Goddess of the Green Room: (Georgian Series) Read Online Free PDF

what I like about you, Dorothy. You always make me convince you.’
    ‘You have never yet succeeded in convincing me on anything.’
    ‘That’s to come,’ he promised.
    Mrs Daly appeared. He said: ‘My dear, Miss Francis wants to come to Smock Alley.’
    ‘Of course,’ said Mrs Daly. ‘Crow Street can’t hold out much longer.’
    Mrs Daly was a satisfying presence. Daly was not so much in awe of her as of her money and she was wise enough to keep a firm hold on the purse strings which was the only way of keeping a firm hold on Daly.
    It will be all right, Dorothy assured herself. There’s always Mrs Daly.
    Grace was delighted. What a good move it had been over to Smock Alley! Dorothy was now getting her chance and her reputation had grown considerably.
    True to his word Daly had given her some good parts.
    Walpole’s successful Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto, had been dramatized under the title of The Count of Narbonne and it was played with Kemble in the main part and Dorothy asAdelaide, Dublin flocked to see it and theatregoers were all talking of the brilliant young Miss Francis.
    One evening when she came offstage flushed with triumph Daly sent for her to come to his office where she found him alone.
    ‘Well,’ he demanded. ‘Ryder didn’t know how to treat his actresses. It’s not the same with Daly. Grateful?’
    ‘Grateful indeed for a chance of a good part.’
    He put a hand on her shoulder; it was a habit of his to lay his hands on female members of his company when he was near them. Dorothy tried to shrug him off without appearing to do so; but he smiled fully aware of her intentions.
    ‘You don’t show your gratitude,’ he complained.
    ‘I have thanked you. What more do you expect?’
    ‘A great deal more.’
    ‘What more can an actress give than to play a part well.’
    ‘There are many parts to be played, Dorothy my dear; and if you wish to succeed you must play them all with skill.’
    ‘I hope you have some good ones for me,’ she said lightly.
    ‘Excellent ones, my love. And because you are wise as well as devilishly attractive you will play them magnificently.’
    ‘I shall do my best; and now I will say good night.’
    She had turned, but he was between her and the door.
    ‘I did not send for you to receive a mild “Thank you for giving me a good part, sir.” ’
    ‘Then what?’ she said.
    He seized her by the shoulders. The strength of the man alarmed her.
    ‘Kiss me to start with,’ he said.
    She turned her face away. ‘The prospect does not enchant me.’
    She was bent backwards so violently that she cried out in pain. He laughed and forcibly kissed her lips.
    She struggled and tried to grip his hair but she was powerless against him.
    She gasped: ‘I hear footsteps. They sound like Mrs Daly’s.’
    He held her, listening. Indeed there were footsteps. She was not sure that they were Mrs Daly’s; nor was he; and he could not afford to be unsure. She took her opportunity to throw him off and in a moment she had opened the door and was gone.
    She was shaken. It was not unexpected. If it were not for thepresence of Mrs Daly in the theatre she would be in real danger.
    Her great chance to show her talents had come. Only in Smock Alley could she do so. If she left where could she go? There was nowhere else. To England? Could an actress – unknown in that country – hope to get a chance? She saw penury ahead; the entire family in acute poverty.
    She was between that and the unwelcome attentions of Richard Daly. Never had her prospects as an actress been brighter; never had her reputation been in greater danger. In Smock Alley she could be seen by English managers, perhaps even London managers. She must stay in Smock Alley until she had enough fame to carry her elsewhere. And she could only do this if Daly permitted it. But what did keeping his good will entail?
    She wanted to discuss this with Grace and Hester, but what was there to discuss? Grace would be terrified;