Indeed, she could hardly think at all when she entered the room, so amazed was she by the sheer volume of clothes presses and trunks crammed into the space. With her usual brisk vigor, Sally threw open doors and lids, revealing enough costumes to transform one into anything: a Roman emperor or French queen, a fairy or an animal, a criminal or a saint.
“I never imagined there would be so many.” Thea eased open the heavy lid of a giant trunk to discover a treasure trove of masks within. A Janus mask, a jester’s hat, a gorgeous bird’s head with iridescent green and blue feathers. She looked up at Luxborough, who was peering at a toga. “You spoke of amateur theatre productions but this is astonishing.”
He tossed aside the toga. “This house overflowed with guests when my parents lived here, and theatrics were de rigueur. My family was never happy unless making a show of themselves.”
“Professional actors and actresses were invited too, to provide instruction,” Sally chimed in. “And, shall we say, to liven up the evenings.”
“Did you perform as a boy?” Thea asked Luxborough.
He groaned and Sally laughed. “Not he! Master Rafe would be out of the house and hidden in the woods at the first whisper of a play.”
“But Sally performed, and she was as good as any of the professionals.”
“How marvelous!” Thea looked to Sally to learn more, but Sally was busy rummaging through a trunk.
“She displayed a rare talent for acting,” Luxborough went on. “Everyone said so, and I believe more than once she was asked to go to London.”
“Were you not tempted?” Thea asked eagerly. “How exciting!”
Finally, Sally straightened. “Exciting, yes. Respectable, no. My father was very strict and disliked me even joining the productions here, though such amateur domestic entertainments are common and perfectly acceptable. And Lord and Lady Luxborough—Master Rafe’s parents—always encouraged me.”
Absently, Thea opened a red wooden box, and gasped at the beautiful cat’s mask that lay within. It was large enough to cover her face, leaving only her mouth and chin exposed. A large black diamond shape surrounded one eye slit and a red diamond surrounded the other, with red and black diamonds on opposite ears. The remainder was white and covered in intricate swirls in gold. Reverently, Thea lifted it out.
“One of the Venetian masks,” she heard Sally say. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Thea breathed.
This, she decided. She would love to be a cat, she had told Arabella that first evening: playful yet fierce, not caring what anyone thought. A mask would be easier to carry than a full costume, and she could wear it with a regular evening gown. Although the party was not a masquerade, she would have to cover her face, assuming Arabella managed to smuggle her in. She could drift through the crowd, eavesdropping on conversations. If all went to plan, other guests would have read her pamphlet; perhaps some would be discussing her and how Percy had done her wrong.
And perhaps there would be a gentleman, lounging against a wall, watching her. When their eyes met, his mouth would curl into an intriguing half smile. Naturally, she would favor him with a haughty look and turn her back, but a moment later, he would be in front of her, holding out his hand, inviting her to dance. His golden-brown eyes would seem ancient and weary, but for their glint of humor, their flare of heat, and—
Thea snapped the lid shut. Foolish dreams. Luxborough would never even attend such a party, let alone invite Thea to dance.
She glanced up and caught him studying her, his expression unreadable, and something in his gaze made her look away. Her eye fell on a magnificent lion’s head, designed to sit atop a man’s head.
Without thinking, she held it up. “And you should wear this! You could…” She trailed off at his thunderous expression. “I beg your pardon. I thought it would be amusing, but it’s not.”
He hardly spared a glance for the lion’s head. “I told you, I’m not going to any blasted costume party. You must understand, I am not made for society.”
“I do understand,” she said. “It doesn’t matter.”
But all he did was shake his head and leave the room, his boots echoing on the wooden hallway until they faded into nothing.
Once more, Sally was witness to a husband’s peculiar treatment. Thea’s cheeks heated, but the housekeeper’s smile was kind.
“Was there anything in particular you were looking for, my lady?”
“This cat mask will serve. Please don’t trouble yourself for anything else. Although I suppose…” Thea looked wistfully at the lavish costumes. “It would be liberating to don a full costume and become somebody else entirely.”