by Kari Edgren
Henry leaned a hand on the rail and his gaze shifted to the far edge of the pit. “Must be a storm,” he said, distracted. “Go ahead with James. He’s just as anxious to see Nora as you are. I’ll be along directly.”
I attempted to follow Henry’s gaze. “What are you looking at?” It was a hive of activity below. Nearly everyone remained standing after Nora left the stage. A good number continued to clap and issue calls and whistles. The others either talked with their neighbors or were making a slow push to the perimeter and outside doors.
“Nothing.” Henry took my arm and urged me toward James. “Please take Selah through the back hallway to the dressing rooms.”
Shouts broke through the commotion below. “What did they say?” My eyes roved over the spectators in search of the source. At the benches beneath the first gallery, the shuffle of the crowd faltered, then swayed with a sudden violence. “Is that a fight?”
“Please go, Selah.” Tension—and excitement—tugged at Henry’s face. “I won’t be long. James will show you the way.”
Sharp words shot to my lips when Cate appeared beside us.
“Why don’t you bring her, Henry?” she said. “Surely Nora would appreciate the praise from all her friends after such a fine performance.”
I darted a quick look to Andrew and Jane Saxby, who waited near the box entrance. James stood on my other side, also anxious to be off as he watched the stage for any sign of Nora.
Henry’s eyes narrowed. “All in good time,” he said coolly.
Cate leaned closer and gave him her sweetest smile. “The fight down there does not belong to you, my lord. Go with Selah now, or I shall be forced to immobilize you.”
His face turned to stone. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Depend upon it,” she said, so low I had to strain to hear. “One touch, and you’ll be on the floor like a newborn babe.”
Henry’s back straightened to a rigid line. He studied Cate’s face for a brief moment, I assumed to gauge her sincerity. “Very well. I shall leave the matter in your competent hands.” He gave her a thin smile that paled against the frost in his eyes. Turning, he offered his arm to me. “I believe we have someone to congratulate.” His tone sounded reasonably calm, though the ensuing pace from the box told a different story.
Andrew, Jane and James hurried behind us. More angry shouts erupted from the pit, but soon grew muffled as we entered the back hallway “What’s happening?” I asked, darting a worried look over my shoulder. “Do you think it’s Deri?”
Henry’s pace remained constant. “I don’t know.”
Andrew chuckled. “Our Nora has raised the blood of more than a few young dandies tonight. The roosters will crow and strut for a while, but nothing to worry about, I’m sure. The theater keeps extra men on hand for such occasions.”
“As you well know, brother,” Jane said amiably. “Miss Justine Rose caused a riot after her first appearance on stage. Andrew received a stunning black eye for his efforts that night.”
“Quite right, Jane,” Andrew agreed. “Nothing like a pretty face to stir the blood.”
“Oh, you men are incorrigible,” Jane laughed. “Don’t you agree, Selah? Always on the lookout for an excuse to show a bit of bravado.”
“Indeed,” I said, tightening my grasp on Henry’s arm.
The passageway grew darker, lit only by the occasional candle that flickered behind smoke stained shades of the wall lamps. Henry led our party down a flight of stairs to another corridor.
The faint pitch of a scream could be heard in the distance. “Might be more than a few black eyes tonight,” Andrew said, somewhat somber this time.
Henry pulled his arm free of my hand. “Go ahead. I’ll catch up in a moment.” He dropped back to walk with the Saxbys.
Before I could protest, James came alongside me. “Nora was splendid tonight,” he said. “The most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.”
“Yes, most beautiful,” I replied with only half a mind to his words. The other half remained on the escalating fight in the pit, and I thanked heaven that Henry had been coerced into accompanying me to the dressing rooms. Tom and Cate could deal with whatever trouble was brewing out there.
“Do you...” James started hesitantly. “Do you think now she has taken to the stage, that she will remain in London indefinitely?”
I cut a suspicious look at him, unused to so much civility at once. “Perhaps,” I said, purposefully vague in my response. In truth, it hadn’t occurred to me that Nora might stay to make a real profession of the theater rather than return home to Hopewell in the spring as planned.
The corridor turned to the right and continued on, though now with doors on either side. James stopped at the first one and knocked. “Miss Rose’s dressing room,” he mumbled in way of explanation.
“Come in,” Nora’s happy voice called through the door.
We shuffled together into the room. The rich sweetness of roses filled the air from several large arrangements. Nora sat in front of a mirror with Justine scrubbing at her face paint. “I shan’t be allowed back in Lady Dinley’s house if I bring Nora home looking like a hussy,” she laughed. “We shall have our Quaker back in no time.”
The costume had already been removed and Nora now wore a blue silk robe, no doubt belonging to Justine. With a last swipe of the cloth, Nora turned from the mirror, her face restored to its natural color. The exhilaration remained untouched.
James moved to her side. “You were splendid tonight,” he said.
“Absolutely stellar,” Andrew agreed, stepping forward and partially blocking me from view.
Red splotches stained Nora’s cheeks. “Thank you,” she said. Then taking James’s hand, she pressed it affectionately. “It means so much to have you here.”
I dropped my gaze to the floor, feeling about three inches high. James and the Saxbys had been invited. I came of my own accord.
“And you, Selah,” she said, peering around Andrew. “I couldn’t have gotten through it without you.”
My head snapped up. Nora stood and took a tentative step toward me. Then we both moved forward, straight into each other’s arms. “I’m so proud of you,” I said against her cheek. “You were magnificent, by far the best actress London has ever seen.”
“She did well enough I suppose,” Justine teased.
Nora winked at me. “High praise indeed coming from the most demanding teacher in all of England.” She caught sight of the flowers clutched to my side. “Are those for me?” she asked excitedly. “Please say they are.”
I laughed and handed her the bouquet. “A small token of my admiration, though in full disclosure they came from the Fitzalan hothouse.”
“They’re lovely.” She drew a deep breath from the blooms, then glanced around the room. “Where is Henry? Did he not come down with you?”
I turned toward Andrew.
“Ah, yes. Henry forgot his walking stick in the box. Said it shouldn’t take long and that he would be here shortly.”
Alarm scampered through my ribcage. “He didn’t bring a walking stick, my lord.”
Andrew glanced at his own polished wooden stick, shifted it from side-to-side. “You don’t say.” He shifted the stick again. “Could be he was looking for an excuse to join the fight.”
“Brother,” Jane said, drawing the name out to a warning. “Did you know this at the time?”
My eyes bounced between the two of them.
“I may have had a suspicion,” Andrew said sheepishly. “But Henry swore me to silence. When I offered to...uh...go back for my own walking stick, he asked that I accompany you ladies instead. Much preferable to another black eye if you ask me.”
“Dear Lord!” I cried. “I’ve got to find him.” I made for the door when both men moved to block my path.
; “You’re not going out there, Miss Kilbrid,” James said evenly. “Lord Fitzalan can tend to himself.”
“More the pity for any man who crosses his path,” Andrew added.
I glared at them. What about a little girl descended from death and madness? Would you pity her?
Anger sparked to life beside my fear. “You don’t understand. Word reached us this morning that someone might try to harm Henry tonight. It is of the utmost importance that he not be left alone.”
James’s expression darkened. “Lord Fitzalan mentioned nothing to me. Perhaps it was just a bluff. Or an ill-formed jest. Have you thought of that?”
My gaze stayed firm, even when I clenched my hands to keep from screaming. “I assure you, it was neither a bluff nor a jest. Now please move aside so I can find him.”
Before Deri does...
James and Andrew stared at me, unmoving. Fire danced on the tips of my fingers, ready to be of use. If only there were a way to put these two aside without betraying my gift. A shock to the sciatic nerves would render their legs useless. Or to the vagus for complete loss of consciousness. But surely neither action would go unnoticed.
Blast it! There must be something I could do short of paralysis or fainting!
“Stay here, Miss Kilbrid,” James said, taking me by surprise. “Lord Saxby and I will see to Henry.”
Andrew sighed. “Another black eye,” he muttered darkly.
My mouth opened in protest when Nora circled an arm around my waist. White knuckles gripped the bouquet in her other hand. “Don’t leave me,” she said quietly. “I’ve enough people to worry about without adding you to the mix.”
The protest died on my lips. Resigned, I looked between the two men. “Please hurry.”
James nodded. “We’ll return as soon as we can.”
Nora and I didn’t move at once, but continued to stare at the empty doorway. Neither of us said a word about the low rumble of voices and screams that could be heard through the many walls that separated us from the performance hall.
“Well, aren’t we a dreary group,” Justine said to help break the somber mood. “Come, Nora, let’s get you into that dowdy gray dress before the men come back. No doubt they will want to celebrate your success with supper.”
Nora’s arm fell from my waist. “Yes, of course.” She went to Justine, who had pulled the familiar gown from a long rack of clothing.
“Oh!” Jane near squealed. “Are those your costumes, Miss Rose? I swear you wear the most adorable fashions.” Crossing the small room, she started to sort through the wide assortment of silks and satins. “You best watch out Nora. I may be vying for the part next just to get my hands on some of these gowns. Selah, come look at the color of this one.”
I moved as instructed, though my heart was far from the task. “Stunning,” I said, while absentmindedly fingering the emerald cloth. In truth, even Jane’s cheerfulness sounded somewhat contrived, I assumed in an effort to distract us from other events.
“Now, where did we throw that bonnet of yours?” Justine asked, turning a small circle. “Did it get mixed in with my other hats?” She peered into a cabinet next to the costume racks.
Jane pulled out another gown. “Miss Rose wore this one in Venice Preserved. She played the most convincing courtesan.”
“Too convincing, according to some of my critics,” Justine said, her hands full of feathers and felt. “It’s not here, Nora. You may have to borrow one of mine for tonight, though I’ve nothing so plain as what you’re used to.”
Nora moved from the dressing table toward the door. “There you are,” she said. “And you’ve taken my bonnet again.”
“Goody made me laugh tonight,” a childish voice said from behind me.
I turned so quickly, the gown ripped from the hanger. Deri stood next to Nora, a familiar white cap askew on her pale head. The long ties fell loose over the front of her ragged dress and black shawl.
“You naughty girl.” Nora chucked her softly under the chin. “I told you that play wasn’t meant for young ears. Do you need another penny for supper? Is that why you’re here?”
“I’ve got one in my purse,” Jane said, the costumes all but forgotten. She made to move forward, when I grabbed onto her arm.
The sight proved surreal, like watching my dearest friend in a lion’s cage. “Nora,” I said, keeping my voice even, “please come away from the girl.”
Nora gave me a disapproving look. “Selah, it’s just the child I’ve told you about. We met her on the docks our first day in London.”
Justine shifted to my side. “Keep that wretched brat distracted,” she whispered. “I’m going for Cate and Tom.” Skirting the shadows along the far wall, she emerged near the door, and slipped undetected into the corridor.
Ice-blue eyes chilled me to the bone. “Thought we was through, Biddie girl,” the wretch said. “Pity the hound didn’t get yeh.”
“Now, be nice to Selah,” Nora scolded. “You know she’s my dearest friend.”
The wretch slipped a hand into Nora’s. Her gaze dropped and she twisted a toe against the floorboard. “It wanted her heart,” she muttered.
Nora shook her head. “I’ve told you not to speak against—” The words stopped, and in the space of a heartbeat, a trace of a shiver seemed to move over her form.
I blinked, unsure if my eyes had seen correctly.
An indulgent smile spread over Nora’s lips. “Selah, come say hello to Deri? You, too, Jane. She’s really the sweetest girl.”
Jane moved forward with caution. I joined her, my lips compressed to an angry line.”Pleased to meet yeh, m’ladies.” The wretch bobbed a cultish curtsey without releasing Nora’s hand.
Nora patted her head. “Deri’s life has been rife with trouble. Her mother is locked away, and she’s been sent to London all by herself to fetch the key.”
“Is that so,” I said. “She must be very brave indeed.”
Brave enough to torture and kill young children.
The thought of Jenny’s mangled body nearly sent me hurtling straight into Deri. I stopped my feet at the last moment, aware that one false move could send her scurrying from the theater. The sounds of the fight had died down. Cate and Tom must surely be on their way by now.
“Oh, yes,” Nora said. “Deri is the bravest of girls.”
“Tell ’em about me da,” Deri chirruped.
Nora shook her head. “It’s most unfortunate. The poor girl...” She faltered over the words as confusion clouded her eyes. “It’s really quite terrible. I don’t know...” A tremor entered her voice, and she started to pull away from Deri when another shiver passed over her body, too strong this time to be an illusion.
My eyes settled on their clasped hands, and understanding sent my heart flying.
“I...I believe she had to kill her own father,” Nora continued, her voice calm once more. “The horrible man tried to make Deri forget about her mother, and he didn’t want her to get the key.” She looked at the wretch. “What is it you did again? Slit his throat in his sleep?”
“Aye, with a wicked sharp blade.” Giggling, Deri drew a filthy finger in a curved line across her throat. “Me da don’t say nothing no more.”
Jane gasped, a gloved hand coming to her mouth. “How dreadful,” she said. “Nora, dearest, why don’t you give Deri a penny and let her go for her supper.”
The wretch moved closer to Nora. “Goody promised to help with me mam. She promised to come with Deri tonight after the play.”
A frozen stillness settled over the dressing room. “Nora is not going anywhere with you.” I took Nora’s free hand to draw her away.
Deri’s pale lips curled to a snarl. “Bad Biddie girl,” she said softly.
Nora tensed, then yanked her hand from my grasp. “Leave me alone, Selah! Y
ou’ve no right to tell me what to do!”
I flinched from the sharpness for her words. “Nora, come away. Deri is playing with your mind.”
“Listen to her, Nora!” Jane cried. “This girl is trouble!” She lunged forward and took hold of Deri’s arm.
“Jane! No!” I cried.
Jane’s eyes widened, and her mouth turned to a near perfect circle. “Ohhh,” she breathed before crumpling to the floor.
Nora stared blankly at Jane’s lifeless form.
“What did you do to her,” I demanded.
Deri tilted her head from side-to-side. “Tick, tock. Little Deri stopped her clock.” She giggled, amused by the rhyme.
Dead or fainted? I moved toward Jane when Nora put a hand on my shoulder.
“Selah,” she said, pleadingly. “I’m so sorry. I...I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“It’s Deri. She’s splitting your mind.” I reached for her hand again.
Nora jerked back from me. “Leave me alone,” she cried. “I hate you!”
Deri grinned, revealing her sharp white teeth. “Time to go, Goody lady,” she said.
Nora moved obediently. In a desperate play, I dashed around them to block the doorway.
“I won’t let you take her, Deri. I’ll kill you first even if it means my own life.”
Deri giggled again. “Fly away Biddie girl, or little Deri will kill the lady.”
“No you won’t—”
In an instant, Nora’s breath grew strained. Then the muscles clenched in her neck, and she began to jaw for air. Desperation filled her eyes as she started to claw at the smooth skin just above the gray neckline of her gown.
Deri flapped one arm like a wing. “Fly Biddie girl.”
Panicked thoughts spun through my head. Should I grab Nora? Force her away from the wretch? Would that be enough? What if the suffocation stemmed from a mental ailment rather than something physical? Could Nora die while I searched for the source of the problem?
Damnation! Where is Cate?
Nora’s face turned from red to dark purple. Blood trickled from a deep scratch on her neck. “Stop it!” I cried and moved aside.