‘Don’t whistle in the theatre.’
‘I’ll try to remember.’
‘Lisette!’ Sally called out from the wings. ‘Lisette, are you there?’
‘Yes Sally, I’m here,’ she said. ‘I should go.’ Lisette once again started to back away. ‘Goodbye, Mr Michaels.’ She spun around and saw Sally approaching.
‘Lisette,’ Tinder called.
Sally walked on stage and was about to say something when she saw Tinder standing by the edge of the stage. She gave Lisette a meaningful look but said nothing.’
Lisette looked over her shoulder. ‘Yes?’
‘Break a leg,’ Tinder said with a grin.
Lisette and Sally walked side-by-side for a moment in silence — a silence that was too hard for Sally to bear.
‘So, chatting with the owner now?’ Sally said as they walked down the darkened corridors.
‘It’s the first time that I have ever really spoken to him.’ Lisette said.
‘So please tell me that you are going to marry him.’
‘Why on earth would I do that?’
‘To escape your aunt, but more importantly...to spite Bessie of course,’ Sally said with a laugh.
‘I think Bessie is too caught up with her new romance to give me a second thought.’
‘Yes, I have to agree she’s being frightful. Do you know who this mysterious beau of hers could be?’
Lisette thought she might know who it was, and she hoped to God in heaven that she was wrong. ‘I’m not sure. I suppose Bessie will tell us eventually.’
‘I don’t care who it is. I just wish she would stop talking about him,’ Sally said as she linked her arm through Lisette’s. ‘So, do you want to get Alice and head to Uncle Hans’ for a little soup? I swear my stomach has been rumbling for hours.’
‘All right, I just have to change and fetch my shawl,’ Lisette said as they turned down the hallway that led to the dressing room.
Sally let out a heavy sigh.
‘Whatever is the matter?’ Lisette asked.
‘You’ll see,’ Sally said as they stopped outside the dressing room door. Then, with another exaggerated sigh, she pushed open the door. Bessie was sitting down with a dozen of the ballet girls gathered around her.
‘Oh Bessie, it’s the most beautiful bracelet I’ve ever seen,’ one girl said.
‘It is, isn’t it?’ Bessie replied, but it was more of a statement than a question. ‘And it matches the earbobs he gave me!’ At that, Bessie turned her head to show off one of the little gold and garnet earrings that glittered from her lobe.
‘Can I try it on?’ Fanny asked.
‘No! Of course not, you goose,’ Bessie snapped. ‘Oh Lisette, come here... Look what I have!’
Lisette walked forward with a growing feeling of dread settling in her stomach. She had hoped that Bessie’s new lover was not the handsome lord with the cruel words but the bracelet seemed to confirm her worst fears. Bessie was being lavished with flowers, jewels and intimate, secret dinners, and midnight meetings. Only a gentleman of independent means could possibly afford such extravagance. Lisette looked at the Etruscan Revival crossover bangle that sat on Bessie’s slender wrist. Two blood-red garnets twinkled under the gaslight.
‘It’s lovely, Bessie,’ she said. ‘It truly is.’
Bessie smiled triumphantly.
‘Will you tell us the name of your gentleman?’ Lisette asked.
‘No, it is a secret. He does not want our affairs running through the rumour mill. All that I can tell you is that he is a gentleman and I have never been so happy.’
‘I am glad that you are happy but...just be careful,’ Lisette said. She stared at Bessie and hoped that she would heed her warning. But even as the word left her lips, she thought they sounded useless and hollow. Bessie was content and, being showered with gifts, her gentleman hardly seemed a danger to her. But Lisette kept hearing her aunt’s words spin in her head: Vincent, you won’t break this one, will you? If Bessie’s admirer was Lord de Vale then surely she was in some sort of danger.
‘Oh la! I never thought I would see the day that the perfect Lisette Devoré was jealous of me! I have nothing to fear and I will not allow you to spoil anything. He loves me, he is besotted by me and you have nothing.’
‘No, I just do not want you to do anything you may regret,’ Lisette replied.
‘Regret what, Lisette? Will I regret his attention, his gifts...his love?’ Bessie snapped as she stood up from her chair. ‘Are you so jealous that you would begrudge me a little happiness?’
‘No, of course not! I want you to be happy but all I’m asking is that you be aware of what is happening around you.’
‘You speak in riddles,’ Bessie said with a wave of her hand as if she was dismissing her.
‘Do you know anything about him? Is he trustworthy?’ Lisette glanced at Sally for support, only to have her shrug. Finding no help there, Lisette tried once to warn Bessie. ‘I just want you to be careful. Just until you know that you can trust him.’
‘Pah, the man is a lord and a gentleman. I have nothing to fear. Now, if you will all excuse me, I intend to rest before tonight’s performance.’ Bessie pushed through the circle of girls. She paused in the doorway. ‘Lisette, I never thought you would be so petty and cruel. It does not become you. But then I suppose as I am blessed with so much, it is only natural that you should be twisted with such jealousy.’
‘Bessie, I did not mean —’ Lisette said, but as she looked to the door she saw that Bessie had already left. She turned and saw that Sally was giving her an odd look. ‘I did mean... I mean to say, I’m not jealous. I just want her to be careful.’
‘Of what? Why would you care if Bessie found herself in a sea of hot water? I know I would not care... Not one fig. Bessie is proud and arrogant and deserves to be taught a lesson.’
‘I know that she can be difficult, but I would not like to see any harm befall her,’ Lisette said.
The group of girls all quickly began to lose interest and drifted away. All, that is, except for Fanny Bidwell. She lingered and watched until the others had left. Only when she was confident that they were alone did she touch Lisette’s arm to get her attention.
‘Oh, I wouldn’t worry ‘bout her. I caught a glimpse of her new man and he’s a dandy... A real toff, alright,’ Fanny said. ‘That Bessie has really fallen on her feet.’
Evander leaned against the sun-warmed stone wall. He closed his eyes, lifted his face to the sky and listened to the silence of the surrounding wood. A peace settled over him. It was the same every time he came to Temperly. The scent of the pines and distant flowers were on the soft breeze and Evander was content.
He opened his eyes and saw a robin flit in the twisted branches of the nearest woodbine. Its quick and delicate movements reminded him of Lisette. She had managed to wander into his thoughts more than once since he had left London. He had spoken to Alistair about her with bravado but the truth was that he knew that Lisette was not like any girl he had met before. She was graceful and hauntingly beautiful; he had expected her to be willing and compliant and was surprised when she was not. Evander had expected her to bend to his will and accept his offer to accompany her home. Yet she had not and he found himself somehow relieved.
There was the noise of approaching footsteps and Evander watched as the disturbed robin flew away.
‘Ah, there you are Evander,’ Alistair said as he rounded the corner of the tower. ‘The wall on the stables needs repair and the... What are you doing?’
‘Listening to the woods.’
Alistair paused and gave him an odd look. ‘Hmm, well shall we explore the tower and see if there is any more restoration work waiting for us?’
Evander pushed himself off the ground. ‘Yes, of course. The caretaker said he believed the last storm may have damaged a section of the roof.’
They walked together around to the entrance. The square-shaped tower sat sturdily on a small rise. It had been bui
lt by the brothers’ ancestors, sometime in the murky, medieval past. The oversized door creaked as Evander pushed it open. A heavy wooden staircase sat on the far right. The dimness of the large room was pierced by the light coming in the multitude of narrow windows.
The tower consisted of four levels, with each storey equating to one room. An annex on the ground floor had been added seventy odd years ago to house a kitchen. At the very top of the tower a tiny staircase gave access to the roof. As a child, Evander had spent long summer days pretending to be a knight, defending Temperly’s walls from invaders. He had spent hours, watching as an imaginary army laid siege to the tower’s walls and he shot a multitude of arrows from the safety of the thick stone merlons.
Evander always accompanied his father to Temperly whereas Alistair and his mother both preferred the luxuries of Gainswith Park. Since Alistair’s mishap on Temperly’s battlements he had always shunned the place. He and Evander had been playing sword fights when Alistair had leant on one of the merlons. The stone had crumbled against his slight weight and if it hadn’t been for Evander’s quick thinking he would had fallen to his death. Evander had thrown himself forward and caught his brother’s hand, then, with slow determination, he had pulled him to safety. Temperly had made Evander a hero and it encapsulated everything that was good in his childhood. It gave him a romantic backdrop and allowed his dreams to soar and unbound his imagination. It was an integral part of him, he loved it...and it would never belong to him.
‘Lord, this place is depressing,’ Alistair said as strode into the room.
‘It’s atmospheric,’ Evander replied.
‘Yes, like something out of one of those horrid novels. I’m afraid, Evander, crumbling ruins do nothing to entice me.’
‘Temperly is not a ruin. It just needs a little care to restore it to its former glory.’
Alistair stared at his brother for a moment. ‘You do really care for it, don’t you?’
‘Yes. Even when it is not my place to do so,’ Evander said. Then, before the tone of the conversation could sink into something sombre, he added, ‘Come on, let’s see if the roof has been damaged. Just promise me you won’t stand too close to the edge this time. I would not want to explain to your fiancé how you met your death falling off the tower’s battlements.’
Alistair visibly shuddered. ‘And you wonder why I hate it.’
‘Lisette, you must dance Bessie’s part this evening,’ Marie Devoré said as she walked into the dressing room.
‘What has happened to Bessie?’ Lisette asked as she looked up.
‘I do not know, but the damn wretched girl has yet to arrive.’
‘Perhaps she is just running late. There is still a little time before the performance begins,’ Lisette said. ‘She has never missed a performance before.’
Marie stared at Lisette, and looked as if she was weighing up her niece’s words. ‘Very well, you may wait another five minutes. If Bessie has not graced us with her presence by that time, I want you changed into her costume.’
‘But won’t the chorus be one short?’
‘Yes, but it will be fine. I’ll get Fanny to dance and weave through the pairs, with…with...oh, I don’t know.’
‘There’s a big bunch of silk flowers in the prop room. Would they work?’
‘Excellent, Lisette. See, you are not only a ballerina but have the making of one day being a great ballet mistress,’ Marie said with half smile. Then she turned and left in search of flowers.
‘Thank you, Aunt Marie,’ Lisette called after her.
Lisette waited for Bessie to arrive. The dressing room quickly filled with the chorus girls, all talking and hurrying to change into their costumes. Lisette waited five minutes and then another five slipped by, and there was still no sign of Bessie. With a sigh, Lisette rose out of her chair and walked through the girls until she came to Bessie’s dressing table. Quickly, she scooped up the headdress and took the costume off the wall peg.
‘What are you doing?’ Fanny asked as she looked up from applying her makeup.
‘I’m afraid Bessie has not arrived. Madame Devoré has instructed me to take Bessie’s place for this evening’s performance,’ Lisette said.
‘What’s happened to her?’
‘I do not know. She appeared perfectly well after last night’s performance. We can only hope that she is fine and will be here later.’
Fanny nodded. ‘I don’t wish her ill but I think you will dance the part of the princess much better.’
‘Thank you Fanny, that is kind of you to say so.’
Exhilaration coursed through Lisette as she sailed through the air in a grand jeté. The theatre was filled to almost bursting and there was a shimmer of excitement that seemed to run through it. Lisette landed lightly, before being swept up in Charlie’s arms. As he circled with her, he whispered.
‘Well done, Lisette. You are magnificent.’
She smiled as he placed her centre stage. Charlie stepped aside as Lisette flowed into a perfect arabesque. She raised her head and her eyes travelled up past the footlights and into the nearest theatre box...right into Lord Evander Gainswith’s eyes. She felt her cheeks infuse with heat as they stared at each other. For an instant it was as if the whole theatre had melted away and there was only Evander.
Lisette felt torn. This was the first night she had seen him in more than a fortnight. She had put down his absence to fickleness and inconstancy. Lisette had dismissed him from her mind; at least that was what she told herself. And yet she had carefully kept his rose, it was dry and faded and hidden in her room. No matter how much she wanted to deny it, seeing Evander in the audience sent a flare of excitement through her heart.
Charlie stepped forward and held out his hand. Lisette placed her hand on his. He then spun her on pointe once, twice and then for a third time before she sank into a deep curtsy as the corps de ballet filed in from the wings. Normally the dance would continue, but the sound of the applause made Charlie falter. He pulled Lisette to her feet, spun her once and then allowed her to take another curtsy. Lisette’s eyes opened with surprise as a single long stemmed pink rose fell before her. It was tied with a dusty pink satin ribbon and there was a small card attached. In a fluid movement she scooped up the flower and looked towards Evander. He was on his feet, clapping. Lisette made a show of inhaling the perfume of the rose, her eyes never leaving his. Evander smiled and bowed towards her. But then Charlie took her hand once more and led her from the stage.
Marie Devoré was waiting in the wings. She was dressed in the usual severe black, her hair was pulled back into a tight bun and she leaned heavily onto her walking stick. Her eyes narrowed as Lisette exited the stage.
‘Your first rose,’ she said as she nodded towards the pale bloom that Lisette held between her hands.
‘Yes, Aunt,’ Lisette lied. There was no point in telling her aunt that Evander had given her one once before. She clutched the rose, hiding the tiny card within her hand.
‘Your performance was fair, but there is still work to be done,’ Marie said with a sharp tone. ‘Do not let this applause go to your head. You are not the prima ballerina yet.’
‘No, Aunt.’
‘Good. I have made a decision... Whether Bessie returns or not, the role of the princess is yours. Even if your dancing was only passable, it is ten times better than Bessie’s.’
‘Thank you, Aunt Marie. Do you think Mr Michaels will object?’
‘Not if he was watching you dance. Leave it to me. Now, change quickly. You must join the corps de ballet for the rest of the performance,’ Marie said as she slowly turned on her heel. Leaning on her cane, she walked away into the darkened corridors.
Lisette knew that she should change, but there was little time. She took a deep breath, opened her hand and looked down at the rose with its crushed pink satin bow. Carefully she tugged the tiny card out from its folds. Opening it, Lisette smiled as she read the words.
Your servant...forever. E
Quickly, she slipped it beneath the bodice of her costume, over her heart. She longed to peek through the velvet curtain at Evander, but she must change. She turned and ran past the stagehands and towards the dressing room. Lisette was stripping out of her princess costume even before she got to her dressing table. She stepped out of the blue satin skirts and tossed them to one side. Then she put on her white tulle tutu — it was made with multiple layers of tulle that fell to her mid calf. Once on stage, the tutu gave Lisette an airy, delicate and weightless effect. She secured it around her waist and then unhooked the two blue and bejewelled panels from her bodice. Looking in the large mirror, she unpinned her glittering tiara and placed it on the table. Then she reached for the band of white silk roses and pinned them onto her hair in the tiara’s place. Her final task was shrugging into the sheer fairy wings and tying them in place. In a matter of moments the princess had disappeared and was replaced by the woodland fairy.
Evander’s note almost burned against her skin. Lisette wondered if she should hide the note somewhere on her dressing table but then dismissed the idea. There were no secrets in this room and no privacy. The last thing she needed was for the girls to discover Evander’s existence. Gossip spread like wildfire in the theatre and Lisette did not want to explain anything to her aunt. She already knew what Marie’s reaction would be. She would forbid her to ever see Evander again.
Aunt Marie had never let her forget that she had taken her in and raised her when Lisette’s mother had died. In Aunt Marie’s mind, Lisette owed her everything, including total obedience. Marie expected her to do as she was told, to practice and study her art, until the day she would be a successful ballerina. When Lisette became a prima ballerina with all of London at her feet, then she would be able to provide and repay the debt she owed Marie. Men, love, adulation were all distractions that would not be tolerated. Men’s affections were fleeting and love was mere illusion, as fake and as orchestrated as any scene played before an audience. There was only the dance. That was the only thing that was truly real.
Dancing On Air Page 5