Eleanor shook her head. “I’m afraid this one involves more enthusiasm than actual talent.”
“Good,” Jane said with an impish grin. “That sort is always more entertaining.”
“Oh, my,” Countess Lazislov said. “Who iss dat?”
Without being as obvious, Jane and Cassandra looked toward the door. Eleanor peeked over her shoulder. Shermont had entered, and the man looked good. The high collar of his charcoal gray cutaway coat framed the fall of snowy linen under his strong chin. The silver embroidery on his sky-blue brocade vest was several shades lighter than his form-fitting silver gray slacks. The subdued hues stood out among the red uniforms and peacock colors of the other male ensembles.
“I vant him for a dinner partner,” the countess said. She immediately stood and went in search of Deirdre to make it happen.
“Definitely eye candy,” Eleanor said without thinking.
“That’s an interesting turn of phrase,” Cassandra said.
“Ah … that’s what we call stunningly handsome men where I come from. In America.”
“Well, Lord Shermont is that,” Jane said. “I always thought he had something more important than looks. Character. Moral fiber to back up his charm.”
“Then you know him?” Eleanor asked.
“Pardon me. I should not have spoken. We’ve met a few times, but my opinion is merely an intuitive evaluation.”
Eleanor was trying to think of a way to bring the conversation around to books. Two elderly women joined the group, inquiring about Jane and Cassandra’s family. Then Teddy arrived.
“I’m sure you’ll excuse Eleanor,” he said. “I must have her resolve an issue between myself and Alanbrooke, a bet, if you will, concerning America.” He held out his arm.
“Oh … I’d rather not,” Eleanor said, even though the others demurred to Teddy’s request. She was perfectly happy where she was. “I … I …”
“Come, Cousin. Dinner will be served shortly, and I would like to take care of this before then.”
“Lord Digby is the author of our play tonight,” she said, hoping to open a conversation on writing.
Teddy chuckled. He picked up her hand, put it on his arm, and held it there. “A fact you should reveal only after the play is a rousing success. By your leave,” he added with a bow and literally pulled Eleanor away.
She tried to ease her hand out from under his.
“You can thank me later,” he whispered.
“For what?”
“For rescuing you from the old maid’s corner.” He jerked his head to indicate the area behind them.
“I was perfectly happy with the company and would prefer to go back,” she said. “Now release my hand before I cause a scene.”
He dropped her hand as if it had turned red hot. “Bit ungrateful, I’d say.”
“Then let me thank you for your previous concern, albeit misplaced. I’m quite capable of walking away from a conversation if it is not to my liking.” She turned on her heel and took several steps before she realized the dinner gong had rung. Everyone else was moving toward the door.
As on the evening before, Eleanor was seated near the middle of the table that had been expanded with additional leaves to seat twenty-eight guests. On her right, her dinner partner was a very young lieutenant so awed by his surroundings he could barely manage to stutter one-word questions and answers. On her left, Mr. Foucalt, the dancing master, had been drafted to fill out the table despite his sniffling and sneezing. She did learn he planned to hold a dancing lesson early the following morning.
From her position she could clearly see Shermont, now at the opposite end of the table. The countess had gotten her wish and spent much of her time fawning over him, apparently to his amusement and enjoyment. Eleanor ate little and emptied her wineglass a number of times. Nerves over the coming play, she told herself. Thankfully, Deirdre’s definition of casual dining meant there was only one remove before she led the women into the parlor.
Eleanor expected another chance to talk to Jane Austen, but her efforts were foiled again. Deirdre turned her hostess duties over to Aunt Patience and herded the female cast members into the ballroom, so they would have plenty of time to don their costumes and disguises. The women were already lined up stage left when the gentleman arrived in costume and awaited their cues stage right.
Shermont’s pirate outfit consisted of a loose white lawn shirt open at the neck, a red satin sash under his sword belt, well-fitted black leather breeches, and knee-high boots. A wide-brimmed hat with a large blue ostrich feather worn cocked at a jaunty angle completed his costume. Eye candy. With difficulty, Eleanor pulled her gaze away.
She heard the audience come in and get settled. Eleanor peeked through the curtains. Deirdre, as the goddess Aphrodite, followed by Fiona and Hazel, walked solemnly up the center aisle and mounted three steps to line up on the audience’s right.
“Our story,” Deirdre said in a serious tone, “as are many stories, is of the quest for love. Our hero is an enchanted prince cursed to bear the likeness of a frog by a wicked witch. He has traveled the world seeking a cure and has almost given up hope, until he meets a gypsy fortune-teller.”
“A gypsy fortune-teller,” Fiona and Hazel said in unison.
Two footmen stagehands pulled open the curtains. Center stage, Mina danced and twirled in a circle.
The Frog Prince paced wearily across the stage carrying a well-used portmanteau. The hideous green mask covered his entire head, but the protruding jaw gave room for his words to escape. “My heart is filled with despair,” he said, bringing his fist to his chest. “I have searched far and wide for the cure to this terrible curse. Please help me. I must know if I will ever succeed.”
Mina sat at the small table and gestured for the Frog Prince to do the same. “Cross my palm with gold, and I will tell your future.”
He handed over a small pouch that clinked. The gypsy tucked it in her belt. Then she waved her hands over her crystal ball, actually an overturned opaque glass bowl, but a reasonable facsimile.
“I see the witch who cursed you living in a cottage in the woods near here.”
The frog jumped up. “I will—”
“That is not all,” the gypsy said. “Sit down. The witch holds a beautiful princess prisoner. The princess is the key to your salvation. Only a kiss of true love from her will cure the wicked enchantment.”
“But how can she love me when I am so ugly?”
“You will be tested five times, and if you prove worthy, she will love you. But beware. You must outwit, outfight, out-reason, out-trick, and out-charm your opponents to win the princess’s love.”
The frog jumped up. “I will do it.”
He exited.
As the curtains closed, the gypsy fortune-teller called after him, “Good luck.” Then she added in a stage whisper, “You’re going to need it.”
Eleanor scrambled to her place on a three-legged stool by the pretend fire, and Beatrix sat on a thronelike chair.
Deirdre said, “And so the Frog Prince searches high and low until he finds the witch’s cottage in the woods. He enters, ready to claim his true love.”
“His true love,” the chorus echoed.
The curtains opened and the Frog Prince entered and knelt in front of the princess. “Your kiss alone can break this terrible curse.”
She turned to the witch. “Must I kiss him? He is so ugly.”
“A kiss that is not freely given is worthless,” Eleanor said in a high trembling voice.
“Then I choose not to kiss you,” the princess said to the frog.
“Begone,” the witch said. “You have your answer.”
“I will fight for your love,” the frog said to the princess.
“You will take the Five Tests of Worthiness?” the witch asked slyly.
The princess gasped. “Don’t do it. If you fail, you will forfeit your life.”
“If it is the only way to end this curse, then I will do it,” he said.
“Very well. The first test is one of wits,” the witch said. “Bring on the wise man.”
