the audience home with good memories.’
‘Judging from what I saw tonight, you succeeded admirably. So, what now?’ he asked, drawing her to one side as Theo moved away to speak to Lady Pearcy. ‘A well-deserved holiday, perhaps?’
‘You could say that. I leave for Cheltenham the day after tomorrow.’
‘Cheltenham! What a coincidence. So do I.’
Catherine’s stomach tightened. ‘Really?’
‘Lord and Lady Brocklehume are hosting a gathering at their country estate,’ Valbourg said, nodding at an acquaintance before turning a thoughtful gaze back on her. ‘Would you care to travel with me?’
Catherine hesitated, but only for a moment. ‘Thank you, but I have already made my arrangements.’
‘And they are?’
‘To take the