The Duchess of Drury Lane Read Online Free PDF

pound!’
    He chuckled. ‘Very well then, what value would you put upon a kiss? Two pounds? Three? I’m open to suggestions. But it must be a proper kiss, with feeling. Let me show you.’
    He pulled me close in his arms, his mouth again devouring mine, his tongue almost choking me this time as it probed and licked. Desperate to free myself, I gave him an almighty heave and pushed him away. ‘Leave me be. I vow I shall be obliged to tell your wife if you do not desist.’
    His laughter was harsh and cruel, for he knew as well as I that I would never risk such a thing.
    The new Mrs Daly was a good actress and well regarded. She loyally supported her husband in running the theatre, and her brilliance was the main reason Smock Alley had survived as well as it had this last year. But she was known to keep a tenaciously close eye on who her husband chose to play the best parts, and to be utterly ruthless with those who transgressed her trust.
    ‘You would not dare to tell her, my sweet. You know full well how fierce my Jenny can be with young actresses who stray on to what she considers to be her private territory.’ He smiled at me with that devilish, squint-eyed grin. ‘But perhaps you could offer a little more than a kiss? I would make it worth your while.’
    ‘Not while I have breath in my body to resist,’ I hissed, shocked by his audacity, yet needing to remind myself constantly that this man was my employer, and that my future career, nay, my family’s survival, lay entirely in his hands. His reputation as a tyrant in charge of his own minor universe was becoming increasingly evident, and as a gentleman he naturally considered himself above the law. My fears grew that I was indeed his next victim.
    ‘In point of fact, I pity your poor wife,’ I snapped, and sticking my chin in the air walked away, head high, fully expecting him to shout after me that I was sacked. But he only carried on laughing, as if biding his time for the next spat between us.
    In the months following I was kept busy with a variety of minor roles. I tried not to mind but was deeply disappointed not to be cast in quite so many good ones, with few leads offered. Other people should be allowed a turn, after all. Mrs Daly naturally took most of the leads, but then it was her money which ran the establishment and she was a gifted actress, so how could I object?
    Daly continued to tease and flirt in that mischievous way of his. ‘Why are you so cruel as to deny me a little of your time and attention? Can you not see how heart-sore I am for love of you?’
    ‘I see you are a rogue of the first quarter,’ I announced, growing braver in my efforts to put him off.
    Fortunately he made no serious advances upon my virtue as he became increasingly distracted by a newly pregnant wife who was constantly sickly. I rather hoped he had finally accepted my refusal, although I would sometimes find him watching me with that odd, squint-eyed stare. And occasionally, he would still hover in the wings and whisper to me as I passed by.
    ‘Have you reconsidered my generous offer?’ he would ask. ‘You cannot deny it is a good one. You know how I long for you. Why not pay me in kind instead? Think of the relief you would feel at being free of the debt.’
    Daly’s constant harassment flustered and enraged me, making me come close to hating him at times. But I studiously ignored his persistent badgering and without fail relinquished five shillings each week, a quarter of my earnings, which barely covered the extortionate interest he was charging. At least Hester was bringing in a little money too now, if not as much as she would like. Following the death of Lucy, Cousin Blanche had asked for my brother Nathaniel to come and keep her company. She treated him as an adopted son, which was good for Nat, and meant one less mouth for us to feed. But Mama was still not well, which was of great concern to me. Better parts might lead to an increase in wages, so it was