The Frozen Rose

CHAPTER FOUR: The opera

That night, lady Anne had decided to take her two oldest children to the opera. Andrew was not a big fan of the arts of acting and singing, but he was a better option than Thomas or Mary. Twould also be a good way to have him spend some time outside the house.

Many people had come to see the opera. Mostly women were most excited, but for this one, many men had decided to come as well. Some had even brought their children to enjoy the spectacle.

Lady Anne and Elizabeth had often gone to events like the opera or theatre. They knew many people, for they often saw the same ones at different plays. Just like them, they wanted to see each one in London, and even some outside the bustling city.

Andrew had walked off while Elizabeth and her mother had found lord and lady Morris, a couple lady Anne had befriended during her first visit alone to the opera. The couple was not very influential, but their name was widely known, and they were very loyal to the Brompton family.

"I have heard about lord Byron's newest play," lady Morris told them. "Their practice has not yet started, but people seem to think it is a success already."

"I have heard the actors are the best," lady Anne agreed with her friend. "But also that it is a very expensive spectacle."

"Lord Byron can afford a lot," lord Morris reminded them. "And if the play is already loved, then he shall have no trouble selling tickets and regaining it all – more even."

"I am very curious about how the story will look on the stage," Elizabeth told them.

"Me too," lady Morris said. "I wonder how they will change from inside the house to outside the house."

"Truly," Elizabeth agreed, vehemently nodding her head. "For the outside has a pond. How will they bring that to the stage?"

"I hope it is not a bath," lady Anne jested, making the entire entourage laugh out loud. Elizabeth was certain lord Byron had thought of a much better way to bring the pond to the stage, and she was to know soon – tomorrow to be exact.

"I hope you are not laughing at of me," a voice spoke behind them. Elizabeth could hear her mother sigh as she saw who was coming toward them. Peter Carr, a man who fancied lady Anne, but did not realize his love was unanswered. He did not see that her heart would always belong to her dead husband and the best father of her children.

Elizabeth believed the man only came to the theatre because he might see lady Anne, and not because he genuinely loved the art. She could imagine him at every performance, watching the crowd rather than the stage, only in hopes of spotting her mother.

"I shall fetch Andrew so we can go to our box," Elizabeth whispered to her mother. The lady nodded with relief painted on her face, and Elizabeth turned around to look for her brother. He was quite easy to see, for he did not go far. He was not supposed to leave them as he was their protector for the night, but he knew both ladies could take care of themselves.

She interrupted Andrew's conversation with another lord by calling out his name. "Mother would like to go our box now."

Andrew turned his head to his sister, and so did the lord he was speaking to. Elizabeth's heart stopped moving for a second and her face fell.

"Elizabeth," he said surprised. He was here. William Brown, lord of Hawthorne was back in London. The man who had left her to deal with the hardest years of her life was right in front of her.

She had shut him out of her mind, trying to forget about him. Every once in a while, a memory would come to her mind, but she had lived a peaceful life since he had left. Yet now he was here, and everything came right back. The happiness as well as the pain he had caused.