Of Profit & Pleasure
Disclaimer: I do not own The Libertine.
A/N: Thanks to LinaLove not only for her review but once again for her support. Also thank you to dionne dance, Marie and PrincessKanako for their reviews. And may I present, Chapter Two!
Chapter Two
Katherine Parker
1684
He watched from his box as the crowd whooped and hollered and clapped wildly as she finished her final monologue.
Shakespeare had never been his favorite playwright. The Earl had always found him too comical, and his attempts at bawdy humor were pathetic, at best. That was the old style of theater. Now that relics such as the Bard were in the ground, the Earl felt it was up to him to give London the education it rightfully deserved in more mature fashion.
But he had found Miss Parker's Katherina from Taming of the Shrew to be refreshing. And he saw for the first time someone that had actually captured the meaning behind that final speech. Although Katherina says she has found her calling as a submissive wife to Petruchio, the Earl knew Shakespeare's true intent was to be ironic. A woman like Katherina, the so-called "shrew" of the tale, could never be tamed. She had simply fallen in love and had found a whole new way to manipulate Petruchio by playing the devoted partner.
Up until tonight he had never seen any actress play the role as it was intended but this woman had embodied that sense of irony. And Alcock was right, even from the balcony he could see that Miss Katherine Parker had to be the most beautiful woman in London. Somewhat petite, but with a slight bosom, she moved with grace and dignity, more so than any commoner he had come across.
His eyes were not as good as they used to be so he hoped that he'd be able to sneak backstage to get a closer look at the belle of the London. He didn't bother to watch the last few lines of the play and instead swept from his box and hurried down the steps to greet the stage manager.
He had short words with him as the players took their final bows and after slipping him a few coins the man gladly showed the Earl to the dressing room area where he would find the comely Miss Parker. He surveyed the room and spotted her standing, half-dressed, in the corner with her back to the rest of the room.
He stalked through the rows of dressing mirrors amongst the rest of the actors and actresses that were packing up to go home or to meet their lovers. He knew a gentleman would wait until a woman was fully clothed to approach her, but John never fancied himself a gentleman.
He had planned exactly what he was going to say but just as he opened his mouth she held up a hand.
Without even looking back at him she spoke, "Please, spare me your pretty words. I know who you are and I know your reputation and I would rather not associate myself with a cad such as you."
The smirk almost left his face.
"And how do you know of that?"
"People talk, Lord Rochester," she replied simply.
"I am flattered, Miss Parker, that you should know all about my character when I know almost nothing of yours, except for the fact that you are toast of the town," he replied charmingly.
"And that is all you will know about me Lord Rochester," she replied as she turned to look at him for the first time.
His eyes widened slightly to take her in. He had met her before, he was sure of it. But he had been away from the city for half a decade and she looked no older than twenty. Surely he had not bedded her when she was just a child. He would not have met her at court because no actress had ever been welcomed to actually socialize with his majesty.
She was walking away from him, believing she had silenced him with that witty tongue.
"Have we met?" he asked her and she stilled.
"I do not believe so. What would an Earl have to do with a lowly actress?"
Her expression was fierce, as if daring him to continue. But the Earl was never one to be shy.
"Miss Parker, you yourself just informed me you are well aware of my reputation. I thought you'd know of my talent as an acting instructor."
"I know nothing of your talent as an acting instructor, but I know much of your talent as lustful rodent."
"Rodent, madame? I think myself more a rogue."
"Well you do think rather highly of yourself."
"I am here merely to offer my services to you Miss Parker," he drawled.
"And what services are those, sir? Lessons in acting or corruption of character?"
He stared straight into her sapphire blue eyes, "Whichever would be of more use to my Lady."
And then he bowed low without taking his eyes from her.
"My Lady?" she laughed bitterly, "Well, my Lord, as you heard for yourself from the reaction of tonight's audience, I hardly need an acting lesson."
"And from what I have indeed heard of you, my Lady, you are in no need of further corruption of character," he looked down at his coat and picked a stray string from the front.
"And where did you hear that?"
He chuckled darkly, "people talk, Miss Parker."
"Well then, my Lord, you should know that I need no further education in either field. Please make sure you inform the stage hand of your departure so he can lock up behind you," and with that she disappeared from his sight.
Lord Rochester's head fell back and a groan escaped his lips. His breeches felt tight; tighter than they had in years.
2005
Her eyes stung from staring at the computer screen for hours in the dark and now the sun was peeking through the bottom of the window shades in her room. She heard her roommate's alarm clock go off from down the hall. She had officially stayed up all night. And despite having tons of educational data bases to comb through, she had found very little on Charlotte Fitzroy. She decided to click to the next page, page 95, and if she didn't find anything she was going to call it a wash and go in late to work in hopes that she could get some sleep.
She scrolled down through the page until she saw a name she had not yet come across in her research:
Katherine Parker
She clicked on the article and skimmed its contents. Katherine had been a popular actress at the same time Charlotte had lived. She was known for perfecting the role of Katherina in The Taming of the Shrew.
That was all the article said. But why did an article on a London stage actress come up in her search on Charlotte Fitzroy? Were they friends? Lovers? Olivia had heard of such dalliances before; respectable women of high social standing who had a husband and children taking a female lover. But she had found nothing on a husband or children in her search on Charlotte Fitzroy. It was as if any detailed record of her had been wiped clean from the history books.
Olivia was starting to think that maybe she had been looking up the wrong person.
She directed her cursor up to the search bar and typed in Katherine Parker. When she saw the number of results that popped up, she knew she would not be going to work today, nor would she be getting any sleep.
1684
Alcock was surprised when his master returned to the manor that night. Usually on a night at the theater he would stay at the inn and employ one of the local harlots to entertain him.
"Home for the evening, my Lord?" he asked as he tried to clear the sleep from his eyes and take the Earl's cloak at the same time.
"Alcock, make sure that my box is available at the theater where Miss Parker is performing," he replied.
"Of course, my Lord, what night would you like to attend?"
"Make it an indefinite engagement."
A/N: Just so you are aware. As of now this story is rated "T" but in a few chapters it will change to an "M" rating for Mature Content. Thank you for reading. Please review!