Jason had a strategically located box, so they had a view of almost the entire theater. Kate tried to hold back, to sit out of sight of the other patrons, but Jason and Tony had other ideas. They marched her right to the front of the box, and sat down on either side of her, immediately leaning closer to exchange conversation, purposefully announcing their intimacy to the world.
Kate’s fear and discomfort receded in the face of her exasperation with the two men. Did they mean to give her no say in her future? Were they trying to force her into marriage by compromising her? Well, if that were the case, they had sorely miscalculated. With her reputation, she was beyond compromising. She sighed loudly to get their attention.
They stopped talking and looked at her expectantly.
“What is it, Kate?” Tony asked, reaching for her hand, obviously misunderstanding her sigh as distress rather than pique.
“I’m wondering if I’m to be allowed to breathe this evening, or if you two are going to suffocate me all night?” she asked archly.
Immediately both men pulled back, looking startled and not a little guilty. Kate had a moment of satisfaction that she had guessed correctly before a strange voice came from the back of the box.
“Bravo, my dear, don’t let them bully you.”
Kate looked over her shoulder at the speaker. He was a slight, handsome man, his age anywhere from mid-twenties to forty. It was a sad fact of the war that many veterans were young chronologically, but their souls had aged considerably in their military service. It made it hard to determine their real age. Despite the question of age, or perhaps because of it, he was very attractive, with thick, wavy chestnut hair worn longer than was fashionable, a fresh, clear complexion, and a smile to brighten even the darkest corner. His eyes sparkled with mischievousness, and Kate found herself eagerly anticipating an introduction. It was only as he got closer that she noticed his very fashionable attire.
Tony and Jason had stood as soon as they heard his voice, and from the eager smiles on their faces, Kate knew that this was a friend.
“Daniel! How marvelous to see you!” Tony cried out, as he enveloped the smaller man in an embrace.
“Oh, good lord, Tony, you’ll rumple my neckcloth, and I’ll never hear the end of it from my valet.” In spite of his protest, Kate noticed Daniel returned Tony’s embrace as fiercely as it was given.
Jason reached out and clasped Daniel’s shoulder even as Tony hugged him. “Daniel, we had no idea you’d be here.”
“And miss your big debut? For shame, Jase, for believing me such a wallflower. So, are either of you cretins going to introduce me to this ravishing lady, or am I going to have go find someone else to do the honors?”
Kate spoke up with a laugh. “Oh, I daresay we don’t stand on that kind of ceremony here. Just step around the big brutes and tell me who you are. I am Kate Collier.”
She knew she was breaking one of the most important social rules by familiarly speaking to a man she hadn’t been introduced to, but Kate wanted to start as she meant to go on. She was her own woman, had worked hard to claim that distinction, and felt the need to assert herself with Jason and Tony and their friends. If she didn’t want to be trampled by the will of men again, then it was up to her to do something about it. It was with these martial thoughts that Kate reached her hand around Tony, and drew the gentleman closer.
“Daniel Steinberg, my lady, at your service.” He bowed low over her hand, properly kissing her wrist, on her glove.
Kate hid her astonishment. A Jewish gentleman, and apparently a great favorite of Tony and Jason. She realized with a start that it wasn’t all that unusual. They were quite unconventional in many ways, their choice of friends included.
Before Kate could respond, two more gentlemen came to their box to say hello, and soon Kate lost count, and gave up trying to remember names. She found herself wondering who else was “a matched pair” like Tony and Jason.
Daniel and another gentlemen, whom Kate did remember, Mr. Simon Gantry, had accepted Jason’s invitation to join them in the box, and were sitting comfortably behind the three. Soon most of the men drifted off, promising to return at the intermission. When the play began, Kate had quite forgotten about her initial fears, and even her earlier pique at Jason and Tony. She enjoyed the first half of the play, a comedy, tremendously.
At the intermission, Mr. Gantry went to fetch refreshments for everyone, while Kate and Jason and Tony held court. At least it seemed that way to Kate, so many gentlemen came to meet her, and to talk to Jason and Tony. They all treated the two men with an inordinate amount of respect and affection, some referring to them as Major, and Kate realized with a start that her two beaux were in effect the leaders of this little band of misfit veterans. Her heart swelled with pride and a little trepidation. If she accepted them, she accepted responsibility for these men as well, some of whom she could see were still beset by their own wolves. She wasn’t sure she was up to the task, but knew she would try with all her heart.
A few minutes into the intermission, a path cleared through the throng, and two men came toward them. One was heavily muscled and walked with a limp. His face was saved from plainness by the intelligence burning in his gaze, and the small dimple in his chin. He was older than his companion by several years, and far more somber.
The second gentleman was extremely handsome, in an almost boyish way. He was tall and thin, but Kate could see that he was well built in spite of that. His hair was almost red, but such a dark shade many would mistake it for brown. His blue eyes twinkled merrily, and he greeted everyone by name. Kate couldn’t help but smile at his exuberance, and the indulgent smiles sent his way by many of the men. He seemed so friendly and without airs, that Kate was taken aback by Jason’s introduction.
“Kate, my dear, this is His Grace, The Duke of Ashland, Frederick Thorn. You may call him Freddy.”
The Duke merely laughed. “By all means, please, do call me Freddy. Anything else, and I’ll have no idea whom you’re talking to. I say, but you are a bewitching thing, isn’t she, Brett?”
The somber man at his side smiled, and his face was transformed into a sweet, rough, handsomeness that made Kate’s heart skip with the desire to comfort, to tend, to heal. She resisted the urge to embrace him as an old friend, astonished at her response to him. Suddenly she noticed that most of the men were watching him with the same tenderness she felt, and a burning curiosity arose within her. Who was he? Why was he with the young Duke?
“This quiet charmer is Mr. Brett Haversham, Kate. Brett, this is Kate, Mrs. Kate Collier.” Tony’s voice was affectionate.
“I’m delighted, Mrs. Collier, to finally meet the woman who so completely owns the hearts of these two scoundrels.” Mr. Haversham’s voice was deep, and it carried even though he spoke softly.
Once again, Kate relied on her instincts. She decided to treat Mr. Haversham with a friendly familiarity, which Mr. Haversham’s and the Duke’s comments invited.
“Well, I’m not sure about that, at least the heart part. The scoundrel part I have personal knowledge of.” She accompanied the sally with a grin, and was relieved to see an answering one on his face. Next to her she felt Jason tense and Tony took a breath to speak, surely in his defense, but he never had the chance.
Kate had glanced over Mr. Haversham’s shoulder at the open curtain of the box, and standing just there, in the entrance, was Robertson. Her breath caught in her throat, competing with the bile rising there. She instinctively clutched at Tony and Jason’s arms, unaware that her grip was almost painful in its intensity.
“Well, well, well, Kate ma dear,” Robertson drawled. “I see you landed on your feet after you crawled away from me. You look considerably better that the last time I saw you, doesn’t she boys?” he asked his companions, laughing caustically. Kate frantically looked around him, and recognized several of the faces leering at her. Her vision began to tunnel, black pushing against the sight of Robertson’s leering face. “I should have known these two wouldn’t mind used goods such as yourself. Their tastes hardly appeal to well-bred young girls.”
Kate turned her head and buried her face against Jason’s shoulder. She clutched at him, trying to stay upright. She was afraid she might be sick, and embarrass Tony and Jason. Oh, God, it was her worst nightmare. In spite of her earlier intentions to be strong, she felt herself slipping away, stars bursting behind her closed eyelids, voices getting farther and farther away. The only real things she knew were Jason’s strong arms holding her up, and Tony’s hands on her shoulders.
“You fucking bastard,” Jason growled as he felt Kate go limp in his arms. “I should kill you now.”
“What, over a whore?” Robertson laughed as if at the sheer absurdity of it.
Unsure of what was going on, Tony and Jason’s friends had instinctively moved to protect Kate as soon as Robertson arrived. His comment caused the circle to tighten, and the men’s faces hardened dangerously. The two groups were squared off across from each other in the small box.
Suddenly Jason heard a woman’s enraged gasp, and looked to the doorway to see Kitty Markham flying at Robertson.
“You filthy pig!” she spit at him, her hand whipping out and slapping him forcefully. Before anyone could stop him, Robertson pulled back his own arm and backhanded Kitty across the box. She crashed into the wall and fell to the floor.
Several of the men began to advance towards Robertson, who seemed oblivious of the threat.
“Really, Your Grace,” he said to Freddy, wiping one hand across his bleeding mouth, “you ought to be more careful of the company you keep. Perverts and whores are hardly fit company for the nobility.”
One of the veterans in their box, Doctor Thomas Peters, was helping Kitty up, supporting her against the wall. Jason could already see the bruise forming on the left side of her face. He could hardly speak, the rage was so great inside him. “If you wish to leave this box alive, I suggest you do so now.” His voice was low and thick with anger.
He realized Kate was awake when he felt her arms tighten about him, and heard her whimper. She began to shake her head, almost uncontrollably, and Tony, who had begun to move in Robertson’s direction, came back to place his hands soothingly on her shoulders again.
Suddenly a man pushed into the box, and turned angrily to face Robertson.
“God damn it, Robertson, leave her alone. Haven’t we done enough?”
It was Edmund George. Jason vaguely recalled him. He had been a rather dissolute young man who ran with Robertson’s crowd the last time he’d seen him. It didn’t escape Jason’s notice that he said “we”.
At the sound of George’s voice, Kate began to tremble.
“What the hell are you talking about George?” Robertson responded sarcastically. “If I recall correctly, you were unable to do anything to her.” His comment cause his cronies to roar with laughter, and George’s face reddened in embarrassment and anger.
“Leave here Robertson. You’ve done enough damage to last a lifetime.” George stood his ground between the two groups of bristling men, and Jason had to give him credit for bravery.
“You bore me, George,” Robertson said drawled indolently. “You and this whole farce. Kate Collier was nothing but a whore when I bought her, and I see no difference now. All this for a whore? It’s pathetic.” He began to walk out, but stopped and turned back to address Jason and Tony. “You should thank me. Obviously my friends gave Kate a taste for fucking more than one man at a time. When you tire of her, throw her back. I’m sure she’ll still be good for a drunken orgy or two. Not that I would indulge, but some of my friends ain’t so discerning. She gave them a good ride the first time round.” His smile was evil, and he barely hesitated as he turned to leave when Jason growled at him.
“Send your seconds to see me tomorrow, Robertson. I mean to kill you.”
The box was silent for a moment after he and his gang left. Then Edmund George surprised Jason by walking up to Kate.
“Kate,” he said quietly, “I’m so sorry. You can’t know. God, I’m so sorry.”
Jason’s rage rose in him again, at the thought of what he was sorry for. Kate refused to look at George, her trembling and head shaking increasing as he spoke.
“Get the hell out of here, George,” Jason barked, “or you’ll be the first to die for what you did to Kate.”
“Yes,” he murmured, turning to leave, “yes, and it really should be Robertson, shouldn’t it?”
As he walked out, Jason glimpsed a woman, pale as death, standing as still as a statue outside the box. She turned as George exited the box, and he followed her down the hall, out of sight.