He chuckled. “Something tells me you would fare well wherever you are,” he said, and she warmed at the praise. “Mother asked after you. She’s looking forward to the concert.”
“As am I.” She paused and then told him, “I’ve decided to postpone Mother’s medical trial.”
He looked surprised. “Really? You were so concerned.”
“I was. I still am. I would like to have her attend the concert. I think it would do us all some good.” She bit her lip. She hated to ask. “Can you get another ticket?”
“Of course. It will be a good evening.”
“I will see you Saturday.”
Audrey realized how far she had come since before her father’s death. No longer did she have Polly to dress her in a colorful gown to attend a village dance. Instead, she helped herself into her black gown and scrutinized herself in the mirror.
She knew she was pretty. Some called her beautiful. But her figure looked less full, and her cheekbones seemed hollower than before. Her new life had been difficult at times, and she had not been able to lead a life as carefree as she once had.
When Henry had first invited her to attend the concert, she had said no because she didn’t want to be the gossip of the town. Then tongues would wag that she had been given the job as schoolmistress because the only experience she had was that which had procured with Henry.
Matron would scowl at her, and no doubt Nanette and her daughter would hear the news and make her life more difficult. But how more difficult could her life be? For the first time since her father’s death, she wanted something for herself. She wanted to sit and enjoy the concert, and she wanted the man next to her to be Henry.
She liked Henry. More than that, she admired Henry. He was the type of man who relied on his brains, and she found that an attractive trait. He also liked to help those less fortunate, and that was a feature she found very admirable.
He was a handsome man. That could not be denied. But she could not remember a time she had spent in his company that had been dull. Whether he was dragging her along the Broads to look at the moon or pulling her into his embrace to kiss her, he was different.
At the same time, he was so quiet and reserved, and she never knew what he was thinking. But for one night, she wanted to sit next to this man in her dismal black dress and enjoy the night. It was not too much to ask. For too long she had been working hard to make sure her family was taken care of. Tonight, she would see to herself.
Downstairs, her sister was waiting patiently for once. Seconds after Audrey, her mother came down the stairs with a smile upon her face.
“Mother?” Audrey asked her. “Is everything okay?”
Augusta nodded. “Yes. I was just thinking how a nice night in town taking in a concert might benefit us all.”
“I agree.” Audrey turned to Frances. “You look like a little angel.”
Frances beamed and twirled. “Do I, Audrey?”
“You certainly do. I must hold you close, lest God steals you back.” She tweaked her nose.
Audrey thought her mother might scold her for blasphemy, but Augusta said nothing. She smiled at her little sister who looked adoringly up at her.
In the cab ride to the theater, Audrey nervously tugged at her
cuffs and her gloves and patted her hair. She looked across at her mother, who stared back at her.
“You look perfectly fine, Audrey,” her mother told her.
“Do I?” she asked, touching her hair again.
“You do,” chimed in her sister.
Augusta watched her daughter. “You seem to be taking certain care of your person today.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. But stop worrying. You look most pleasing.”
Audrey watched the streets pass by, and when the carriage arrived at the theater, they were one carriage in a line of many that were depositing their occupants onto the theater’s front doors. Audrey stepped outside the cab and took her sister’s hand.
“Come, Lambkin,” she said as their mother followed them.