3 Chapter 3

Ford was fidgeting in his chair, causing the metal to squeak in a percussive counterpoint. When she finished, Tim stroked his goatee and peered at her more closely.

"Somebody told you the story?"

"What story?" Isobel asked, feeling a sudden chill.

"Do you know who founded this theater?"

"Some relative of Vaughn's, right?"

"His great-grandfather, Garrett Jackson." As Tim spoke, he paced the same trajectory Isobel had. She fought the temptation to follow him, Looney Tunes style, and instead let the couch devour her again.

"The Jacksons were a prominent Southern family, from Virginia, I think. After the Civil War, they made money in textiles. Garrett was being groomed to take over the family business, but he wanted to be an actor." Tim hedged a wry smile. "His father sent him to London on a business trip, and he saw lots of theater while he was there. Including, legend has it, opening night of Ruddigore at the Savoy Theatre."

Isobel gave a shudder. "That's a little weird!"