“You look like something is bothering you,” Selena said as Jo reached her side.
“Many, many things are,” Jo answered with a small smile. “But what about you? Anything on your mind?”
Selena shrugged. “I am looking forward to the new season. I know we don’t perform until spring, but I can’t wait that long. Can you get us a performance in one of those aristocratic homes in the meantime? I need a protector. I don’t know how you’ve lived in a boarding house your whole life. I can’t last more than a few months.” Selena shuddered theatrically.
Jo shook her head. “I didn’t have any invitations after the house party.” She felt rather guilty about that. She was too preoccupied with her affair to line up any performances for them. And with Mick stealing all the attention, she’d spent her time being petty rather than proactive. And now that she was to become a viscountess, what would become of that part of her career? She wasn’t the only one who depended on those little plays in between the seasons.
The Gilded Rose had a patent to perform the plays only in the spring. And while different performances took place during the other months, they weren’t paying as much.
And now she felt incredibly guilty about her future marriage.
Was she being selfish?
She chewed on her lip, then took Selena by her hands and drew her away. “Richard asked me to marry him,” she said in a low voice so that nobody would overhear them.
Instead of leaning closer and whispering back, as Jo wrongly assumed Selena would do, she let out a loud shriek. And then she hurled herself toward Jo and enveloped her in a hug.
“I can’t believe this!” she cried, a huge smile on her face as she drew away. “Is this real? You are not jesting, are you?”
Selena looked so happy for Jo that all the doubt disappeared even if just for a moment. Jo shook her head and laughed alongside her friend. “I am not jesting. He promised to get a special license for us this week.”
Tears shone in Selena’s eyes as she hugged Jo once more. “I am so happy for you, Jo!”
They stood like that, hugging, while the entire troupe watched them as if they had gone mad.
“I am most happy to learn that you did not sabotage your own happiness, my dear,” Selena said as she drew away once more and wiped at her cheeks. “I was slightly frightened you said no!”
Jo smiled. “I have to tell you that I still have doubts.”
Selena rolled her eyes. “Oh, cease it! Can’t you relax and enjoy your good fortune for once in your life?”
“I don’t think I’ve had a lot of good fortune in my life,” Jo said. “But how can I not have doubts? This will change everything for me.”
“Yes, for the better. People will stop dismissing you and your ideas. Perhaps you will be able to finally sell your plays!”
Jo grimaced. “Yes, because of my new husband’s status.”
Selena gave a laugh. “And? You and I both know that lack of status is the only thing that held you back. Being born a woman was a hindrance to your talent. It is an uphill battle one must climb. You have the opportunity to level the field. Do not doubt for one moment this decision, Jo. Do not think that this will give you a great advantage. It will just give you the same opportunity as common men. Men like Mick or Mr. Hart.”
“And what about you? What about the women in our troupe, and even men—other than Mick—who rely on that extra payment from the house parties?”
Selena took her hands in hers and looked her squarely in the eye. “First of all, you deserve to act selfishly once in a while. You deserve to be happy just for your own sake and not everybody else’s. We—and our fortunes—are not your responsibility.” Jo was about to interject, but Selena squeezed her hands and continued plowing on. “Second of all, knowing you, you will find a better way to help us all. You’ll be a viscountess!”
“Yes, the most scandalous one. I doubt most women would welcome me into their homes.”
Selena rolled her eyes. “If we are all stuck in a deep hole, is it easier for us to climb out while you’re inside with us? Or if you’re free and can throw us a rope?”
Jo looked at Selena with a frown between her brows. “How come nobody notices that you’re the smartest person around?”
Selena gave a loud cackle. “That’s because I am a lowly, common-born woman. But perhaps once I am a viscountess’s best friend, they will start giving me more credit!”
“They’d be fools not to,” Jo said with a grin. She wiped her eyes, realizing she’d been crying. How odd, she didn’t even notice. But what’s more, for once, these had been tears of joy. “Thank you, dear. I don’t know what I would do without you.” She squeezed Selena’s hands. And she meant every word. Perhaps Selena didn’t always give the best advice. Both Jo and Selena had made a fair share of mistakes. But Selena had always had Jo’s best interest at heart. And Jo was eternally grateful for that.
“Fortunately, you won’t ever need to find out.” Selena winked and skipped away.
Jo wiped at her tears and groaned. She needed to freshen up. She couldn’t continue rehearsing with tear stains on her face. So she shuffled away toward her dressing room.
She took her time to put herself back to rights. She used the chamber pot, cleaned herself up, pinned her hair, and with one last glance at her looking glass left her room with a skip in her step.