Dancing On Air (24 page)

Vincent shrugged. ‘She is alive, although a little more timid than when we first met.’

‘Bessie, timid — good! I expect that I shall see her soon enough.’

‘But of course. Bessie is a sweet distraction but I begin to tire of her.’

‘Then give her back,’ Marie said evenly as she met his eyes and held them.

‘Very well, but I want something new in her place.’

‘Vincent, I cannot give you my entire cast of the
corps de ballet
. We have to be more careful than that. And at the moment, I’m afraid that my ballerinas are in short supply. With Florentia injured and Bessie indisposed, I am rapidly running out of cast.’

‘I want Lisette.’

‘No!’ It was a shout. So loud and full of denial that Marie almost startled herself.

Vincent sat back and regarded Marie with surprise. ‘Did you just refuse me?’

‘Yes, I did. You cannot have Lisette. Pick any of the other girls. What about Sally?’

‘The redhead...? No, I think not. I want Lisette.’

‘I’m sorry Vincent, but you cannot have her. Lisette is destined for...other things.’ Marie said with a shrug. ‘Besides it would be in poor taste. No, no, I will not allow it.’

The light in Vincent’s eyes appeared to chill and it took all of Marie’s willpower not to shrink away. Instead she levelled her gaze and thrust her shoulders back in an act of defiance.

He chuckled softly, and a hint of a smile touched his lips. ‘I must ask, how could me possessing Lisette be in poor taste?’

‘In the fact that you have already bedded me...as well as my long dead sister. I believe starting upon the next generation of Devoré women would certainly be a crime against heaven.’

‘I never adhere to the petty rules of society. And since when have you worried about heaven?’ Vincent replied. ‘Besides Marie, it was always you. Mélisande was merely a sweet interlude. And I seem to remember that seduction was planned by you, or had that slipped your mind? A great number of crimes can be laid at my feet but for the taking of Mélisande we are equally responsible.’

Marie was silent for a minute. Slowly she rose up from the chair. ‘You are right, Vincent. I should have mentioned it. You gave me everything I asked for.’

‘You deserved recognition; you needed to be out of your sister’s shadow.’ Vincent reached forward and grabbed Marie by the shoulders. ‘I just wished it could have ended differently.’

He pulled her up against him, and she could feel the hardness of his chest press through the fabric of her dress. He brought his mouth down on hers and his kiss was an echo of himself: hard, brutal and compelling. It had been an age since he had kissed her, and what seemed a lifetime since he had taken her to his bed. A burning heat scratched and clawed within her core as her mind remembered his touch. His fingers bit into her shoulders, and her body rejoiced in the pain. Her hands wound and twisted through his hair as she gave into Vincent’s dark kiss. He pulled away and Marie almost cried out in protest, not wanting the sensation to end. He dropped his head into the crook of her neck. His words were soft as they flowed into her ear.

‘Give me Lisette.’

Marie stiffened and instantly the fires that were conjured in her were doused. Moments ago she felt there was molten fire running through her veins, now there was only ice water. With each passing second Marie felt coldness interlaced with anger and jealousy invade her body. Putting her hands against his chest, she pushed away from him.

‘No. You may choose any other girl, but you cannot have Lisette.’

‘I will not be denied,’ Vincent said.

‘Yes, you will. Lisette has formed an attachment to Lord Evander Gainswith. There is nothing you can do, for she will not be enticed away from him.’

‘That young pup! I remember that I had dealings with his brother,’ Vincent said. He extended his hand and trailed a finger down the side of her face. ‘Surely some kind words and a few trinkets would quickly break up their...arrangement?’

‘Lisette has Mélisande’s heart. The girl believes that she is in love. So be content, Vincent, and choose another plaything.’ Marie took another step back and broke his contact.

‘This is your final decision on the matter?’

‘Yes, Lisette’s future is with Lord Gainswith and not with you... Not that you would offer her a future.’ Marie said.

She could feel the change in Vincent’s demeanour. To a novice, Vincent appeared calm, but Marie knew better. The room crackled with tension and for an insane instant, Marie wondered if she could make it through the door before Vincent could catch her.

‘Be at ease, Marie my dear,’ Vincent said as he stood up. Slowly he walked towards the door and Marie watched his every move. ‘I can see what you are thinking, but please put it from your mind. I understand why we have disagreed on this matter, and I forgive you. We are the dearest of friends and have known each other far too long to allow this to come between us.’

Marie expelled the breath she had been holding. ‘Thank you. Thank you for understanding.’

‘Not at all. Now, I shall arrange for Bessie to be returned shortly and then perhaps we could discuss her replacement?’ Vincent leaned against the doorframe and gave Marie a bright smile.

‘Yes, yes of course.’

‘Good. Now would you like me to escort you home?’

‘Once again, Vincent, thank you...but no. I have several tasks to perform before I seek my bed tonight.’

‘In that case, I can only wish you a good night,’ Vincent said as he swept into a bow.

‘And to you, my lord,’ Marie said.

He appeared to hesitate for the merest second before nodding his head and walking through the door. Marie dragged in another breath before walking back to her desk and leaning on it for support.

Lisette sat in silence next to Evander as the hansom cab made its way through the gas lit streets of the West End. They had stopped at Lisette’s rooms so she could gather some clothes to take on their journey to Temperly. She had asked Evander to stay in the carriage whilst she dashed up to her rooms via the rickety staircase. Quickly, she walked through the apartment and let herself into her aunt’s bedroom. She felt like an intruder, and half expected her aunt to magically appear, and catch and chastise her. In the corner sat a small desk. It was here Lisette found a fountain pen and a sheet of paper. She pulled out the stool and sat down and began to write.

Lisette reread the letter twice before propping it up against the desktop. She wondered what Marie’s reaction would be? Her aunt had tried to push her into becoming Evander’s mistress; she told her that it was more than Lisette could have hoped for and probably more than she deserved. She had ranted and roared when Lisette told her that she would be no man’s mistress, so what would she think now that Lisette was a wife?

She stood up and crossed over to the large armoire and opened its door. Inside she found her aunt’s blue carpetbag and took it. Then, without a backward glance, she exited the room and went to gather a few garments to take on the journey. Before long she almost skipped down the staircase and into Evander’s waiting arms.

And now she sat close by his side as the hansom cab clattered over the cobblestones on its way to Evander’s residence in Pimlico. His arm was slung casually about her shoulders. The warmth it created seemed to melt into her. Happiness was tempered with nervous energy as Lisette leaned against him.

‘We shall be home soon,’ Evander said. ‘And I shall order Harris to ready the carriage for our journey.’

‘When will we leave?’

‘Dawn, I think. With luck we should arrive at Temperly by tomorrow nightfall.’

‘And then?’

‘Then, love...we will be married by noon the next day and you will be Lady Gainswith.’

Lisette turned her head and stared at him. ‘It seems ridiculous to say this, but that had eluded me. All I could think of was being your wife. I’m afraid the title will not sit easily upon my shoulders.’

‘Why ever not? You’re more than a lady in my eyes, and none can hold a candle to you.’ Evander dipped his head and kissed her swiftly on the lips.

Lisette put her hand against his chest and sat back a little, thereby ending the promising kiss. ‘More of your pretty words, Evander. But I fear we have not thought our actions through.’

‘I will not allow you to back out of our marriage. I plan to marry you and I will not let anyone get in the way...including you, my love.’ Evander smiled and gave Lisette a wink.

‘I do want to marry you, but we must think for a moment. I doubt your family will be pleased with the marriage.’

‘Sweeting, we have already established that fact. But remember, we do not care!’

‘Maybe, but it occurs to me that our union will also bring about other tribulations,’ Lisette said.

‘How so?’

‘I will not be able to dance if I am Lady Gainswith. I believe that if I did, I would scandalize the upper echelons of our society. Your reputation would be in tatters and I cannot leave the ballet at present, it would be selfish and unfair. Florentia is ill and Bessie has still not returned...and I’m beginning to think she will not. Something awful has happened to her, I just know it. If I was to leave as well, the ballet would not survive and Tinder would lose everything.’

Evander was silent for a moment as he mulled over her words. ‘You care about him?’

Lisette reached over and cupped the side of his face. ‘I care for all of them. The Imperial is my home and the people — from Tommy on the stage door, to the
corps de ballet
, to even Florentia — they are my family. I cannot hurt them and I will not do anything that will jeopardize their livelihood. Sally is an excellent dancer and Alice is more than skilled. Both of them are capable of taking over the roles but it will take a little time.’

Evander leaned into her palm. ‘I understand but I will not be without you. We will marry —’

Lisette went to break in but Evander placed his finger over her lips.

‘We will marry and keep it secret. That way you can continue to dance and I will be content in the knowledge that I have my heart’s desire.’

‘Then I shall reside at your house.’

‘But then you will be branded as my mistress. What of your reputation?’

‘What do I care? You and I will know the truth.’

Evander fell silent and his brow was creased into a frown. ‘Forgive me, Lisette. I am a fool. I have been so concerned about what I want and how much I want you that I did not take your wishes into account. The thought that you must give up ballet had not even crossed my mind. I love you but I will not take your dream from you. I know how hard you have worked to become the prima ballerina. If I must, I will wait to marry you...for however long it takes,’ Evander said as he pulled her close.

‘It is true that I adore to dance. It makes feel free. When I dance I am in a moment of joy and the cares of my life melt away like snow. But I have never wanted to be principal ballerina... That was my aunt’s wish. She has pushed me every day; endless years of practice and rehearsing. When I was younger I thought she did it so I that one day I could live up to my mother’s reputation, but now I know better. According to Aunt Marie, the accolades of dancing were trivial. My main purpose was to attract a rich man, and become his mistress, thereby securing my Aunt’s future.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I was to sell myself so that my aunt would be financially well kept for the rest of her days.’

‘But that is...diabolical,’ Evander said as he stared down at her. ‘Surely, my love, you are mistaken. She is your aunt, and swore to your mother to protect you.’

Lisette laughed. ‘My aunt has never loved me. Begrudgingly she took me in and has only kept me because I may be useful. Believe me when I say that Madame Devoré is only interested in herself. I tried for so many years to make her love me, but no matter how hard I practiced...it was never enough.’

Evander’s eyes softened and he pulled her into a tight embrace. It was as if he was trying to hug the pain away. Lisette wanted to say that it didn’t matter what her aunt thought or that he shouldn’t pity her. But she couldn’t. The tears welled up within her and it took all her control to push them back down.

‘I’m sorry, Lisette. I cannot imagine how anyone couldn’t love you. I’m sorry that you felt alone and unloved when you were a child.’

Lisette closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, she smelt the traces of vetiver mixed with the scent of woods and smoke. ‘I wasn’t alone. When we came to the Imperial the people who all worked there became my family.’

‘Which is why you must continue to dance.’

‘Yes, but only until someone can take my place.

‘But you said that you love it and it makes you feel free. I would not take that away from you,’ Evander said.

Lisette paused for a moment. She needed to make him understand. ‘It’s true, but I love you more. With you, I
am
free. Evander, you freed me from the theatre, my future and my aunt when you made me fall in love with you. I feel like I am soaring in the sky when I think of what our lives could be and how lucky we were to find each other.’