Chapter 14
Time slowed around Thea. There was no mistaking it – she had seen and admired that gesture countless times over the years. She had almost reconciled herself to the fact that she may never see it again, but there it was, right in front of her on the floor of the rotunda.
What should she do? For now, it seemed like she couldn’t do much, as apparently her legs were made of jelly.
All she could do was watch as the pirate moved to the side of the room, taking a glass of wine from a server and sipping as he gazed around the room.
As she gazed around the room, Thea corrected herself.
Was she here with anyone? She didn’t seem to be searching, she simply leaned on one of the pillars of the dining arches with one leg tucked back and foot flat against the stone, perusing the dancers in the next reel.
As the music began to slow, Thea noticed one of the ladies in the dancing pairs look over towards Martha.
She pointed at her, whispered something to her dance partner and giggled.
Thea knew that she would be angling for an invitation for the next dance.
Looking like that, Martha would not be short of female partners.
Instinctively Thea rose and took the three steps down to the rotunda floor.
She heard Harriet call her from the table but could only wave a hand dismissively as she rushed away, her head light with nerves and uncertainty.
She had to get herself in the way of Martha before the other prospect did.
The music was coming to an end, and the girl was curtseying to her current partner, but Thea was closer.
As she approached the pirate, she gave what she hoped was a coy courtesy.
The masks ensured that neither of them could see the others’ face.
At least that was a blessing. She would have hated Martha to see the tears pricking her eyes, or the fear she knew they must have held.
Anyway, she assumed that had Martha known it was her, she wouldn’t have stuck around for long.
The pirate pushed off the wall with her bent leg and approached. Thea marvelled at it. Had she not known Martha’s mannerisms she would have had no idea it was a woman. An elegant bow, and they were secured for the next dance.
Taking the proffered arm, they made their way to the dance floor, Thea’s heart hammering in her chest. She had no idea what she would do next, or what her plan was, she simply knew she would regret doing nothing.
But now she was about to dance with the woman she loved, who had shunned her so cruelly, and clarity of thought seemed to be beyond her.
They took their places on the floor, around a foot from one another as the music started.
Martha bowed, and Thea curtseyed. For once she was grateful for the years of practice which had prepared her for conducting herself with grace in any situation.
She felt the familiar hand take hers as they paraded around the circular space.
Her eyes involuntarily closed as she felt Martha’s touch.
Then they were face to face once more, coming together, Martha’s arm around her waist, the two of them turning around one another.
Her breath hitched at the feel of Martha’s hand in the small of her back, gently but firmly guiding.
As it did so, Martha’s familiar smell was back, the one she had savoured and found comfort in for all those hours before Martha had gone away. It made her giddy.
She was almost glad when they broke away, and the tantalising scent was gone.
Her mind raced to decide her next move. More than one dance was unlikely, so if she were to expose her identity, it would have to be within the next two minutes.
But not too soon. She swallowed hard, looking away as they promenaded.
Her eyes flitted from group to group at the dining areas, and then up to the gallery.
There, the Greek god Dionysus pressed a nymph against a pillar, masks askew but retained as they kissed.
In public. Thea recognised Dionysus as her husband.
Anger suddenly welled inside her. That she had stayed and been saddled with a cad of a husband while Martha enjoyed herself travelling the world.
That, despite their promises on the ship, when the ugly fact of her marriage had become real, that Martha had chosen an easier path – or someone else – over Thea.
They stepped in toward one another and the anger surged again. It didn’t dissipate as they swapped to an adjacent partner and then came back together. By the time Martha’s arm was at the small of her back again, Thea couldn’t take it any longer.
‘I should congratulate you on an exquisite outfit, sir,’ she spoke clearly into Martha’s ear as they turned.
‘How many ships, or damsels in distress, do you plan to commandeer tonight?’ Immediately she felt Martha stiffen against her, and her head whipped round to stare at Thea’s mask.
‘Oh no, we mustn’t stop,’ said Thea, the calm of her voice belying the turmoil she felt inside.
‘We will upset the flow.’ She practically pushed Martha into the next position who moved away and then back in without taking her eyes from Thea.
‘Thea,’ was all she said, low and dark. Thea’s heart ached to hear that voice and she almost groaned.
‘Not so much of a disguise, when you know one another as well as I thought we did, is it?’ she asked, an edge sharpening her voice. Martha made to go, but Thea held her firm. ‘I am sure you can manage one dance, Lady Foxmore,’ she said calmly. ‘For old time’s sake.’
They said nothing more after that, just stepped and skipped and moved around one another like wary cats wondering if the other might strike.
Thea never took her eyes from Martha’s mask, wondering if she might catch a glimpse of what she felt, but the eyes were too narrow and the light too dim to see.
As they turned for the last time, she felt Martha’s hand squeeze her briefly before she pulled away. It almost made her sob out loud.
She was still trying to discern any hint of feeling or emotion when the music came to a rousing climax, they stepped away from one another, and Martha bowed. Then, before she knew it, Martha was off into the crowd and towards the massive arched doorway.
‘Blast,’ Thea muttered to herself, and took off in pursuit.
It wasn’t easy with bodies in volume and huge costumes barring the way.
At least, given her choice for total anonymity in the costume, people couldn’t see it was a duchess barging through the throng and onto the rotunda steps.
She paused at the top and peered down into the garden beneath her.
It was dark by now and had begun to rain, but sheltered candles lit the main pathways.
A figure ran towards the royal hospital, not so far ahead.
Thea hitched up her skirts and took off in pursuit, not caring about the stares that followed her.
What a sight they must make, a pirate pursued by the goddess of hunting.
As the path split, Martha took a left, heading down towards the Thames.
Thea only hoped she wouldn’t be able to jump on a boat before she reached her.
Martha slowed as she approached the water, looking left and right for a craft.
Raindrops spiked the surface of the river, each individual imperfection gilded by the lights hung to illuminate the pier.
As Martha surged to the left, clearly desperate to find an escape, Thea reached her and grasped her by the arm.
‘How dare you?’ was what came out of her, unplanned. But then she realised it was exactly what she felt.
Martha said nothing, she only tried to free herself from Thea’s grasp, but Thea was used to wrangling an unruly Abigail.
‘How dare you, after all this time, Martha? How dare you run away from me again.’
Martha suddenly stopped struggling and turned to her. ‘Why are you doing this?’ she asked. It seemed angry and pleading all at once.
Thea gritted her teeth. She used her free hand to pull the mask from her face and threw it on the floor. ‘Is it easier, if you can’t see me?’
Martha slowly reached up and pulled the mask from her own face. ‘It was, yes,’ she said quietly. Thea was instantly mesmerised by her eyes in the way she always had been. She stood stock still, frozen in place by the face and the wisdom she had craved for over five years.
‘And how about now?’ she asked quietly, dropping Martha’s wrist but putting no more space between them.
Martha only shook her head and looked away.
Thea felt an incredulous laugh bubble out of her at the inertia of it.
‘Is that it?’ she asked, ‘after all this time? I get a shake of the head?’ Martha only set her jaw.
‘Look at me, Martha!’ The words came out loudly and Martha’s head snapped around.
Now Thea noted the worried lines of her eyes, and a pain that echoed her own set deep within them. ‘Talk to me,’ she said more gently.
‘I hadn’t expected to see you here.’ Martha’s voice was strained and a little croaky. ‘At least, not in a way that we would know one another. I wouldn’t have come, if I had known.’
‘The whole of fashionable society is here,’ said Thea. ‘Why wouldn’t I be?’
‘You used to hate parties,’ said Martha flatly. ‘And I thought you would be back in the country.’
‘I still hate parties,’ shot back Thea. ‘But I have a husband who insists I stay with him in the city and attend.’
Thea saw Martha’s throat work as she swallowed. ‘I have been so careful up to now. This evening is clearly an error of judgement, but I repeat my question and request that you tell me why you are doing this.’
‘Careful of what?’ asked Thea, ignoring the question and searching Martha’s face for clues as to what had happened to their promises. Her pulse still raced with exhilaration and anger, but she was still confused.