Free Love for Lucinda by Gayle Buck

other vehicles, both of the fashionable and the more humble sort. The noise of clattering wheels and horse’s hooves and raucous voices filled the damp night air. The metropolis never truly slept.
    Lucinda had rented a box for the Season, and she and Miss Blythe settled themselves happily into their chairs. They had arrived a few minutes before the rise of the curtain, and a number of acquaintances chose to recognize their presence with a civil bow or nod or wave, which Lucinda and Miss Blythe returned. Several well-dressed gentlemen in the pit, whose custom it was to ogle the attractive women present, raised their eyeglasses to stare at Lady Mays and her companion.
    Miss Blythe thought the gentlemen’s behavior to be outrageous, but not worthy of notice. Instead, she gazed about her with appreciation. “How nice this is, to be sure.”
    “Yes, isn’t it? I have always enjoyed the theater. I know that you will recall that I adored our studies in Shakespeare,” said Lucinda.
    “Of course I do, my dear. And this is quite one of my own favorites,” said Miss Blythe. “How delicious!”
    “Oh, the curtain is about to be raised!” exclaimed Lucinda, leaning forward in anticipation.
    Lucinda and Miss Blythe scarcely exchanged a word once the play began. Both sat enthralled at the performance of one of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies. They drew a collective breath when the curtain fell for intermission, and they blinked, reluctant to be brought back to their surroundings.
    However, the ladies had little choice when there fell a knock on the door of the box, which was followed by a regular stream of visitors. Ladies came in to renew their acquaintance with Lady Mays and her companion, or to introduce various gentlemen who had persuaded them to perform the office.
    It was the general consensus that Lady Mays was still a beauty of astonishing degree. Her gown, her jewels, the style of her wavy hair, were all remarked upon. Lucinda received the compliments graciously, knowing how little it all actually meant, but willing to play the game as long as it suited her.
    Mrs. Grisham brought her daughter to be introduced to Lady Mays and Miss Blythe. She was an ambitious mother, and she was shrewd enough to know that an invitation to any address as prestigious as Mays House could not but help her daughter’s consequence.
    The girl was a pretty minx who was obviously more interested in fixing the interest of any gentleman that came within her range than in meeting two unattached ladies. Miss Amanda Grisham was shocked when she met Lady Mays. It had never occurred to her that a widow could be either young or beautiful. As she responded to Lucinda’s greeting, there was an instant antagonism in her expressive eyes. Lucinda was a good deal astonished to realize that the girl saw her as some sort of rival.
    Lady Mays’s companion, Miss Blythe, was thought to look very well also. Mrs. Grisham was particularly impressed. “Such an elegant, respectable creature. She is obviously of good birth. You would do well to pattern yourself after her, Amanda,” said Mrs. Grisham to her daughter as they left the box.
    “Yes, Mama,” said her obedient daughter, casting a languishing glance at a young gentleman just then passing them. He turned his head, startled.
    It was not at all surprising that a number of gentlemen seized the opportunity to make themselves known to the beautiful widow. Many relied upon ladies of their acquaintance to perform the necessary introductions. However, it was already becoming common knowledge that Mr. Stassart was Lady Mays’s cousin, and Ferdie found himself in the pleasant position of being importuned for his good offices. He allowed himself to be persuaded when the anxious gentlemen began to offer him small considerations that were of value to him. Several of his outstanding vowels were retired upon his promise to secure for the grateful bucks special entree into Lady Mays’s presence.
    Thus it was that