The Lord and The Kitty
The gas lights lit the stage in a warm yellow glow as she took her curtsey for the cheering audience. Spinning the pale blue silk parasol over her shoulder, she daintily picked up the matching blue silk skirts of her gown and left the stage, waving a gloved hand to the men who were clammering in the audience for more.
Exchanging a brief word with the stage manager, she paused in the dark wings listening to the audience calling for an encore. Casting a quick smile to the stage hand beside her, she tugged her gloves straight, furled the parasol meticulously then walked out onto the stage as if it were a mere afternoon stroll in the park.
Standing daintily in the spot light, she smiled out over the darkness of the audience and waited for silence. When she was sure the theatre was still, she began to sing, her mind wandering as her experience took her through the song for the thousandth time. Looking up at the boxes, she caught sight of a solitary male in the one nearest the stage, his dark hair swept back from his high forehead. He was scanning the audience casually, an unheard of activity during her performance.
Blowing a kiss to the band leader below the stage, she threw a wave to the audience as she left the stage for the last time that evening. Even she had her limits.
Walking into the care of her maid, she was ushered past the well-wishers who had infested the backstage area, many of them thrusting flowers and cards upon her. Smiling and thanking them graciously, she handed them to the nearest stagehand with orders to send the flowers to the nearest hospice, and then dumped all of the cards into a bin.
"Marie, leave me be," she complained as her maid sat her at the dressing table and began to remove the pins from her hair.
"And have you leave here looking like a ruffian?" Marie asked as she ignored the mild rebuke. "I do not think so Miss Kitty."
"I am perfectly able to care for my own hair and dress," Miss Kitty said in warning, her eyes narrowing at her maid's reflection. "You are to go outside and clear away all of those tiresome men, and then I want you to go home to your sister. Her time is close."
Marie pursed her lips at her mistress's expression, then shrugged her resignation. "At least allow me to see to your hair before I go."
"Oh very well," Miss Kitty said with ill grace. "But I would prefer it if you went to your sister."
Removing the pins, Marie quickly brushed the silky blonde strands then tied them back with a scarlet silk ribbon. Picking up her bonnet and jacket, she looked at her mistress as she walked around the opulent dressing room, removing her jacket and skirt and picking up the silk robe.
"You will be alright miss?"
"Yes Marie!" Kitty said with a quick smile. "Go to your sister." Ushering the maid to the door, Kitty pushed her out and slammed the door closed on her admirers with a roll of the eyes. At least the stage hands would clear them off soon.
Returning to her preparations, Kitty sat at the dressing table then raised her heeled foot up to the edge of it. Sliding back the silk robe, she ran her hands up her leg, smoothing out the silk stockings and retying the scarlet garter. She didn't turn her head as the door opened and closed gently.
"Marie, I said to go home."
"I believe she has," a smooth male voice said. "I am looking for Miss Kitty?"
She looked him up and down, over the expensively cut jacket, the silk stock and the single diamond pin in the crisp linen folds. "Who are you?" she asked calmly, her hands resting on her exposed thigh.
"Lord Drogoh," he answered as he glanced over the room, the silk clothes lying over chairs and the expensive furniture dotted around. "You are Miss Kitty?"
"I am," she said with a quick nod of the head. Lowering her foot to the carpeted floor, she arranged the robe to cover herself and waved to the door. "You may now leave."
"Not until I have completed my business," he said. Lifting aside a sheer silk negligee, he examined it between his gloved fingers then sat on a chair and watched her with piercingly dark eyes. "Miss Kitty, I am looking for a man by the name of James Roberts."
"Many people are looking for Jimmy, my Lord," Kitty said with a charming smile. "And for some reason they always seem to think I know where he is."
"Maybe because he is your ex lover?" Lord Drogoh asked with a quick smile.
Catching her breath at the smile, Kitty sat up straight and treated him to a penetrating stare. "We were lovers for a very short time several years ago," she informed him in a low voice. "That is past history and I have not talked to Jimmy for some time. In fact the last time we did exchange words I also threw a knife at him. Unfortunately I failed to hit my target. So why are you here?"
Lord Drogoh sat back and shrugged elegantly. "I was informed Mister Roberts would be here tonight. I have some business I wish to discuss with him."
"Then good luck to you," Kitty said as she turned back to the dressing table. "I have seen neither hide nor hair of the cad. Good bye my Lord."
"I think I shall remain where I am," Drogoh said as he settled himself into the chair. "Please carry on Miss Kitty, and I shall wait for Master Roberts to appear."
Staring at his reflection, Kitty's mouth thinned in annoyance. Picking up the rouge pot, she carefully applied some to her lips to highlight them, then picked up the powder pot. The insufferable man was watching her from hooded eyes, his body perfectly still as only his eyes followed her movements. Well she maybe forced to endure his presence, but she was going to make him as uncomfortable as possible.
Easing the silk robe from her shoulders, she carefully dabbed the powder across her smooth pale skin, the cotton puff moving down to the swell of her breasts as they were pushed up high. Letting the robe slip lower, she uncovered the cerise pink of her corset to his eyes.
Leaning forward on the pretext of checking her lips in the mirror, she gave him an uninterrupted view of her breasts and the way the corset pushed them higher and rounder. Powdering them gently, she glanced at his reflection. His deep brown eyes were holding her's, a small quirk of the mouth betraying his amusement.
"Do you treat all guests to such a display?" Lord Drogoh asked calmly.
"That depends entirely," Kitty answered with a shrug, pleased by the way the corset moved and thrust her breasts up for a moment. "Do you always intrude upon other peoples privacy?"
"That depends," he echoed. Looking up at a rap on the door, he glanced at her frown and got to his feet. "Are you expecting someone?" he asked as he picked up his beaver hat and settled it over his dark hair.
Shaking her head, Kitty hitched up her robe and turned to the door. Glancing at Drogoh as he stepped back into a shadowed corner, she rolled her eyes. "Come in!"
The door swung open gently and for a moment Kitty thought no-one was there, then a heavily coated figure slipped in and shut the door behind it. Opening her mouth to question the intruder, she frowned as a hat was removed to reveal a shock of red hair.
"Jimmy!"
"Hello Kitty," the man said as he unwound his muffler and unbuttoned his coat. "Long time."
"You utter bastard!" she growled. Snatching up a crystal ornament from the dressing table, she flung it at his head as she rose. "How dare you show your face around here again!"
Catching her tightly to him, Jimmy laughed as she tried to claw his face. "Calm down woman, it was only a necklace."
