Chapter 25 #2
Jacob squeezed her hand where it rested on his thigh. ‘Then we might have that reunion he requested earlier than promised.’
Their carriage eventually was able to drop them close enough to the entrance to the gardens.
Jacob and Alex fell into step either side of Dora as they paid their entry fee and emerged from the gatehouse.
Strings of multi-coloured lanterns lit the long walks between the trees, enticing visitors to move on and ease the crush near the gate.
Many were tempted to stretch their legs after a long wait in the carriages, heading out along the sandy paths, boots and shoes crunching on the dry ground.
Music played in the distance with the occasional gust of applause and cheers from those who were already far into their evening of entertainment of watching the tightrope walkers and fire-eaters.
The amber glow of the sunset provided a dramatic backdrop to the dark tree canopy.
It would be very easy, considering the crowds, to lose sight of each other, but Jacob was determined that would not happen to them.
‘How shall we approach this?’ asked Dora. ‘I’ve not been to the gardens before, so I bow to your superior knowledge.’ She gave him a jaunty bob of her head.
‘It’s unlike you to take direction,’ said Alex, stepping out the way of a portly lady and her arrow-thin companion.
‘On the contrary, I have made a career on stage out of doing just that. I thought you were the one who couldn’t follow orders?’
‘Children, children,’ said Jacob, intervening before their sibling tormenting grew too cutting.
‘I suggest we engage one of the boxes early and watch the crowds from there.’ He checked the bill that the porter had handed Dora.
‘The concert is going to be in the orchestra at nine and we will be able to watch the crowds gathering.’
‘The orchestra?’ asked Dora, looking about her, likely searching for a sign.
‘It’s that building over there – the one that looks like a very ornate bandstand.’ Jacob pointed to the circular pavilion in the middle of the first courtyard of the gardens. ‘The supper boxes are in that horseshoe cloister on the far side. The boxes are the best place to listen to the concert.’
Dora squeezed his arm, going up on her tiptoes to catch sight of the attractions he was describing.
‘It’s hopeless. There are so many people!
Who would’ve thought London held so many?
’ As they were standing still to debate their next move, crowds rushed past, the patrons coming from all walks of life, from the silken nobility with their liveried entourage to the linen-clad apprentice treating his sweetheart in summer muslin to a night out.
‘I know we are here on business but I would love to explore. We should arrange a meeting point in case we get separated.’
Jacob made a mental note that he should keep an eye on her as Dora was always one to throw herself into the thick of things. ‘I hope you don’t mean to go off on your own?’
She snorted. ‘Don’t worry. I’ve read my Evelina. Fanny Burney warned me that women on their own are accosted in the dark walks by uncouth louts. But what about the lighted ones?’ Her eyes glittered with humour.
‘Perhaps we should try to remain together, hmm? Seeing how someone has attacked us on several occasions.’
‘While I pity the poor lout who dares accost Mistress Dora, I suggest we let Handel be our refuge, if by unlucky chance we lose sight of each other,’ said Alex, gesturing to the statue of the composer who had done so much with his music to popularise the outdoor entertainment offered in the gardens.
‘Agreed,’ said Jacob. ‘Now, let’s get ourselves a box before Dora heads off to take on all comers.’
Money opened the door to a supper box in prime position.
Jacob paid extra to engage it for the entire evening.
Visitors who could not afford the comfort of a box strolled from attraction to attraction, trying to time their arrival for the spectacles, such as the turning on of the cascades or the lighting of the fireworks, but Jacob knew from experience that wandering all evening was tiring and you could miss so much by always being a little late or a little early.
Better to hire a box and use that as a base.
It did come with the drawback that you had to order the ridiculously overpriced ham and barely drinkable Arrack punch – a small price when it allowed them to watch everyone circulating around the orchestra and heading deeper into the gardens.
If you sat there long enough, you could be sure of seeing everyone.
Dora propped her chin on her hand as she surveyed the women. ‘I think I missed the message that we were all to come in our regimentals.’
Now she had mentioned it, Jacob noticed that nearly all the ladies’ outfits made nods to the victories that were being celebrated, with red, white and blue trimmings or pelisses that had the cut and braiding of an officer’s coat. ‘You should have worn your redingote.’
‘It would’ve clashed horribly with my gown, which is why I settled on a shawl.’
‘What’s going on over there?’ asked Alex, drawing their attention to the stage where the concert was to be performed.
Dora smiled. ‘Now here’s something on which I am the expert! They are putting the finishing touches to the backdrop and getting the lights ready. That’s the back layer and I expect there will be a gauze curtain in front so they can add some special effects.’
‘Looks like a naval battle scene,’ said Alex.
‘Trafalgar,’ confirmed Jacob.
‘I would not be surprised to hear some cannon-fire at strategic moments in the musical programme. That’s got very popular recently.
’ Dora used a pair of opera glasses that she had brought with her to scan the stage.
‘Yes! Look! There’s a man on the upper storey of the orchestra with a small ship’s gun. ’
‘Let’s hope he fires blanks because that thing is pointed our way,’ said Alex.
‘This could either be a musical triumph, or a disaster,’ mused Dora.
‘The more elaborate the theatrical effects in a performance, the more likelihood of them going wrong. How long have they been rehearsing? Not long by the sounds of it.’ She patted Jacob’s arm.
‘This is going to be thrilling either way.’
‘What about our quarry?’ asked Jacob.
‘I think you’re right. We only need sit here and they will come to us. Miss Petrovna will be singing shortly, and Michel Percy will not want to miss the main event of the evening. We should invite him to join us.’ She smiled at Jacob’s arched brow. ‘No, I’m serious.’
‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?’ said Alex.
‘Exactly.’
‘Speaking of which, I spy the enemy,’ said Jacob, watching Michel Percy stroll along the avenue of trees. ‘You were absolutely right about him. Shall I catch him for you?’
Dora grinned. ‘Reel him in. I’m far happier knowing where he is so let’s invite him to supper.’