Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

Minnie expected that by the time they arrived at the theatre she would feel like herself again. Like many of the other actors, she rented one of the small rooms upstairs. They all shared a parlour, bathroom, and kitchen. It was well after midnight, so when Kitty offered to escort her upstairs, Minnie declined. She felt as though she just wanted to be alone.

The next day she decided to keep her mind off what happened by working on some of the costumes for the next show. She was sitting alone in one of the dressing rooms when she heard footsteps approaching. Her hands froze, clutching a dress laid out over her lap as she sat on the sofa. The footsteps were heavy as they approached, and Minnie held her breath as they paused outside the door. Then the knob turned slowly and she started to scream.

"Minnie?"

Christopher sounded both cautious and confused as he entered the room. He stuck his head in first, with his thick dark hair looking tousled. Then when the rest of him followed she saw how disheveled his clothes were. He must have rode there in a hurry.

"Christopher, what are you doing here?"

She looked down at the pile of gowns in her lap and noticed a lock of hair had fallen from her pins to hand in her view. She must look just as much a mess as he did.

"I had to speak to you."

"In the middle of the night?"

He shrugged. "I couldn't get here any faster."

Minnie didn't know what to say, so she sat there waiting for him to speak. to tell her why he had raced to London to speak to her. It must have been important.

"May I sit?"

There were a number of chairs in the room that he could have chosen, but Christopher took a seat beside her on the small sofa when she nodded her head. There was barely enough room for her and the gowns, but he managed to squeeze himself in somehow.

"Matilde told me what she had planned to do if you hadn't left. She told me what she had planned for our marriage. She finally revealed her true self to me."

Minnie was starting to lose track of how many things were surprising her. Matilde confessing was the last thing she would have expected.

"You came here to tell me that?"

"I came here to apologize. I shouldn't have allowed her to force you to leave. I should have protected you from her."

"She is going to be your wife."

"Not anymore." Christopher was fidgeting with the hem of the gown Minnie held and she could feel each tug. "I realized that I couldn't marry a woman who was more concerned with public opinion than people's feelings."

That must have made Matilde very angry, but made Minnie feel elated. She felt the flutter of butterflies in her stomach.

"You came here to tell me you aren't getting married anymore?"

"No, that's not why I came."

"Then what did you come here to tell me?"

Minnie didn't often see a man act nervous, but right now Christopher was avoiding her gaze and taking deep breaths. She didn't know if she should feel alarmed or not .

"I came here….I came here to tell you…. I came here to ask…."

He was stuttering and fumbling his words. Minnie wished she could save him by guessing what he was trying to say, but she had no idea.

"May I call on you here in London?" He was finally able to blurt it out, and she felt her heart jump in her chest.

"Call on me?"

"Yes, in a courting fashion?"

"I'm just an actress. Most gentlemen would not consider courting an actress."

"I know what most men would propose to you, but I have marriage in mind. I know that you wouldn't want to marry a man you had only met twice, so I am willing to give you time to get to know me better. Hence, the courting."

"You wouldn't be embarrassed to be seen courting an actress?"

"Not if she is you."

He sounded so earnest when he said it, but Minnie knew that it was not natural for a gentleman to marry someone like her. She was having trouble believing him. He must have taken her silence as hesitation and he kept talking.

"When we first met, we were young and I didn't know what to do with the way I felt. Now, it seems I am older but no less confused. I just know that I don't want to lose you for a second time."

"You didn't lose me the first time. I left to pursue my dreams."

"But I didn't follow. I could have looked harder for you."

Minnie didn't know if that would have helped. She had been so focused on her future at the time that she might not have wanted him to find her.

"I wanted to get away. I could have told you who I was, but I preferred to keep it as a single night. A perfect night."

"We could have so many more of those."

The world around her slowed down, and she watched his expression as he reached up and cupped her cheek. He didn't have to pull her face forward because she was already leaning in. Their lips touched, gently at first, then with a crushing passion. He held them together until the sound of a throat clearing broke the spell. Kitty was standing there with a smile on her face.

"I saw the Aston carriage out front and wondered if it would be you or your mother," said Kitty. "I must admit I am not disappointed by the answer."

"My mother sends her best, Aunt Kitty." Christopher chuckled. "I'm afraid I made this trip on my own."

"What would your Miss Sampson think of such an adventure?"

"She is no longer mine." Christopher looked at Minnie with those blue eyes and she felt the flutters again. "I have decided to pursue an old flame of mine."

"Well, that is wonderful news."

"She hasn't yet agreed."

Minnie had been so swept up in the moment she completely forgot he had asked her a question.

"Yes. Of course the answer is yes. You may court me when you are in London."

"Will that be often?" Kitty asked. "You have a great deal of responsibilities at the manor."

Minnie and Christopher locked eyes, and she could feel the depths of his emotion.

"I will find a way to be here as often as I can and when you are ready we will make a home together at my estate."

They were silent, enjoying the moment until she heard Kitty shuffling backwards towards the door.

"I will give you two a moment to say your goodbyes," Kitty said from the doorway. "Only a moment though…"

She closed the door and Christopher kissed her again. Minnie was aware the moment must be brief, but she knew it was only the first of many to come.