Dancing On Air (15 page)

Lisette hummed a tune as she put the finishing touches to her makeup. Her head was filled, as it always was, with Evander. She leaned forward towards the mirror and swept a tiny brush along the base of her eyelid. With a steady hand she arced a black line along her lashes and up to the corner of her eye. The result was dramatic makeup that could be seen past the footlights.

She picked up the garland of velvet flowers. A smile bloomed on her lips as her fingers ran over the soft material, the pink rosebuds reminding her of the flowers Evander gave to her each performance. With a sigh, she started to pin the flowers to her hair.

With each passing day, with each meeting, Lisette began to dream about a life with Evander by her side. It was true, more often than not she was lost in daydreams. Dreams of leaving the theatre and her Aunt, dreams of being married to a man she had already fallen in love with. Perhaps she was being naive, but Tinder was wrong. Evander cared for her. She felt it every time he touched her, kissed her and even looked at her. He would not hurt her. He had promised that he would never willingly desert her or leave her shattered.

Lisette stood up and looked in the mirror one last time. Everything was in place.
He’s going to marry me and take me away from her,
she told her reflection.

She ambled out of the dressing room, as she was ready and early. The majority of the company were only just arriving, cutting it fine as usual. The dressing room would soon become chaos as everyone dashed to get ready for the performance. Tonight she was grateful to be out of the melee. As she neared Florentia’s dressing room, she was met with the sound of harsh whispers floating through the open door.

‘Are you going to deny it?’

‘Yes. My son has nothing to do with you, Vincent.’

Lisette stood by the door, out of sight. She should have walked on but the fear echoing in Florentia’s voice made her pause. Lisette gathered her courage and peeped around the open door. Lord Vincent de Vale was towering over Florentia. She was backed up against her dressing table and looked terrified.

‘He’s mine and I have a right to Richard. He is my only heir.’

‘I will never admit it.’

‘Then who is the father?’

‘’Tis a secret I will take to my grave.’

‘Beware, Florentia, cross me and that may be sooner than you had envisaged,’ he said as he grabbed her arm. ‘Remember I know who you are...and I remember where you came from, Lily. And I remember what you did to become the principal dancer. What if we were to take up where we left off all those years ago? What say you? We could make a perfect family...and I may even make you my Lady de Vale. ‘

Florentia visibly paled and swayed against Vincent. She braced herself with her free arm as if she was trying not to swoon. She tried to twist her arm out of his grasp but could not. She cried out in pain as he tightened his hold. ‘Richard is mine, only mine... You cannot have him.’

‘I did wonder if I was the brat’s father. But the truth is, until now I didn’t care. I have been revaluating of late. It occurred to me that we all must face our own mortality and that being said I need a son; a boy who will take over my lands and power when I am dead. A long way off, I hope, but it is better to be prepared.’

‘Then go and marry and reproduce, for you will not have my son.’

‘Funny, Madame Devoré is under the impression that Richard is mine.’

‘That bitch!’ Florentia said. ‘She will say anything to appease you. She always has.’

‘Maybe I should just see the boy... I’m sure I could tell if he is mine.’

‘No, you will not go near him. I know what you are like, Vincent: a demon. You would try and take him from me and then turn his mind and heart against me. You will not have him.’

‘You forget, my dear, that I always get what I want. And I’m beginning to think that I want you! It’s been far too long, Lily. I remember what it was like to be inside you, to have your legs wrapped around me. Do you remember, Lily? Do you?’

‘No, I’ve tried to erase it from my mind. It was a nightmare. One I do not wish to recall.’

‘Then perhaps your memory needs a jolt,’ Vincent said as he pushed her down. But Florentia threw herself to one side in an attempt to get away. Vincent’s hand snaked out and he caught her by the collar of her gown as she turned her back on him. Florentia tried to run, the mauve silk of her gown ripped as she moved, exposing the smooth skin of her back.

Lisette sucked in a breath as her eyes travelled down Florentia’s ruined gown. Below the small of her back, Florentia had a series of thin scars. It was as if she had been whipped. Lisette moved before her courage failed her altogether. Lord de Vale frightened her but she would not stand by and let him terrify Florentia.

‘Florentia, is everything alright?’ Lisette walked into the dressing room. Her eyes never left the imposing figure of Vincent de Vale. She wanted to make sure that she knew where he was at all times.

‘Ah Lisette, yes...thank you... I am... I am quite well.’

Lisette could hear the relief in Florentia’s voice and it made her boiling mad. How dare de Vale treat Florentia this way! With her anger overtaking common sense, Lisette faced de Vale down.

‘Obviously Lord de Vale, Miss Florentia is unwell. She should rest before the performance.’

‘Lisette,
ma petite
, how very much you remind me of dear Mélisande. I do believe that you are the very image of your mamma.’

‘Thank you. My aunt says I look like her. However, Lord de Vale, I fear this is not the time to reminisce about the past. Florentia needs her rest. I must insist that you allow her to do so,’ Lisette said. She drew herself up, full of bravado, and prayed that he wouldn’t see through it.

‘Well, well... This is an interesting turn of events. The little mouse is really a lioness. How utterly amusing. I was wrong. Even though you look like your mother, I see now that you favour your aunt’s temperament.’

‘I am nothing like my aunt, a point that you should remember. Now, my lord, if you please,’ Lisette said as she stepped to one side and gestured to the door.

‘Very well, my dear, I shall take my leave. Until next we meet,’ Vincent said as he caught Lisette’s hand and brought it to his lips. He straightened and nodded to Florentia. ‘I believe we shall continue our conversation at a later date, when you are less fatigued.’

‘Lord de Vale.’ Florentia’s words were barely audible. She stood trembling with her back to the door.

Lisette waited until he had crossed the threshold and then, as quick as she could, she slammed the door shut.

‘He’s gone.’ Lisette hurried over to Florentia and gently touched her shoulder. Florentia was trembling and, as Lisette leaned in to give her a hug, she glanced at the torn dress. Her eyes were drawn to a series of thin scars that were etched below the small of Florentia’s back.

Florentia tensed for a moment, as if she sensed what Lisette had seen. Then, expelling a breath, she relaxed into the embrace.

‘Help me sit down.’

With a nod, Lisette led Florentia back to the chair in front of her dressing table. She then perched on the edge of the table and waited for the older woman to speak. The minutes dragged into silence.

‘I have been silent for too long. The secret must be told. You know Lord de Vale?’

‘Only that he is an acquaintance of my aunt.’

‘He is far more than an acquaintance.’

‘An old friend, then. They met when we still lived in Paris.’

‘They renewed their friendship once Madame Devoré became ballet mistress at the Imperial.’

‘So what is the secret, Florentia? What is it that you wish to tell?’

‘Vincent has a taste for young women, dancers mainly. Your aunt procures them for him.’

‘I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand.’

‘Vincent wants girls for his own pleasure and your aunt finds them for him. I can’t put it any plainer than that. Oh, at first he plays the charming gentleman. He showers you with gifts and candlelight suppers. But once he has you, once you surrender, then he changes into a hedonistic monster — a monster with dominating ways and violent desires. He gave me these scars,’ Florentia said in a half whisper. Her voice was so soft that Lisette had to lean closer to catch her words.

‘My aunt is part of this? Are you certain?’

‘Yes. As ballet mistress Marie knows all the girls and which ones would be open for Vincent’s advances.’

Lisette straightened. A ball of sick tension sat like a stone in her stomach and for an instant she thought she would be sick.

‘How do you know this?’

‘I was one of those girls. I was ignorant and stupid and my head was easily turned by a kind word or gesture. I was flattered that he had singled me out of a chorus of girls. Marie was the ballet mistress and she implied that a liaison with Vincent would be beneficial for my career, perhaps even lead me to becoming a principal dancer. But almost as soon as it started I knew it was a mistake. By the time it ended I was fragile and broken...and pregnant. It took me weeks to heal and by the time I was well enough the baby was too far advanced. Marie secreted me away until Richard was born. She wanted to be rid of my child and me but I swore that she make good on her promise. I threatened to tell what had happened and she relented. When Richard was six months old I began training again and eventually became the Imperial’s star.’

‘I am so sorry, Florentia.’

‘I regret many things in my life, but not my son. If it meant I had to go through it all again to have Richard...I would in a heartbeat.’ She reached over and grabbed Lisette’s hand. ‘You must be careful. Promise me that you will stay away from Vincent de Vale. Beware of your aunt. She is blinded by him.’

‘I promise. Come, I’ll help you get changed into your costume if you like.’

‘Thank you, Lisette. You have always been such a sweet girl. And even though I may not be prepared to allow you to take over my position as principal dancer just yet, I want you safe.’

Lisette smiled as she stood up. ‘Everything will work out and I promise I will help you any way I can. Fear not, we will think of some way to keep de Vale away from your son.’

‘Thank you child, but for your own safety I think it’s best that you forget everything I have said. You may be Marie’s niece, but I doubt that will save you from Vincent if he chooses to pursue you.’

Lisette crossed the room and took the white tutu off the rack. It was encrusted with a hundred small, clear jewels that glittered like diamonds in the light. Her mind swirled with Florentia’s revelations. How could she possibly forget it and carry on as if nothing had happened? A thought crossed her mind like a flaming arrow.

‘Dear God, he has Bessie, doesn’t he?’

‘Most probably, yes.’

‘Then how do we get her away from him?’

Florentia shrugged her shoulders. There was a look of defeat on her face. ‘There is nothing we can do. If we confront him or go to his residence... Well Lord only knows what he would do to us and to Bessie. He will release her when he tires of her.’

Lisette squeezed her eyes shut for an instant whilst she tried to think of a plan. Nothing materialized. ‘This is unacceptable. I cannot leave her lingering in his clutches.’

‘Do not underestimate him. He has wealth and powerful friends at his disposal.’

‘That may be, but there must be something I can do. After all, he is only a man.’

‘But that’s where you are wrong, child. Vincent de Vale is the Devil himself.’

Vincent stood in the adjacent room with a grim smile. Through the vent he had heard almost every one of Florentia’s words. His fingers tightened into fists as his mind reeled with possibilities of her punishment. After all these years, she had betrayed him. However, her greatest sin was that of keeping him from his son. Florentia would try to run, now that she thought he had guessed the truth, and he wouldn’t allow that. It was time that the bitch learnt her lesson. Obviously she had forgotten the ones he had metered out to her long ago. It was time to refresh her memory.

He left the empty dressing room and strode to Marie’s office. He banged open the door without bothering to knock. Marie started in fright as she looked up from her desk.

‘We have a problem.’ Vincent slammed the door shut behind him.

‘What has happened?’ Marie frowned as she stood up.

‘Florentia has betrayed us to Lisette. She has told your girl everything.’

The colour drained from Marie’s face and she grabbed onto the desk to steady herself. ‘Everything?’

‘Yes. Well, as much as she knows.’

‘And Lisette believed her?’

‘I assume so, however we may be able to convince her otherwise. We could turn the story and make Florentia appear irrational and besotted with me.’

The worry cleared from Marie’s eyes. ‘You are so very clever, Vincent. That should be easy enough to accomplish. Even if Lisette doesn’t believe the whole story, it will give her pause. At least she will question Florentia’s motives. If we then distract her... I doubt she will call either one of us out.’

‘Distract her?’ Vincent raised an enquiring eyebrow. He walked towards Marie and perched on the edge of her desk. ‘Tell me more, it sounds intriguing.’