Betrayal at Lisson Grove - Anne Perry [61]
By the time the interval came Charlotte was moved by the passion she could not escape, which emanated from the players and audience alike, but also confused by it. It made her feel more sharply than the lilt of a different accent, or even the sound of another language, that she was in a strange place teeming with emotions she caught and lost again.
‘May I take you to get something to drink?’ McDaid asked her when the curtain fell and the lights were bright again. ‘And perhaps to meet one or two more of my friends? I’m sure they are dying of curiosity to know who you are, and, of course, how I know you.’
‘I would be delighted,’ she answered. ‘And how do you know me? We had better be accurate, or it will start people talking.’ She smiled to rob the words of offence.
‘But surely the sole purpose of coming to the theatre with a beautiful woman is to start people talking?’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘Otherwise one would be better to come alone, like Cormac O’Neil, and concentrate on the play, without distraction.’
‘Thank you. I’m flattered to imagine I could distract you.’ She inclined her head a little, enjoying the trivial play of words. ‘Especially from so intense a drama. The actors are superb. I have no idea what they are talking about at least half the time, and yet I am conquered by their emotions.’
‘Are you sure you are not Irish?’ he pressed.
‘Not sure at all. Perhaps I am, and I should simply look harder. But please do not tell Mr O’Neil that my grandmother’s name was O’Neil also, or I shall be obliged to admit that I know very little about her, and that would make me seem very discourteous, as if I did not wish to own that part of my heritage. The truth is I simply did not realise how interesting it would be.’
‘I shall not tell him, if you don’t wish me to,’ McDaid promised.
‘But you have not told me how we met,’ she reminded him.
‘I saw you across a room and asked a mutual acquaintance to introduce us,’ he said. ‘Is that not always how one meets a woman one sees, and admires?’
‘I imagine it is. But what room was it? Was it here in Ireland? I imagine not, since I have been here only a couple of days. But have you been to London lately?’ She smiled at him. ‘Or ever, for that matter?’
‘Of course I’ve been to London. Do you think I am some provincial bumpkin?’ He shrugged. ‘Only once, mind you. I did not care for it – nor it for me. It was so huge, so crowded with people, and yet at the same time, anonymous.You could live and die there, and never be seen.’
‘But I have been in Dublin only a couple of days,’ she repeated to fill the silence.
‘Then I was bewitched at first sight,’ he said reasonably, suddenly smiling again. ‘I’m sorry I insulted your home. It was unforgivable. Call it my own inadequacy in the midst of three million English.’
‘Oh, quite a few Irishmen, believe me,’ she said with a smile. ‘And none of them in the least inadequate.’
He bowed.
‘And I accepted your invitation because I was flattered, and irresponsible?’ she challenged.
‘You are quite right,’ he conceded. ‘We must have mutual friends – some highly respectable aunt, I dare say. Do you have any such relations?’
‘My Great-aunt Vespasia, by marriage. If she recommended you I would accompany you anywhere on earth,’ she responded unhesitatingly.
‘She sounds charming.’
‘She is. Believe me, if you had met her really, you would not dare to treat me other than with the utmost respect.’
‘Where did I meet this formidable lady?’
‘Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould. It doesn’t matter. Any surroundings would be instantly forgotten once you had seen her. But London will do.’
‘Vespasia Cumming-Gould.’ He turned the name over on his tongue. ‘It seems to find an echo in my mind.’
‘It has set bells ringing all over Europe,’ she told