It took about ten minutes for the Home Office men to convince the Ambassador to go with them. The woman and the other man at the door had disappeared almost as soon as he’d blocked her from leaving.
There was a great deal of shouting on the part of the Ambassador, as well as threats and other consequences for the men to be accosting him in the lobby of the theater. Eventually, they all moved from the lobby and out the door.
It was finished.
In the morning, he would write up his report for Sir Phillip and have it delivered to him. No doubt there would be a summons for him and most likely Lydia as well to appear at the man’s office post haste.
His usual sense of relief when an assignment ended successfully was simply not there. No feeling of satisfaction, of being happy and anxious to get back to his normal life. His ‘no Lydia’ life.
He shook his head and began the climb to the upper floor. The footman had provided him with the information on which box was the Ambassador’s where Lydia waited. The time had come to tell her the assignment was over. They could now part ways. Resume their lives as they were before they’d received the summons from Sir Phillip to entangle themselves into the German Ambassador’s life.
He dragged his feet, giving himself time to consider what it all meant. How had his feelings for Lydia changed since they’d sat in front of Sir Phillip’s desk all those weeks ago and learned they were to work together? He’d thought her a prissy female who looked down on anything male. A spinster who loathed him and all he stood for.
Over time, he’d found her to be smart, witty, kind and oh, so desirable. And quite receptive to his attentions. With the end near, the time had come to examine the feelings he’d been pushing back for weeks while telling himself there was no reason to examine them since they had work to do.
The work had ended. He reached for the curtain to the Ambassador’s theater box and drew it back.
Lydia tried her best to concentrate on the play since there was nothing for her to do until Dante arrived to tell her the exchange had been completed and the Ambassador and the woman were under arrest. Or whatever they called it when an Ambassador from another country was taken into custody.
She couldn’t help but grin at the thought of the pompous man’s reaction when he was detained and hustled from the theater.
Fidgeting in her seat, unable to think of anything except what was going on downstairs, she stood and moved to the back of the box where she was quite certain she could not be seen by other theater attendees. It was dark enough back there that she could hide.
And fret.
Her fretting began with the orders from Sir Phillip that she was not to involve herself in the exchange of information. Truthfully, when Dante first told her she would have to remain up in the theater box when the exchange took place, she balked. A typical male response. He was the big, bad man who could watch it all happen, but she was the weak, swooning female who must be protected from it.
Then when he showed her the instructions and orders from Sir Phillip where it had been clearly stated that she was to remain on the upper floor, she’d conceded. Not that she liked it any more, but at least it wasn’t Dante playing the protector again.
As she wandered the small space she thought about what was going on downstairs. Did it all go peacefully? Did the Ambassador carry a pistol? Had the woman even shown up? Lord, she certainly hoped so since she’d had no intention of spending the rest of the evening with the Ambassador. Especially when he’d mentioned the wonderful surprise he had for her. She shivered at the thought of what it might be.
She moved toward the curtain and peeked out. No noise, no shouting, no sound of a pis
tol going off. She checked her timepiece, but since it was dark, she couldn’t see it. Hopefully it would all go smoothly. And the assignment would end.
No more Dante.
No more ton events with Dante.
No more working at the Rose Room with Dante.
No more kisses from Dante.
No more anything else with Dante.
A sense of depression washed over her as if she stood in bright sunlight and a dark cloud passed over the sun. Perhaps it was time to admit her feelings for the man went beyond a partnership. She continued to pace. If that were true, then where did that leave her? With a broken heart?
Dante was well known for his adamant position on marriage. It was not for him. Although he hadn’t spent time with the Beau Monde, his reputation certainly did. One thing that everyone had agreed on was Mr. Dante Rose would never commit to one woman. He’d apparently voiced that opinion numerous times.
He desired her. That was obvious. And perhaps he desired numerous women over the years, but she was willing to bet that he’d never spoken with a woman the way they had, or discussed the things they’d discussed with a woman. Would that make a difference to a man like Dante?
She took in a deep breath when the curtain parted and the man taking up all her thoughts entered the theater box.
They stood staring at each other for what seemed a lifetime. Finally, she gained her voice. “Is it over?”
He nodded and walked nearer, the curtain swinging closed behind him. “Yes. He was arrested and removed from the building. The woman was also taken away.”
“Ah.” Instead of the joy she should feel, she felt empty. “So that’s it, then.”