The Black Moth: A Romance of the XVIIIth Century Read online

  CHAPTER XXIII

  LADY LAVINIA GOES TO THE PLAY

  Richard was away from home all next day, and his wife had plenty of timein which to meditate upon her situation. She had quite come to theconclusion that she must elope with Lovelace, and was only waiting forto-night to tell him so. She would never, never ask Richard to let herstay with him now that she knew he loved another. Truly a most tryingpredicament. The Carstares were going to-night to Drury Lane to seeGarrick play one of his most successful comedies: the _Beaux'Stratagem_. The _monde_ that would flock to see the inimitable Archerwas likely to be a very distinguished one, especially as the cast heldthe added attraction of Mrs. Clive, and ordinarily Lady Lavinia wouldhave looked forward with much excitement to seeing the piece. To-day,however, she felt that she would far rather go to bed and cry. ButLovelace had to be answered, and besides that, she had invited twocousins, new come from Scotland, to accompany her, and she could notfail them.

  So that evening saw her seated in her box, wonderfully gowned as usual,scanning the house. Behind her stood her husband--when she thought thatthis was the last time she would ever go with him to the theatre she hadmuch ado to keep from bursting into tears before them all--and in thechair at her side was the cousin, Mrs. Fleming. Mr. Fleming stood withhis hands behind his back, exclaiming every now and then as his kinsman,young Charles Holt, pointed out each newcomer of note. He was a short,tubby little man, dressed in sober brown, very neat as regards hiswrists and neckband, but attired, so thought Lavinia, for the country,and not for town. His dark suit contrasted strangely with Mr. Holt'srather garish mixture of apple-green and pink, with waistcoat of yellow,and Richard's quieter, but far more handsome apricot and silver. Hiswig, too, was not at all modish, being of the scratch type that countrygentlemen affected. His wife was the reverse of smart, but she was loudin her admiration of her more affluent cousin's stiff silks and laces.

  She had married beneath her, had Mrs. Fleming, and the Belmanoirs hadnever quite forgiven the shocking _mesalliance_. William Fleming wasnought but a simple Scotsman, whose father--even now the familyshuddered at the thought--had been a farmer!

  Lavinia was not over-pleased that they should have elected to visitLondon, and still less pleased that they should evince such an affectionfor the Hon. Richard and his wife.

  "Well, to be sure, Lavvy, 'tis pleasant to sit here and admire all thepeople!" exclaimed Mrs. Fleming, for perhaps the twentieth time. "Ideclare I am grown positively old-fashioned from having lived for solong in the country!--yes, my dear, positively old-fashioned! ... Icannot but marvel at the great hoops everyone is wearing! I am sure mineis not half the size of yours, and the lady down there in the stage-boxhas one even larger!"

  Lavinia directed her gaze towards the box in question. At any other timeshe would have been annoyed to see that the occupant was Lady Carlyle,her pet rival in all matters of fashion. Now she felt that nothingsignified, and merely remarked that she considered those absurd garlandsof roses on the dress quite grotesque.

  Behind, Holt was directing Mr. Fleming's attention to a box at the backof the house.

  "'Pon my soul, William! 'Tis the Duchess of Queensberry and herson--March, you know. I assure you there is no one more amiable in town.When I last visited her--"

  "Charles knows well-nigh everyone here," remarked Mrs. Flemingingenuously, and wondered why her cousin laughed.

  When the curtain rose on the first act, Lovelace was nowhere to be seen,and Lavinia tried to interest herself in the play. But it is difficultto be interested in anything when one's whole mind is occupied withsomething else far more overwhelming. She was not the only one of theparty that Garrick failed to amuse. Richard sat wretchedly in the shadowof the box, thinking how, in a short while, he would never again conducthis wife to the theatre and never again sit at her side watching herevery change of expression.

  In the first interval Lovelace had still not arrived, but many otheracquaintances had arrived and called to see the Carstares. Markham,Wilding, Devereux, Sir John Fortescue--all came into the box atdifferent times, paid homage to Lavinia, were introduced to Mrs.Fleming, laughed and cracked jokes with the men, and drifted away again.

  How was it she had never before realised how much she enjoyed her life?wondered Lavinia. She settled down to listen to the second act, andGarrick's skill caught her interest and held it. For a moment she forgother woes and clapped as heartily as anyone, laughing as gaily.

  The next instant she remembered again, and sank back into unutterablegloom.

  But Richard had heard her merry laugh, and his heart was even gloomierthan hers. There was no help for it: Lavinia was delighted at thethought of leaving him.

  As the curtain fell, Mrs. Fleming suddenly demanded if it was not Tracyseated in the box over on the other side. Lavinia turned to look. In thebox, alone, sat his Grace, seemingly unaware of her presence.

  "Is it not Tracy?" persisted Mrs. Fleming. "I remember his face sowell."

  "Yes," nodded Lavinia, and waved to him.

  Andover rose, bowed, and left his box. In a few moments he was in theirown, kissing his cousin's hand.

  Lavinia now caught sight of Lovelace standing on the floor of thetheatre looking up at her. He, too, disappeared from view, and sheguessed that he was coming to speak with her. He had evidently failed toperceive the Duke, who was just a little behind her in the shadow.

  Richard and Mr. Fleming had left the box, and only Charles Holtremained, engaging Mrs. Fleming's whole attention. If only Tracy wouldgo! How was she ever to give Lovelace her answer with him sitting thereso provokingly.

  Captain Lovelace knocked at the door. Carelessly she bade him enter, andaffected surprise on seeing him. His Grace looked at her throughnarrowed lids, and shot a swift glance at Lovelace, whose discomfitureat finding him there was palpable. Not a trace of emotion was visible onthat impassive countenance, but Lavinia felt her brother's attitude tobe sinister, as if he divined her wishes and was determined to frustratethem. She watched him smile on Lovelace and beg him to be seated.Whether by accident or design, she was not sure which, he had so placedthe chairs that he himself was between her and the captain. Skilfullyhe drew Mrs. Fleming into the conversation, and rearranged his stage.

  Lavinia found herself listening to the amiable Mr. Holt, and out of thetail of her eye observed that Lovelace had fallen a victim to hercousin. She could find no way of speaking to him, and dared not evensignal, so adroitly was his Grace stage-managing the scene. Lavinia wasnow quite certain that he was managing it. Somehow he had guessed thatshe had arranged to speak to Lovelace to-night, and was determined toprevent her. How he had found out, she could not imagine, but she wastoo well acquainted with him to be surprised. He would never let herdisgrace herself if he could help it--she knew that. In whatever mannerhe himself might behave, his sister's conduct must be above reproach; hewould find some means of separating them until he could cause Lovelaceto be removed. She did not in the least know how he would contrive to dothis, but she never doubted that he could and would. And then she wouldhave to stay with Richard--Richard, who did not want her. If only Tracywould go! Ah! he was rising!

  His Grace of Andover begged Captain Lovelace to bear him company in hisbox. He would brook no refusal. He bore his captive off in triumph.

  A minute later Mr. Fleming re-entered the box. The third act had justbegun when Richard re-appeared, and softly took his seat. On went theplay. Neither Tracy nor Lovelace came to the box during the nextinterval, and from her point of vantage Lavinia could see that Andrewhad been introduced to the latter. She could guess how cleverly hisGrace was keeping the Captain by him....

  Lord Avon, who had only a week ago returned from Bath, came to pay hisrespects. He had much to tell dear Lady Lavinia. How Cholmondely andFalmouth had dared to fight a duel in Crescent Fields, and had beenarrested. How furious the Beau was, but how his age was beginning totell on him, and how it was whispered that his power was waning. All ofwhich at any ordinary time would have interested my lady