Uncle Theo said. ‘I’m surprised to see you here a second time.’
‘If someone had told me a few weeks ago that I would be heading to any theatre to see a repeat performance of a play, I would have told them they were mad,’ Alistair said with a smile. ‘But apart from my cousin insisting we come tonight, it was a pleasure to see the play again. The cast gave an even stronger performance than they did on opening night.’
‘I am delighted to hear you say so,’ Uncle Theo said. ‘Did you enjoy the performance, Miss Wright?’
‘Indeed, Mr Templeton! Especially once I realised that Valentine Lawe was actually in the theatre!’
Victoria knew her uncle to be a talented actor, but even she hadn’t realised how talented until that moment. He looked at Miss Wright without blinking and said, ‘And he did not come up and say hello? The bounder! Where did you see him?’
‘In the first row of boxes, second from the left,’ Miss Wright said. ‘A very serious-looking man, with a red rose in his lapel.’
‘A red rose.’ Her uncle frowned, and then, started to laugh. ‘My dear Miss Wright, I am sorry to disappoint you, but that was not Valentine Lawe.’
‘It wasn’t?’’
‘No. It was Sir Michael Loftus, the theatre critic.’
‘It was?’ It was Victoria’s turn to be surprised. ‘But … I thought he never attended plays more than once.’
‘That was my understanding too, but I know for a fact that he was here tonight and that he was sitting in that box.’
‘Oh well, that is disappointing,’ Miss Wright complained. ‘I was so sure it was Valentine Lawe.’
‘Never mind, cousin, at least you were able to see the play again,’ Alistair said. ‘I’m sure you will have a chance to meet the renowned playwright before you leave London.’ He turned his head and looked straight at Victoria. ‘If there is any possibility of that happening, I’m sure Miss Bretton will know how to bring it about.’
Victoria didn’t hear what anyone said in response. How could she, given the staggering implication of what Alistair had just said? He believed his cousin would achieve the introduction she so desperately craved … and that Victoria would be the one to make it happen. There was only one possible conclusion she could draw from that.
Somehow or other, Alistair had figured out that she was Valentine Lawe!
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
