Mistletoe Mischief

sunk in her estimation; but as she walked away from him, Chloe's expression was one of barely concealed triumph. There was a new light in her big blue eyes, and a knowing little smile curved her lips. It was a look that would have discomforted Oliver, but would have imparted a modicum of encouragement to Rupert. His battle might not be entirely lost-at least, not yet.

The decorations having been profusely admired, and Sir Jocelyn having ventured to fondly peck Evangeline's cheek beneath the kissing bough, everyone adjourned to the candlelit drawing room to enjoy cherry liqueurs before any thought of going into the theater. They discussed which scenes should be rehearsed first, and Evangeline obliged Greville to cross his heart and promise that Malvolio's first appearance would be word perfect by the following afternoon. It was Act I, Scene 5, in which Evangeline's fool also appeared, as did the characters played by Chloe and Sir Jocelyn. In the absence of Cousin Ada and her sister, who were to play Viola and the maid, Maria, who figured prominently in the scene as well, Megan was informed she would have to read for them.

Left to her own quiet devices, Megan would have played the mouse all evening. It was a part she had learned well, and which often proved very rewarding, for it enabled her to observe from the wings. She sat in a corner, hoping to do just that; instead she found herself used again, this time by Rupert, whose response to Chloe's rebuff was to pay undue attention to his aunt's long-suffering companion. Megan understood his actions, even if she did not appreciate them. Her problem was made worse by the dark glances Greville directed toward her, for they suggested he thought she was encouraging Rupert. She bore it all heroically, but really would have liked to tell them both what she thought. Rupert she could forgive because she sympathized with his wretchedness over Chloe and Oliver, but she had no time at all for Sir Greville Seton. In vain did she tell herself he did not matter, because he mattered too much. She was constantly sensitive to him, even starting nervously when he cleared his throat. It was almost as if he twitched her upon a string!

Megan was able to observe a little, however, and had noticed that Lady Evangeline was set all of a secret quiver by Sir Jocelyn. Oh, it was well concealed, but Megan had been aware of it from the moment of the brief kiss beneath the mistletoe. Whether or not Sir Jocelyn felt the same way was not so easy to perceive, for he was one of those men who gave nothing away of their innermost thoughts. Megan could quite understand why her mistress felt the way she did about him, for he was a very attractive man: warm, amusing, thoughtful, and endearingly proud of his lovely daughter. He was also amusingly perplexed about Megan, whom he was still convinced he had met before. He went so far as to say so, but fell silent on the matter when Evangeline informed him he had definitely not encountered Megan until now.

Megan was relieved when Evangeline rose from the sofa, her gown of green-and-blue shot-silk shining in the candlelight. ''Right, my company of actors and actresses, let us proceed to our stage,' she said. 'I plan a phantasmagoria of awe-inspiring lighting effects that will bring the Adriatic of the seventeenth century to modern Brighton. I intend to give you a demonstration of the opening of Act I, Scene 2-you know, the storm scene.'

There was a sudden whiff of orange blossom water, and Megan realized that Rollo had crept up softly beside her, for he spoke to Evangeline. 'Lighting effects? 'Angels and ministers of grace defend us!' What sacrilege! Is not ye Bard perfection as he is?'

Evangeline's nostrils flared. 'Oh, do be quiet, Rollo!' she said.

Everyone exchanged glances, but no one said anything. Except Oliver, who was mystified by her strange remark. 'Er, who is Rollo?' he inquired.

'Who is Rollo? Who is Rollo?' The ghost was dismayed by such ignorance. 'What manner of ginger-headed pippin asks this?' he demanded.

Megan lowered her eyes quickly, and bit her lip to prevent herself from laughing. Ginger-headed pippin? Oh, if only Oliver could hear!

Evangeline ignored the specter. 'Come, mesdames et messieurs, for if we delay any longer, we will not have time to see anything tonight, and I am so looking forward to showing off my grand Laterna Magica.'

'Your what, Aunt E?' inquired Rupert.

'My Laterna Magica, magic lantern, or sorcerer's lamp, call it what you wish. This one is larger than any you may have seen before, and can project the most astonishingly lifelike images.'

Greville spoke up quickly. 'I will see your wonders in due course, Aunt E, but first I have to write an important letter for tomorrow's mail. I meant to write it earlier, but it slipped my mind. It is little more than a note, and so will not take long.'

Evangeline was rather miffed with him. 'Oh, very well, but I vow I will be very displeased indeed if you linger.'

'You have my word,' Greville replied, and as everyone else-including Rollo-followed her from the room, he went to the writing desk and reached for a sheet of his aunt's fine monogrammed paper.

Evangeline hovered by the entrance to the theater as everyone else went in, and when the ghost tried to pass as well, she hissed angrily at him. 'Sir, you vex me with your carping!'

'Sweet lady, I do not seek to vex,' he protested, his steps halting as he apparently turned to face her.

Megan waited dutifully just inside the theater, placing herself just so to eavesdrop. Evangeline was still irritated with the specter. 'I wish I knew what you do seek, sirrah! You hound me everywhere, yet will not say why! How am I supposed to help you end your haunting if I do not know what it is all about?'

'It is for thee to discover my purpose, not for me to tell thee. 'But for now, cudgel thy brains no more about it,' ' he replied infuriatingly.

'I'll give you Hamlet! Oh, you are a most tiresome spirit, and no mistake. I am fast becoming a laughingstock because you prick me into responding to your sly remarks!' Evangeline's wrath was palpable.

'I suffer ye earth's very end of ennui, mistress. Pray envisage an eternity of waiting, and thou hast my predicament.'

'Waiting for what?'

'For thou to do what must be done.'

'Which rather brings us back to where we were before. How can I do what has to be done, if I don't know what it is? And anyway, to return to your carping, why exactly do you find fault with my plans for lighting the play? I am sure Master Shakespeare would be flattered by my wish to do him full justice.'

'I think not, mistress, I think not.'

'How can you presume to be so sure?' Evangeline demanded smartly.

'Because I am grandnephew to ye sainted Bard, as well as a member of King Charles II’s Company of Comedians, and keeper of this theatrical house. I know my business through and through again, and can vouch that the Poet of Avon would abhor thy fancy lighting effects. His words stand upon their own merit, and were the actors, feeble as they are, to be upon a naked stage, his star would not shine less.'

His pompous tone provoked Evangeline still more. 'Fie, sir, I believe you have no connection whatsoever with Master Shakespeare, and that your knowledge of acting is confined to being prompter at farthing shows in country barns.'

'O, villain, villain! I will have thee know that I was king of Drury Lane. My Mithridates could not be surpassed! Nor my Falstaff!'

'Aye, sir, but in what way could they not be surpassed? In excellence, or mayhap in execrableness?'

'Such heinous lies! Such disrespect! Oh, may thou be forgiven!' cried the spirit, then stomped irately past Megan into the theater, where everyone else had now gathered around the black tent containing the prized lighting equipment.

Evangeline followed him in, on her face an expression of some satisfaction. She had had a little of her own back a little on the vain, sharp-tongued specter, and the feeling was clearly good. But then she remembered something. 'Oh, my notes!' She noticed Megan. 'Ah, Miss Mortimer, would you be so kind as to bring my notebook? I left it on the writing desk.'

'Yes, Lady Evangeline.' Megan returned very reluctantly to the drawing room, where Sir Greville the Grim was at the writing desk.

Greville was so intent upon his letter to Bath that he did not hear her enter, nor was he aware as she came up behind him. She saw her name and that of Lady Jane Strickland, then he straightened with a start and hastily drew another sheet of paper over what he had written. 'Are you much given to creeping up behind people, Miss Mortimer?' he inquired acidly.