Captive Romance

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

What Rebecca had hoped would be an enjoyable evening with her husband, quickly proved to be quite different.

Martin had spent the entire evening in a separate theater box as he had smoked, drank and chatted with his friends and business associates.

Rebecca had been forced to sit with the other wealthy women of the town in their own box and had felt quite out of place. These women were all nearly twice her age, or more, and they had been raised in the world of wealth and prestige. None of them had much in common with Rebecca and she always found herself struggling to converse with or relate to them.

The show was a good one, at least. Full of comedy and laughs—both of which Rebecca had been needing. When the show had ended and she left her box, Martin was waiting for her in the hall. He held out his arm and she took it. "Did you enjoy the show?" he asked.

"Yes," Rebecca replied honestly. "Though, I wish we could have watched it together."

The look on Martin's face made Rebecca feel as if she were no more than a petulant child. She hated when Martin treated her that way. "You wanted to come to the theater and I brought you. You cannot sit around the men smoking and drinking. That would be highly inappropriate. And you can't honestly expect me to sit with you women. All that gossiping and cackling." He winked, clearly hoping to amuse her.

Rebecca forced a smile. "No, of course not."

They could have sat together in the main theater seating but that would have been unacceptable to Martin. Both because those seats were made for common folk and because his friends might grow offened if he didn't join them.

"Are we going to dinner together?" Rebecca asked hopefully.

Martin frowned. "I didn't realize you wanted to. I'm sorry, darling. I already made plans with the men."

Rebecca sighed inwardly as her heart fell. Of course he had. And asking him to change those plans would be quite pointless.

"Don't pout," he scolded as they stepped out of the theater. "If going to dinner means so much to you, we can come into town tomorrow and dine together."

Rebecca swallowed her disappointment and nodded. "I would enjoy that."

She knew asking more from the man would merely be ungrateful. She had a far better life with him as her husband than she would have had without.

Martin patted her hand. "Felix will see you home," he said, motioning toward the waiting buckboard and his faithful driver.

Rebecca allowed Martin to help her onto the seat. "Get her home safe, Felix."

"I will, Mr. Smallwood, sir," Felix replied with a tip of the hat on his gray hair.

As the buckboard started forward, Rebecca turned to wave goodbye to her husband but Martin had already turned his back and was walking away.

She folded her hands on her lap and stared straight ahead in the darkness as they started the forty-five minute journey home.

"Did ya enjoy your evenin', Mrs. Smallwood?"

"Yes, I did, Felix. Thank you."

"Are ya feelin' alright?" he questioned.

"I'm fine. Why do you ask?" Rebecca asked, turning to look at him.