expect so,’ she said, cutting the pie and serving it out. ‘It is thirsty work, listening.’
‘Right, then. The first one.’
It took about three minutes for the men to forget who she was and to absorb her into the discussion. Elbows appeared on the table, notes were scribbled with one hand while the other waved a slice of bread to make a point, slices of meat and cheese were heaped on her plate without ceremony and Gates clinked his mug against hers. ‘Cheers.’
Anna sat, quiet as a mouse, eating steadily, while Maude listened. So far, everyone was agreeing with her impressions, although their analysis of faults and talents were far more detailed and technical than her own.
‘Number ten,’ Eden said, spearing an apple with his knife. ‘No projection. No presence.’ The others nodded. Maude looked at her notes.
‘I don’t agree.’
The three men reacted as though the loaf of bread had addressed them, she thought, amused. ‘I beg your pardon, Lady Maude.’ Howard stopped gaping at her. ‘She wasn’t good technically.’
‘She looked charming, she is graceful and she reacted well to Mr Gates’s lead,’ Maude stated. ‘Can’t you teach her to project her voice better?’
‘She should know how,’ Eden said.
‘But she’s young, she cannot have much experience. Won’t you call her back?’
Gates looked at Howard. Howard looked at Eden. Eden poured more ale. Maude could almost hear their thoughts. His theatre, his company, his decision—and if he let her override him, would it diminish his authority?
‘Why didn’t you say anything about the others?’ he asked.
‘Because I agreed with you about them.’
‘Ah. Well, Lady Maude, you are our expert in the audience. Howard, put number ten down to call back.’ Face studiously blank, the stage manager made a note. ‘Number eleven?’
By mid-afternoon Anna had fallen asleep on the padded bench and was snoring softly, but Maude was still engrossed. She had three more possibles on her list and was finding her judgements easier now she had heard the men’s opinions over luncheon. Finally, at half past five, Eden called a halt and she went back down to the stage, leaving Anna sound asleep in the box.
‘Well,’ Eden said. ‘Show me your lists. Lady Maude, gentlemen.’ He spread them out on the table side by side. ‘It would appear we are unanimous. There’s six for you to call back tomorrow, Howard.’
‘You mean I got them right?’ Delighted, Maude bent over the table, tracing the notes with her finger.
‘I’m impressed.’ Eden was standing close beside her, the others had walked off; in the distance she could hear Howard calling the names of the afternoon’s selection. ‘Are you tired?’
‘No,’ Maude said, then found she could not stifle a most unladylike yawn. ‘But I do have a thick head. All that concentrating, I suppose.’
‘And no fresh air. These gas lights are all very well, but it is not a good atmosphere to be in all day.’
‘We could go for a walk,’ Maude suggested, watching as Eden stretched like a big cat, all supple muscle and long limbs.
‘It will be dark. This is February, remember.’ He stood, turning his head as if to ease his neck, then sat to gather up the papers.
‘Is your neck stiff?’ she asked as he rotated his shoulders. His attention was on the sheets in his hand; she doubted he was even aware that he was doing it.
‘My neck? Yes, a little. I am usually on my feet more.’
‘Let me.’ Maude moved behind him, put her hands on his shoulders and dug her thumbs into the hard muscle. ‘I do this for Papa when he’s been in the House all day.’ Under her hands Eden’s shoulders stiffened. ‘Am I hurting you?’
‘No.’ She wasn’t sure if she believed him; his voice sounded more than a little constrained. But it was such a delight to find a perfectly innocuous excuse to touch him. No one could object to having their shoulders massaged, surely?
‘Thank you. That is much better.’ He moved restlessly and she lifted her hands away. ‘I will call your carriage.’
‘I love the streets after dark. Walk me home, Eden?’
Eden had been turned away from her, now he swung round. ‘It is too far.’
‘To Mount Street? Half an hour, I should think. But I will send Anna home in the carriage, she is tired.’
‘You cannot walk through the streets with a man and no chaperon,’ Eden said firmly.
‘I have a veil on my bonnet and they are all perfectly respectable streets.’ Maude contemplated him, wondering what argument would work. ‘I have a headache. It will be much better for me to cure it with fresh air and exercise than having to dose myself with something when I get home.’
‘Is it a thick veil?’ Eden asked. She could almost hear the sigh.
‘Very,’ Maude assured him. ‘Will you ask Mr Howard to send Anna home in the carriage when she wakes up?’
‘Yes.’ Eden looked resigned more than cheerful at the thought of the walk. ‘Come along, then.’
‘I will meet you in the front lobby,’ Maude said. ‘It is after four, so I cannot go back stage, remember?’
‘I assume your father was attempting to safeguard your reputation when he imposed that condition.’ Eden regarded her with a jaundiced eye. ‘No doubt it never occurred to the poor man that you might want to take to the streets with me, unchaperoned?’ As he strode off stage without waiting for her answer, it appeared to be a rhetorical question.
* * *
The evening was cold but dry; the air, even full of the smell of horse manure and smoke, was refreshing after the close atmosphere inside. Maude slipped her hand through the crook of Eden’s left arm and breathed deeply as they made their way along Long Acre towards Leicester Square.
The streets were crowded, bustling and, in this part of town, thoroughly vulgar. ‘I love this,’ she confided. ‘Look at how much life there is going on here.’
‘Indeed.’ Eden sounded less enchanted by the sight of barrow boys, ladies of dubious virtue on street corners and groups of working men noisily making their way to the nearest tavern. ‘And a couple of streets further north and we’re into the St Giles rookery, so hold on to me and don’t go wandering off or you’ll experience more life than you’ve ever dreamt of.’
‘As if I would,’ Maude said demurely. ‘Oh, look, Eden, hot chestnuts. May I have some?’
Eden bought a cone of old newspaper, filled with blackened, fragrant nuts and began to peel them as they walked, hampered a little by Maude on his arm, although he gave her his gloves to hold. She laughed at his muttered comments as he struggled. ‘You’d curse if it were your fingers being burned,’
