Page 76 of His Accidental Duchess

Or the day before.

In fact, the last time they had had a conversation was at Kitty’s impromptu pianoforte recital. Anna might have thought that he was avoiding her, but of course, that wasn’t the truth.

Shewas avoiding him.

Wasn’t it easier that way? Easier, for sure, than fighting off unwanted, troublesome feelings every time they met. Feelings that her cold-hearted husband seemed to have no inclination to return. He wanted a child, and would probably enjoy the act itself, as men tended to do, but that was all.

She was a means to an end, and the reality of it all was a little… well, a little upsetting.

They were almost at the box when a tall, slim man in his thirties stepped forward from a shadowy corner, his eyes fixed on Theo. Anna felt her husband’s arm tense up.

“Don’t you dare,” he snapped, and it took a moment for her to realize that it was this man, thisstranger, to whom Theo was speaking so impolitely.

The man blinked but did not say a word. He had chestnut-colored hair, a trim mustache, and a thin beard on his chin. He dressed well, like a gentleman and possibly a lord, but not a duke. He had a long, pale face, and might have been remarkably handsome five or ten years ago.

His gaze flitted over Theo, landing on Anna, and she felt the urge to shrink back under his stare.

She didn’t, of course, preferring instead to tilt up her chin and meet his gaze squarely. The man gave a thin, mirthless smile, and drifted past them. Anna wanted to twist around and stare after him, but Theo’s grip on her arm had tightened, and he pulled her forward. She glanced up at him, wondering who the man was and why Theo hated him so very much.

One look at her husband’s tight, angry expression convinced her that now was not the time. She said nothing, and they continued on their way in silence.

Theo’s aunt and uncle, Lord and Lady Rackham, were already waiting at the box. Celine was there too, and she got up to greet Anna at once.

Pleasantries were exchanged, of course. As far as Anna could tell, Lord and Lady Rackham were pleasant and much friendlier than she had expected and were at pains to put her at ease.

The box was plush and comfortable, high above the pressing crowds. There were layers of seating below the boxes, further towards the back of the theater, and that was where Anna usedto sit with her friends once upon a time. It was a respectable enough location, although it was difficult to see everything happening on the stage.

It felt odd, being so high above the crowds, so perfectly placed.

“What’s the play?” she asked.

“Die Zauberflöte,” Celine responded, sitting down on the chair beside her.

Theo, naturally, sat in the other chair. That meant that he and Anna were tucked away in the back corner, the rest of the seats angled away from them, all turned towards the stage. Only the five of them were in the box, and the door that led out into the hallway was closed.

Below, the audience was mostly in their seats, muttering amongst themselves and eagerly waiting for the curtain to rise.

Anna scanned the other boxes in the theater, all containing esteemed attendees. A few of them caught her eye and gave her slow nods. A great many of them seemed bored, though.

“It’s a shame you don’t like the opera,” she said,sotto voce, to Theo. “Die Zauberflöteis one of my favorites.”

“I know the opera,” he grunted. “I would never have thought German, of all languages, would make such beautiful music. It’s not the music I dislike, but all of…” He paused, gesturing tothe theater. “… all of this. Half of the audience will spend their time looking at the other patrons, yawning and checking their watches. We will be scrutinized all the time we are here, with no chance of enjoying the music.”

Anna digested this. In the boxes, it was true, one felt rather on display. She hadn’t worried about it all when she crammed into the lower galleries with her two friends.

“We could sit somewhere else,” she suggested, but Theo let out a hollow laugh.

“That, my dear, would be the most scandalous thing of all, I’m afraid.”

She intended to argue the point further, but at that moment, the orchestra struck up, filling the theater with music. The curtain began to rise, and the audience gasped in delight.

For an hour at least, Anna could see nothing but the stage in front of her.

Towards the end of the first act, she began to relax a little, enjoying the familiar story and the familiar music. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw that Theo was not looking at the stage. He had his elbow propped up on the side of the balcony, chin in his hand, and was scanning the crowd below.

It occurred to her, quite suddenly, that he might be looking for that mysterious man they’d seen earlier.

Impulsively, she twisted around, tapping him on the knee.

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