Florentia’s face softened and she linked her arm through Lisette’s. ‘Yes, yes, one day I’m sure that you shall but not quite yet. I have always been fond of you, ever since you came here as a child. Perhaps I should take you under my wing...yes? Just like a mamma bird. Perhaps you should be my protégé, perhaps we should announce that.’
‘That is very kind of you, Florentia.’
Florentia waved her hand as if to dismiss the thanks. ‘Think nothing of it. I think I shall go and speak to your aunt. A new world awaits you, but you need guidance. Yes, you shall be my fledgling bird.’
Lisette watched as Florentia unhooked her arm and hurried away.
Charlie had stepped off stage briefly and was waiting for his next entrance. He glanced over his shoulder. ‘Well my dear, you’ve put the blasted cat among the pigeons.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Florentia, of course. You’ve managed to scare her silly.’
‘How?’ Lisette asked as she stepped closer to him.
‘By dancing impeccably, my darling. You have managed to make Florentia feel old and insecure. I hope you are prepared for fireworks. She does always lash out when she feels threatened.’
‘But Charlie, I did not mean —’
‘Sorry lovey, it’s my cue,’ Charlie said quickly, before he stalked out onto the stage in a grand entrance.
Lisette was left standing alone. She watched the performance for a minute or two longer before turning away. The last thing she wanted was hostile feelings and cattiness. With a sigh, Lisette walked down the long corridors to the dressing room. How on earth could her dancing such a tiny part threaten London’s prima ballerina?
Marie’s mouth curled into a hard smile as Tinder Michaels walked back and forth in front of her desk.
‘I saw him tonight again,’ he said. His hands gestured in the air and his face was twisted in a frown. ‘He’s here in what has become his usual box.’
‘Who?’
‘That young man who has set his cap on Lisette,’ Tinder said as he glanced up at her. His eyes were shrouded in worry.
‘Really? And what did this young man look like?’ Marie held her breath and prayed it was a gentleman rather than a member of the rabble from the back of the stalls.
‘He is obviously a gentleman, as he dresses as one and sits in one of the theatre boxes. Not only that, this is the second night running he has been here.’
‘Which implies?’
‘That he has enough blunt to visit the theatre whenever he damn well wants.’
‘Really, Mr Michaels, you almost sound jealous and petulant,’ Marie said but her mind was already whirling with the possibilities.
She knew that Tinder had formed a soft spot for Lisette. Normally, Marie would have run with this snippet of information. She could push Lisette into a liaison with him; it could be beneficial for them both. However, Tinder may own the Imperial Theatre, but she knew that he had sunk his last penny into it. If something was to go wrong then he could lose everything. It was a gamble but the revelation that Lisette already had an admirer of quality… That was indeed interesting. Perhaps their fortunes lay in the silk covered bed of a gentleman rather than the precariously placed theatre owner. ‘I would not worry, Mr Michaels. As yet we do not even know if the two have spoken.’
Her words appeared to calm him...a little. ‘You think so?’
‘As far as we know, he has merely thrown Lisette a couple of roses. She may have a soft heart, just like her mother, but I assume it would take her more than that pretty gesture for her to lose her heart.’
‘Yes I suppose you are right. It’s just I would hate to see anything ill befall Lisette,’ Tinder said.
‘Which is very chivalrous of you. However with Jack Preston’s review and Lisette’s exposure, she is bound to get admirers. Florentia has been fighting back a sea of them for almost a decade. It is to be expected.’
‘Then you are not concerned?’ Tinder stopped pacing and looked at her. There was an element of surprise on his face.
‘Not in the least. Lisette may have a soft heart, but she is not a stupid girl. Her head will turn where I tell it to.’
‘Well, if that’s all you have to say, I suppose I will...’ Tinder’s voice trailed off as a firm knock sounded at the door.
‘Enter!’
The door swung open to reveal Florentia. Her look of determination was quickly replaced with surprise as her eyes settled on Tinder.
‘Oh, forgive me. I did not realize that you are busy,’ Florentia said as she stepped into the room.
Marie bit down a snort. As usual, Florentia saw herself as the most important one there. She may have disrupted a meeting but she would never meekly withdraw. Instead she flounced her way up to the desk, causing Tinder to step aside.
‘Do come in, Florentia. Mr Michaels and I had just finished our business,’ Marie said.
For an instant, Tinder seemed lost for words, but he quickly gathered himself. ‘Yes, quite... If you will excuse me, ladies, I have duties that must be attended to,’ he said as he inclined his head and gave them a bow.
‘Why of course. Thank you, Mr Michaels. We will continue this conversation at a later date,’ Marie said.
Florentia waited until he had left Marie’s office, shutting the door firmly behind him.
‘I watched Lisette dance tonight. I have to say that she did a fair job of it.’
‘Fair?’
‘Oh, very well. She was more than fair. The girl was very, very good. She has nice lines and one day will make a beautiful principal dancer,’ Florentia said as she sat down in the nearest chair.
‘Yes, I believe that she will. That is what we have always worked towards,’ Marie said as she leaned on her desk, her eyes scrutinizing Florentia’s every move. It was a look that she had perfected over the years; a look that always managed to have its recipient squirming with discomfort. ‘What is it that you want?’
Florentia fidgeted and adjusted her skirts. ‘I was thinking that I should take Lisette under my wing, so to say. Perhaps with my tutelage she will be able to manage the rising fame that will be her career.’
Marie sat back and grinned. ‘You fear her. You fear that your career will soon be over and will be eclipsed by Lisette.’
Florentia’s cheeks flushed red. ‘I did not mean that at all. I meant to be kind; to be there as support. I would have welcomed such an offer when I first started.’
‘Very well, Florentia. I shall accept that this was given with the best intentions and we shall see. Thank you,’ Marie said.
‘You do not wish to address it further?’
‘Not now,’ Marie said as she looked at the small carriage clock on her desk. ‘Not wanting to meddle in your affairs, but is it not almost time for your next scene?’
‘Soon,’ Florentia said as she rose out of the chair. ‘Goodbye Marie.’
‘Florentia,’ Marie said, but she kept on walking..
With more self control than she thought she possessed, Marie waited for Florentia to shut the door before she allowed herself the luxury of falling back in her chair and laughing as hard as she could. Silly woman. She was so transparent. Of course she was threatened by Lisette. Marie grabbed her walking stick and pushed herself up from her chair. She winced and the pain shot through her knee. She stood still and tried to steady herself, then, she walked painfully to the door. She must secure Lisette’s future — their future — before accident or injury took Lisette’s career. With that on her mind, Marie decided to go down to the stage. The performance would finish soon and she wanted to take a peek at this young gentleman.
Lisette walked up the narrow stairs from the corps de ballet dressing room; she would be glad to step outside the theatre tonight. The gaslights had made the air hot and dry and Lisette wanted to feel the cold, damp air of London on her face. As she walked behind the actual stage, she passed Florentia’s and Charlie’s dressing rooms. The sound of raised voices floated through the air. With a s
hake of her head, Lisette realized that they were having another spat. The two leads fought and argued as if they were children.
‘Just make sure you hit the beat... One, two, three and then leap.’
‘Oh, as if you know anything about beats, Charlie Evans!’
‘Well, I can’t be expected to catch you if you miss your cue!’
‘I didn’t miss the cue. You were late! If you can’t remember the choreography maybe it’s time you retired.’
‘Bitch! ‘
Lisette wondered how the two of them had managed to dance together for so long. The sound of the ongoing argument faded as she walked past several of the stagehands securing the ropes and the scenery flies for the evening. One man shouted instructions as they hauled on the ropes. There was a clatter as one of the hands knocked over one of the candelabras from the castle scene. The boy gave her an apologetic smile as he scrambled to pick it up.
As she picked her way through the rocks and trees of the magic forest, Lisette came face to face with Mary, the wardrobe mistress. She was a small woman of about thirty and had worked at the theatre for several years. Tonight most of her body was obscured by the large armload of costumes she carried.
‘Ah Lisette, you were quite marvellous tonight.’
‘Thank you, Mary. Would you like me to help you with those?’
‘No, I have them, but thank you. Those girls of the chorus, eh — always snagging and pulling on their costumes. I swear it will take me until midnight to put these to right!’
‘I’m sorry to hear that.’
Mary shrugged but the movement was lost beneath the mound of tulle. ‘Ah well, we do what we must. Goodnight Lisette. Have a good evening.’
‘Thank you Mary. Goodnight,’ Lisette said as Mary hurried away.
The noise of voices grew with every step Lisette took. As she neared the stage door she found that the majority of the company were milling about.
She wove her way through the bodies until she stood near the stage door. Tonight for some infuriating reason, the company lingered and wanted to talk and congratulated each other longer than usual. She had hoped that the theatre would be near deserted by now, but it was not to be. A crowd of dancers seemed to want to congregate around her.
‘Lisette, you were wonderful tonight,’ Alice said.
‘Thank you, Alice,’ Lisette said, but she was distracted and kept her eyes on the door.
‘Yes, you were,’ said another voice.
‘We are all going to get some supper. Are you coming?’ Sally asked as she walked up to Lisette.
Lisette barely heard the comments as she saw Evander negotiate his way through the stage door. Her heart seemed to quicken as he sent her a smile.
Sally touched her arm. ‘Lisette, didn’t you hear me?’
‘Lisette cannot go tonight. We have an early start in the morning,’ Marie said.
Lisette’s eyes rounded in surprise as she heard her aunt’s voice. She threw Evander a look and willed him to meet her eyes. To her relief he hesitated before falling back to the side of the doorway. Lisette turned to her aunt and prayed that she had not noticed.
‘Aunt Marie, why do we have to get up early? I was not aware that we had any appointments,’ Lisette asked.
‘I have just decided,’ Marie said with a hint of a smile, ‘your wardrobe is severely lacking.’
Lisette stared at her aunt with a mix of astonishment and trepidation. Generally, Lisette was clothed in hand-me-down clothes. As she had grown, Lisette had acquainted herself with the needle and thread so she could rework and alter the gowns to fit her. The idea that her aunt was prepared to buy her a dress was astonishing.
‘But why, Aunt Marie?’
Marie studied her niece for a moment and Lisette felt herself squirm under her scrutiny.
‘Because you have danced tolerably well and gathered a little attention. Therefore, you cannot be seen by the public in tatters. A modist is out of the question, but perhaps we can find something in a shop that will suffice.’
‘Thank you, Aunt Marie,’ Lisette said, and in her enthusiasm she reached over and gave her aunt a brief hug. Marie’s body was stiff, hard and did not soften under her niece’s embrace. Marie stood stock still until Lisette stepped away.
‘You are welcome, chérie. So as we will be shopping, I doubt there will be a rehearsal tomorrow.’
Lisette felt the reality around her tip. Thinking back, she doubted that she could remember a day when her Aunt had not had her rehearsing for hours on end...and never a term of endearment.
‘Close your mouth, Lisette. You are gawking and it is not at all attractive,’ Marie said as she tapped her on the chin.
‘Yes, Aunt Marie.’
‘Good. Now I shall go and collect my things from the office and we will leave. I should only be a few minutes, so do not dally,’ Marie said as she turned on her heels and walked back down the crowded corridor.
‘Well, did you ever?’ Sally said as she stood looking at Madame Devoré’s disappearing figure.
‘No...I haven’t...’ Lisette said. She watched her Aunt for another second before catching Sally by the arm. ‘I need your help.’
‘You only have to ask,’ Sally replied.
‘I need to talk to Evander before my aunt comes back and I do not want to do it before a hallway of curious eyes,’ Lisette said.
‘Leave it to me,’ Sally smiled, and then she backed away into the middle of the crowd. She raised her hands in the air and shouted, ‘Right, let’s carry on this celebration of an excellent performance elsewhere. I want a drink. Who is with me?’
The performers erupted into laughter and cheers.
‘Come on then. What are you all waiting for?’ Sally said with a shout. ‘Last one to the tavern pays for us all!’
The mass of bodies in the corridor seemed to swell for a moment and then, like a great wave washing towards the shore, the usually graceful ballet company surged through the stage door in a tangle of arms and legs. Lisette managed to step backwards into the safety of a doorway before she was swept up in the melee. After a minute or two, the hallway emptied and Lisette saw Evander step out the shadows. She ran to him quickly.
‘I cannot meet with you tonight. My aunt is insisting that I accompany her home shortly,’ Lisette said.
Evander caught her hand and brought it to his lips. ‘Tomorrow then, at the Hearth Fire.’
‘I shall try, but she wants to go out tomorrow. We are leaving early but I do not know when we shall return.’ Lisette gave him a smile and did not pull her hand from his.
‘I shall wait an hour, if you do not come then I shall see you after the performance.’
‘I cannot promise.’ Lisette felt her heart skip as he kissed the inside of her wrist. Closing her eyes briefly she allowed herself a moment as the warm tingling travelled up her arm and through the rest of her body. She shook herself out of the enchantment Evander was weaving, and said, ‘You must go. Aunt Marie said that she would not be long.’
‘Very well, but we have an instant more.’
Lisette glanced over her shoulder and saw that the corridor was empty. ‘Perhaps we do. Thank you for the rose.’
‘It will not be the last.’
Lisette squeezed his hand. ‘Such pretty words, my lord.’
‘Only for you, Lisette.’
‘I hope that is true. You must go, if my aunt finds out...’
Evander bowed deeply before her. ‘I am your servant...forever.’ But the effect was ruined as he looked up. A lock of his hair fell forward and he winked.
A giggle tickled Lisette’s throat. ‘Go, Evander, you must go,’ she said as he straightened up.
Without warning he stepped forward, dipped his head and kissed her. Lisette stood still. The initial surprise quickly gave way to the delicious sensation of having Evander’s lips on hers. They were warm and insistent. Lisette sighed inwardly as his arms encircled her. Everything about Evander was warm and strong, with the faint scent of spic
e. She found herself leaning into him and before she knew what she was doing, she hesitantly kissed him back. Then, before the kiss had started, it came to an abrupt end. Evander pulled away from her and Lisette staggered a step as her support had been snatched away.
‘Tomorrow, Lisette... We will meet tomorrow,’ Evander said with a grin as be backed out the stage door. ‘Tomorrow.’
Lisette leant against the doorframe and watched as Evander hurried down the cobbled lane. The night held a chill. The cold air whipped around her but she did not feel it as Evander’s kiss had seared through her like a thousand suns. He had said ‘forever’ and as he disappeared from sight she knew that there was part of her that desperately wanted to believe him.
Marie stood in one of the darkened doorways. She had managed to make her way back without detection. Backstage was referred to as the rabbit warren for good reason. It was a myriad of twists and turns and interconnecting doors. Marie had witnessed Lisette’s kiss with the young gentleman. Even from this distance, Marie could easily see the quality of his clothes and his pretty manners. Lisette had managed to snare a plump prize, indeed. Her lips slowly pulled back into a smile as her mind whirled at the possibilities.
Tinder Michaels’ potential was probably nowhere near the young gentleman’s. But Marie chided herself. She could not let her imaginings get away from her. She must be cautious and investigate the boy’s name and fortune. With luck, Lisette would have had the decency to fall in love with a rich man. If the girl fancied herself in love, it would be much easier for Marie to manoeuvre her into the right decisions. However, if things didn’t pan out, she would be able to fall back on the second choice: Tinder. It was more than obvious that he was besotted with Lisette. Either way, Marie saw that the prospects looked more than rosy.
The fame of being a principal dancer could be fleeting. Lisette must secure a future for herself and for Marie. To dance is one thing but the girl must understand that she would be able to have a comfortable life if she became a rich man’s mistress.
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