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
‘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
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