Chapter Fifteen

PRECAUTIONS

Margaret found it difficult to behave as if nothing had happened. Something worse than Mr Fortescue having found her! What could be worse than that? Imagine if he said she was engaged to act for him, and made her go back to act in his fit-up company! Luckily Horatio had so much to say about being seasick, and Katie wanted to know so much about Ireland, it was hard for Margaret to get in a word anyway.

In a pause Margaret did remember to ask Lord Delaware if Lavinia could sit with her in her dressing room until the curtain went up.

Lord Delaware shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, my child, but that would mean Lavinia would be walking herself home and I would not be allowing that.’

Miss Grey intervened. ‘I’m sure Sarah will walk with Lavinia to the hotel, it won’t take her more than a few minutes.’

It was not long afterwards that the tea party broke up, though to Lavinia it felt like hours, but at last the goodbyes were said, and Lavinia and Margaret were alone. Then Margaret said, her chin up to take what was coming:

‘Well?’

Lavinia drew a chair up to the dressing table. She spoke very quietly so no one could overhear what she said:

‘When we got to the theatre Grandfather took the boys to the place where they could leave their coats. I waited for them by where they sell the tickets. It was then I saw her. She looked simply awful, almost as if she were mad. She had a little boy with her and she was reading one of those lists which says who was acting in the play. I kept out of sight behind people, but I got quite close to her and saw her point to a name. Then she said to the little boy, “Read it, read it.” The little boy did not want to, he was scared and half-crying but at last he said, “Margaret Thursday. Like I told you, it says Margaret Thursday.” The woman gave a sort of growl and then she said in a sort of mutter: “I’ll get her. You wait and see, I’ll get her.” Then she pushed her way through the people coming in and, dragging the little boy behind her, vanished in the crowd. Oh, Margaret, I wouldn’t have told you but it was Matron, Matron from the orphanage.’

Although she had rouge on her cheeks Margaret had turned quite pale. ‘Matron! Oh, Lavinia!’

Lavinia got up and put her arms round her. ‘I did not tell you to scare you but just to warn you to be careful. Do not ever go about alone.’

‘I never do. Anyway, what would Matron want me for?’

‘You always said she hated you, perhaps she wants to punish you for running away. I wonder if she is still at the orphanage.’

‘Sure to be. But I’ve had all her worst punishments. I suppose I could have them all again. If she could catch me, that is.’