Free The Duchess of Drury Lane by Freda Lightfoot Page A

on looking anything but a virginal heroine. Eventually, for the sake of propriety, she was ordered by Wilkinson to retire. Even so, some ten or eleven days following the birth of her child in September, and stubbornly determined to play the part of Fanny in The Clandestine Marriage , she attempted to walk the eighteen-mile journey from Doncaster to Sheffield. Sadly, she injured her hip as a result of this foolishness, and was again forced to retire.
    As I am able to learn a part in twenty-four hours, it was I who played the role. It’s a convoluted comedy about arranged marriage, and I gave a spirited performance which went down well with audiences. But my success only added to the lady’s bitter dislike of me.
    In October matters took a turn for the worse when a huge wooden roller, that held up the scenery, fell within inches of myself and Mr Knight while we were seated at a table as chambermaid and footman in The Fair American . We could easily have been killed outright. Somehow I kept my nerve, believing the show must go on no matter what. But I did wonder if there was some mischief afoot.
    We left Sheffield at the beginning of November, moving on to Hull for Christmas where we stayed at Mr Dunn’s in Myton Gate, in rooms above a shop. And it was here that I gave birth to my daughter Frances just before I turned twenty-one. Mama was there to help, but it was a straightforward birth and all went well. Despite my little Fanny being Daly’s child I loved her on sight, perhaps even more so, since she had no father.
    ‘Now do not make Mrs Smith’s mistake of rushing back to work too soon,’ Wilkinson urged me. ‘You stay safely in the straw until you are fully recovered. I always insist upon it with my own dear wife.’
    He was ever kind in his treatment of me, as with all his cast. But unbeknown to me, Mrs Smith took advantage of my absence to spread her malicious gossip.
    The play chosen for my return, The Fair Penitent , was, as it turned out, somewhat unfortunate. Calista is in love with the disreputable Lothario despite having been seduced by him, and not in the least penitent. He refuses to marry her, and in the end she is desperate to salvage her lost reputation, only it is too late.
    As the play was performed on Boxing Day the house was a good one, but the audience received it with cold disapproval. It seemed that the good wives of Hull had been regaled with the story of the birth of little Fanny, and with no husband in sight I was seen to be re-enacting my own shocking tale. This naturally affected my performance, which I confess was indifferent and uninspired. I do not do well when I feel no warmth radiating from an audience. Not only that, but I could hear loud whispers being exchanged, see fingers pointing at me. It was utterly humiliating. When I went on to sing ‘The Greenwood Laddie’, I was actually hissed. As always Wilkinson came to my aid. ‘Bear up, dear girl. Do not allow them to unnerve you. This is all down to the Scandal Club.’
    I did not need to ask who the instigator of that cabal was.
    He put out a more benevolent explanation for my situation, painting me as a victim rather than a strumpet by pointing out I was not parading a lover but rather living with my mother and caring for my siblings. Following his intervention I gradually won over the ladies of Hull and was forgiven, but it was an unsettling experience.
    ‘We seem to be caught up in an endless spiral. Why did Wilkinson not put an end to this peevish jealousy when it first began?’ I asked of Mama.
    ‘Because Tate is not against a little competition between players. He believes it makes them strive all the harder to give of their best.’
    ‘That seems to me an odd way of viewing the matter.’
    Mama laughed. ‘That is because you are conscientious, my dear, and Mrs Smith and her cronies are not.’
    The company then returned to York where, properly recovered from childbirth, I donned male attire once more to sing the part of