Rose laughed, and Daniel noticed how musical the sound was.
“Well, I could give you back this one now, if you like,” she teased.
Daniel laughed heartily. Beautiful, smart, and witty, he thought. I must get to know her better.
“I do not take back anything I give,” he said, his eyes sparkling but his voice more serious.
Rose looked at him again, still smiling, and brought the rose to her nose.
“Please, tell me that you will see me again,” Daniel asked. He winced again, realizing that he must sound like every other man who has approached her that evening. As ever, Rose surprised him. She blushed more heavily and looked at him, blinking her eyes.
“I would love to see you again,” she said.
Chapter 5
Rose’s father went out of town on business the very next day, giving her plenty of time to think about the two men who so captivated her.
She had said nothing to her father about the men, but now she wished that she had. She had met so many gentlemen that evening, but she could barely recall their faces, let alone their names.
The two that she could not forget were Daniel Eaton and the Specter.
For several days after her evening at the theater, she thought about the two men.
Lord Elbrook had not made the best of first impressions when he had bumped into her, and at first, she had been quite annoyed. In truth, she was still slightly irritated when he had told her the real reason. However, in truth, had Daniel not done what he did, she might have never escaped the boring conversation with the gentleman whose name she could no longer recall. And, as Rose discovered the longer she talked with Daniel, it had truly been an act of kindness at the sight of her discomfort, rather than a false act of chivalry just to be the next in line for her attention. That, of course had charmed her quite effectively.
However, she also could not get thoughts and the memory of the Specter out of her mind. She had, of course, seen him all throughout the theater, but that was the first time she had ever come face to face with him. Before that night at the theater, she had been a bit wary of him, despite his other performances on stage and the praises that the other actors spoke of him. She had never understood how a person who hid behind a mask could be anything but strange, or, perhaps, even dangerous. After her meeting with him, however, she found that not only did she no longer see him as dangerous, she was also drawn to the mystery of him. He had also been very well spoken and witty, and she found herself hoping more each day that she did, in fact, have cause to see him again, and rather soon.
Her father came home Early one afternoon, almost a week after she had attended the theater. She rushed to embrace him as the servants tended to her father’s trunks.
“Hello, Father,” Rose said. “I have missed you so.”
“And I have missed you, my dear,” the Earl said, returning his daughter’s embrace.
“How was your trip?” she asked as she followed her father into his study.
He smiled.
“It went very well,” he said. “We should be ready to start making a few repairs and renovations within the next couple of months.”
Rose clapped her hands.
“That is wonderful,” she said.
“How were things while I was away?” he asked.
“Well, a couple of actors began arguing one day during rehearsal,” Rose said, giggling. “I believe that it was over something as silly as some small prop.”
Her father rolled his eyes.
“They are thespians for a reason, I suppose,” he said.
Rose giggled again.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” she added quickly. “You received a couple of letters. I had Sarah put them on your desk.” She pointed to the pile of mail that was awaiting her father.
“I shall read them later,” he said, waving his hand dismissively. “Right now, I should like to spend time with my daughter.”
Rose smiled and hugged her father again. Then, he held out a chair for Rose before moving behind his desk and taking his own seat.
“I regret that we did not have more time to talk about your evening at the theater before I left,” her father said. “Tell me all about it, my dear.”
“Oh, it was wonderful,” she said. “The production was spectacular, and the cast was wonderful.” Her mind could not help wandering to one actor in particular.
“Yes,” her father agreed. “That is a group of actors and actresses with enviable skill.” His eyes twinkled. “Did you meet any gentlemen there?”
She rolled her eyes, but with a smile.
“I believe that I met every pompous entitled bachelor in the ton,” she said.
The Earl laughed.
“Oh, my dear,” he said. “You mean that you did not meet even one who sparked an interest?”
She thought carefully. She wanted to find out more about the Specter, but she was not yet ready to tell her father that she had met him.
“Well, I noticed just how talented the Specter is,” she said. She felt a small pang of guilt, even for just omitting her meeting with the masked man.
The Earl nodded in eager agreement.
“Indeed, he is,” he said. “One of the very best that the theater has seen.”
Rose laughed.
“I do not know if I would call him one of the best,” she said although, deep down, she very much agreed.
“You are too young to remember the Earlier years of the theater,” her father said. “I have seen many performers on that stage, and the Specter is definitely of unique talent.”
“Well, he certainly is unique,” she said.
Her father looked at her quizzically.
“Oh?” he asked.
She cursed herself silently. She had almost said too much.
“Well, he is the only actor who persistently wears a black mask,” she said. “And no one has ever seen him anywhere besides at the theater. He is a very mysterious man.”
The Earl chuckled.
“That is quite true, my dear,” he said.
“Has he ever revealed himself to you?” Rose asked, hope rising within her and making her heart beat faster. She forced herself to slow her breathing and keep her seemingly casual demeanor.
Once again, he laughed.
“Now, I could hardly divulge such information if he had entrusted me with it, could I?” he asked, humor tinting his eyes and playing with the corners of his mouth.
Rose crossed her arms, trying to keep her expression playful.