Dancing On Air (6 page)

‘Good morning, Evander,’ Alistair, Marquess of Coltswood, said as he entered the breakfast room. ‘I didn’t expect to see you this early.’

Evander looked up from his plate of smoked salmon-infused scrambled eggs. ‘I thought we were to leave for Gainswith Park this morning?’

Alistair was a slightly older version of Evander. Both had inherited their mother’s dark hair and sherry-coloured eyes. However, Evander always liked to tease his brother that even though Alistair will inherit the title, Evander would always be two inches taller.

‘We are. I am merely surprised that you are eager to go.’

‘Eager is not the word to describe my feeling on the matter. However, you do see me as irresponsible...and perhaps I am. But that does not mean I disregard the position of our family and the duties that come with it.’

Alistair sat down at the head of the table before he smiled at his younger brother. ‘I am glad to hear it. And I do not see you as irresponsible. You remind me of myself at your age. It’s Father that is the problem. He believes that as you have finished your education and had your grand tour...’

‘It was hardly that, Alistair. I was gone for less than a month.’

‘Yes, yes...I know. I’m only relating what the old man has said. Anyway, he believes that it is high time that you knuckled down and started doing something useful with your life. He said, and this is a direct quote, that you are “to stop your hedonistic and decadent ways and earn your place in the family”
.
He also commented that it was time for you to start thinking about marriage.’

‘Good God. I swear it is far too early to be discussing such a disagreeable subject.’

‘I believe he has drawn up a list of suitable brides. Apparently he is willing to give you the choice.’

‘How kind of him,’ Evander said through gritted teeth.

‘I thought you would think so.’

‘And he has used you as a messenger. I thought that he would at least come down and tell me himself.’

‘When does that ever happen? I received his decree yesterday morning.’

‘One day, Alistair, he will go too far. I do have my pride and my residence in Pimlico. Grandmother left me a small bequest. It is not a princely sum but I shan’t starve in a garret either.’

‘Never fear. I shan’t allow you to starve, in a garret or anywhere else for that matter.’

Evander grinned at his brother. ‘Thank you. I know that I can always count on you. But tell me, was that what he did to you? I mean, is that how you chose Victoria as your fiancé?’

‘No, we had always known we had been destined for each other. No point fighting it. Both families are pleased with the match. Besides, we’ve known Victoria since we were children and she was always agreeable.’

Evander nodded his head. ‘I have always been fond of her but then I’m not the one marrying her.’

Alistair cleared his throat and looked a little uncomfortable. ‘Was your evening agreeable?’ he asked as he pointedly changed the subject.

‘Yes, it was. Anthony and I went to the ballet at The Imperial.’

‘Did you go carousing afterwards?’

Evander picked up his cup and sipped the dark coffee. After a moment lost in savouring its flavour, he responded to his brother’s question. ‘No, I thought we were leaving early this morning.’

Alistair sat back in his chair with a look of surprise on his face. ‘We are... I mean to say that’s excellent. We shall leave straight after breakfast.’

‘Good, for I have a longing to see Temperly once more.’

‘Temperly is all but a ruin. Surely you mean Gainswith Park?’

‘No, I mean Temperly. I have always held it in affection,’ he answered in a firm voice.

‘It’s barely fifty acres with a crumbling tower and a wild wood.’ Alistair said dismissively.

‘Perhaps, but brother, Temperly is the only thing that I have ever envied you for,’ Evander confessed.

‘Truly? You do not covet my position and what comes with it?’ Alistair’s stare held Evander’s eyes as if he was trying to tell if his younger brother spoke the truth.

‘No Alistair, I do not. For some odd reason I have always been fond of you. It is not your fault that you were born first and will inherit the lion’s share of our father’s estate,’ Evander said. The conversation had very quickly taken a serious turn, something that Evander was not comfortable with, especially this early in the morning. ‘As I said, I have coveted Temperly since I was a child.’

‘And nothing more?’

‘No... Well...perhaps Temperly and the little ballerina I met last night.’ Evander answered with a wolfish grin.

Alistair threw back his head and laughed. ‘And here I was worried that my rogue of a brother had totally reformed. So do tell, what of this ballerina?’

‘There is nothing to tell. The chit shut me down and refused my “honourable” suggestion that I would accompany her home. She would have nothing to do with me.’

‘Clever girl!’ Alistair laughed. ‘I suppose she knew who you were?’

‘I introduced myself but it didn’t seem to matter a whit. Miss Lisette Devoré was far from impressed.’

‘And what will you do?’ Alistair grinned and waited expectantly for his brother’s answer.

‘Well, once we return from Gainswith Park, I shall hunt and pursue her of course. You know, Alistair, I love to be challenged and I never take “no” for an answer.’

CHAPTER TWO

As the nights passed, Lisette no longer looked for Lord Gainswith at each performance. The night after their meeting, Lisette scanned the crowd looking for his handsome face. Excitement bubbled within her as she imagined another meeting and maybe another rose. But he was not there when the curtain rose, nor by the end of the first act. Finally, by the beginning of the second act, she admitted to herself that he was not coming. She had been so sure that she had seen something different in him, but apparently she had misjudged him. The rose had faded and so should her thoughts of him. But that was the most irritating of all: He slipped into her mind, constantly. No doubt he had forgotten all about her. No doubt, after her refusal, he went in search of more willing prey.

She tried to forget about him and threw herself into her training. Hour after hour she practiced her steps, her technique, until her back was drenched in sweat and her legs shook. Lisette learnt not only Bessie’s part of the ballet, but Florentia’s as well. Her dedication to dance even granted her a smile from her aunt. But each night, when she lay alone in her bed, Evander would sneak into her mind.

Marie sat on a high stool near the wings, her black cane keeping beat against the floorboards as Lisette swirled in centre stage.

‘Good...good. Now soften your arm... Excellent. And...one, two, three, one, two, three and...stop!’

Lisette stopped her pirouette. She struck a pose, her feet firmly on the ground and a smile on her lips.

‘Good, Lisette. You are almost ready.’

‘Thank you, Aunt Marie.’

‘I have noticed this past week you have a renewed fire in your belly. Your persistence has paid off. You are every bit as good as your mother,’ Marie said as she carefully stood up. ‘Soon, you shall have your chance and then all of London will fall at your feet.’

Lisette relaxed her pose. ‘Am I really as accomplished as mother?’

‘Yes, you are. Sometimes I catch a glimpse of her in you. Now go, rest before tonight’s performance and don’t forget to eat.’ Marie waved her hand as she left Lisette alone on the stage.

Lisette took a deep breath and stared out into the depths of the empty theatre. Several of the chorus girls believed that it was haunted and insisted on walking together in small groups or at least pairs. Lisette thought them foolish, for there was nothing in this theatre but silence and dreams that were spun long ago.

Lisette walked to the edge of the stage, tipped her head back and looked up past the theatre boxes and the chandelier. The ceiling had always been one of Lisette’s favourite things in the theatre. It depicted the night sky and was painted in a deep blue, with a thousand tiny gold stars sprinkled over it. A series of painted Corinthian columns drew the eye down from the starry sky. At the base of each one stood an ancient Greek god or goddess, each looking down into the theatre. Lisette liked Terpsichore the best, the muse of dance and music, sitting at the base of her pillar with a lyre. The whole scene created a
trompe l’oeil
and it seemed to Lisette that at any given time, the Gods were watching the ballet and the audience. That was how Lisette thought of them, watching over her like guardian angels.

When she had been a child she would sneak into the theatre during the day and stare up and dream. Or slink up the fly floor and along the narrow catwalks to her secret door. When the theatre was built there had been a skinny walkway that ran around the whole theatre, way up high, just under the gods. It had been for maintenance and the access had been from a little door that was positioned far above the proscenium arch. But it had been damaged and taken down. The walkway was never replaced and it left a door leading to nowhere. Well, nowhere wasn’t quite true — it could lead an unsuspecting person to certain death. The door opened into nothingness, just a sheer drop from above the top of the stage to the bottom of the orchestra pit. But the danger never stopped Lisette. Even now, as an adult, she would sit by the open door and stare out into the theatre and dream.

Dreams were easy in a theatre. They were the stuff of longing and imagination and went hand in hand with the magic and illusion each performance brought. Sometimes, Lisette would dream that she still lived in Paris with her mamma. As the years rolled on, she found it more difficult to remember her mother’s beautiful face. That frightened her. And somehow, over time, her mother’s image and the face of Terpsichore merged.

‘You were superb.’

Lisette turned her head, jolted by the voice. She could not see who spoke as they were at the back of the stalls, standing in shadows.

‘Who’s there?’ Lisette watched as the shadow began to move and out of it stepped Tinder Michaels. ‘Oh, Mr Michaels. I did not know it was you.’

‘Sorry Lisette, it was not my intention to startle you. I was in my office and... Well, I heard voices.’

Lisette noticed that his face had flushed as he spoke and he appeared to have a little difficulty in looking her in the eye.

‘I am sorry if I disturbed you,’ Lisette said.

‘No, no... Not at all.’

Lisette stood on the edge of the stage. An awkward silence settled over them.

‘Well, I should go...’ Lisette said as she started to back away.

‘Yes, yes... Of course. I just wanted to let you know that I thought that you were marvellous,’ Tinder answered. ‘And, good luck for tonight.’

Lisette stopped for a moment and smiled. ‘Really Mr Michaels, if you are going to own a theatre there are certain rules to which you must adhere.’

Tinder looked up at her with a mixture of concern and surprise on his face. ‘Rules?’

‘Why yes, of course. Before you bought The Imperial did you have a lot to do with theatre?’

‘No... Well, I had my fair share of attending it but...ah, no.’ He faltered and Lisette could hear the uncertainty in his voice.

‘Well, that explains it. You see, Mr Michaels, we are a superstitious lot.’

‘We?’

‘Yes,
we
.
We
, the dancers, performers, players of dreams...
We
are theatre people, and we are very superstitious.’

‘Oh, I understand... Actually, no I don’t. The truth is, Lisette, I really have no idea what you are talking about.’

‘You should never use “good luck” or the opposite will befall us.’ She mouthed the words ‘good luck’ just to be on the safe side.

‘Good Lord, I had no idea. Please accept my humblest apologies,’ he said with a growing grin on his face.

Lisette looked down at Tinder. It was really the first time she had actually looked at him; truly looked at him. Perhaps it was his smile. It was the first time she had ever seen it. In truth it transformed his face from a worried theatre owner to an almost handsome man. He had dark blond hair, a pleasant face and greenish grey eyes.

A small laugh escaped from her throat. ‘It’s just as well I said something. Hopefully we have managed to avert disaster.’

‘Just as well, indeed! One shouldn’t go about and curse one’s own theatre and employees... What exactly should I be saying?’

‘Break a leg.’

‘But of course, I don’t know why I didn’t think of that,’ Tinder said as he leant on the edge of the stage and looked up at her. ‘Is there anything else I should know?’

‘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.’