His gentle eyes were on me, still trailing me. To show him I wasn’t completely lacking manners I curtsied, careful not to disturb half-sleeping Jared. The champagne-colored strands fell over his forehead, but were too short to hide the redness on his face. He rapidly, yet respectfully inclined his head before he lowered his gaze to the ground.

For a Duke he was awfully bashful. I had to admit I was little disturbed since never in my nineteen years have I met this man before, but now I was suddenly noticing him everywhere.

At last, we were allowed to enter the vast fan-shaped auditorium. The cramped rows of seats in the middle were encircled by four levels of galleries stacked on top of one another, containing tiers of spacious Continental boxes. The boxes were completely enclosed at the sides, offering a total privacy to the spectators.

“Where are we seated?” I inquired Richards, looking at the seats in the middle of the theatre.

“Oh no Lady Caldwell, not those. I despise crowded seats. I reserved a box for this occasion,” he answered, laughing at my astounded expression.

We ascended the wide, serpentine marble staircase with wrought floral metal railings. I still held Jared under his arm, or rather, he held me, since he was unable to support himself. What a gallant chaperone he was.

Our box was the one closest to the front. Although many complained how the side boxes were positioned, I didn’t mind cranking my neck to see the stage. I sank into the cushioned scarlet seat right next to Edith.

“Have you by any chance spotted aunt Abby?”

Edith passed me her binoculars and pointed at the box opposite ours. “There.”

I peeked through the glasses, but did not expect seeing aunt’s hand travelling down Lord’s thigh. I jerked the binoculars away from the scandalous sight, focusing on the adjacent boxes.

“See anyone interesting?” Edith whispered.

“Nothing much … Oh! I see lady Alison and Lord Travis.”

“Lord Travis? What is this all about? Is he one of her suitors?” Edith grimaced.

“God, I sure hope not,” I wrinkled my nose. “The man possesses some truly dreadful manners.”

Jared cleared his throat. “Travis…. Friend,” he dangerously wavered on his chair, his slur almost an incomprehensible mess of jumbled words.

“Oh, the one you went to White’s with?” I shot back at him.

“I despise operas. I cannot survive this without the help of Scotch,” he murmured to himself. He barely kept his eyes open, since his eyelids drooped with exhaustion. I lowered the binoculars to glance into the bloodshot whites of his eyes. His drinking habits were becoming more worrisome.

“I wish you would stop, Jared.” I whispered.

“Every gentleman drinks, Ashlyn. Stop lecturing me.”

“I am not lecturing you! I am worried about you! You are supposed to be my best friend!” I exclaimed, desperately grasping his wrist. I let go of him the instant I realized I was causing a scene. Some nosy matrons were curiously glancing our way.

“Don’t,” he answered dismissively. “I can take care of myself. Besides, this is none of your business, so stay out of it.”

“Jared…” I watched him in disbelief.

I wanted to say more, but didn’t know how.

Gas lighted stage came to life after the red grand curtain behind the proscenium arch revealed a colorful and lively scenery.

Lord Andrew was correct; Lady Jenny Lind was indeed spectacular. She walked about the stage in a white nightgown with flowers tucked in her tightly woven hair.

I haven’t had this much fun in years. However, by the gentle snores coming from the seat next to mine, I believed Jared disagreed with me.

His Grace leaned closer to Edith to quietly explain the ever thickening plot of the story. I lifted Edith’s binoculars to my eyes, curious how Alison was managing Lord Travis. I noticed they were sitting too close, their hands slightly brushing against each other.

How on the earth did she find him pleasing?

I moved my head slightly upward, studying the balcony above them. My eyes widened when I spotted Baxter Read. I fought against the urge to drop the binoculars and mind my own business.

I fully expected him to sit in a box like we did, not in a crowded area. He conversed with the same friend I noticed at the Duchess’s ball. Read spoke enthusiastically, his hands shooting left and right as he engulfed himself into an evidently very interesting topic. I chuckled at the thought that he was probably discussing weather or his beloved horses.

His dark haired friend seemed slightly older than him, probably in his early thirties or late twenties, same as Andrew Richards.

“You seem awfully taken with him,” Edith’s head was titled to the side with a playful smile resting on her delicate face.

I covered my racing heart which drummed with an erratic rhythm. “Don’t do that! You almost gave me a heart attack!” I glared at her amused expression. “And I am most definitely not taken with him. I was studying his friend if you must know.”

His Grace quietly chuckled. “Lord Bradford Stanley, Earl of Yarborough. Now, character-wise he is a much better choice than Baxter Read.”

“He is quite handsome, Ashlyn,” Edith elbowed me.

“So why is he always standing on the right side of the ballroom?” I asked with confusion. “If he is so suitable?”

“I wouldn’t know…” Richards raised his hands. “Perhaps because he is His Grace’s best friend and somewhat an adviser in a… complex social situations,” the corner of his mouth twitched with amusement.

“And probably very much single because of him,” Edith giggled.

“Indeed my dear,” he confirmed. “Women tend to avoid Read, therefore they also avoid Stanley. But I could introduce you to him if you’d like, Lady Ashlyn.”

“I… Perhaps,” I tried to appear grateful, all the while a familiar feeling of dejection crept inside my chest. However, I had to be brave in my quest of finding a fitting husband, there was no time to be dwelling on my fragile emotional state. June was almost over and I was still no closer to saving my family from financial ruin.