Microsoft Word - Rogers, Rosemary - The Crowd Pleasers

Microsoft Word - Rogers, Rosemary - The Crowd Pleasers by kps

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Authors: kps
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like a grimace.
    "Anne-we've got to squeeze in some time together. But there are so many people I haven't even talked to yet, so I'll get that over with first, and in the meantime, Harris will help you circulate and get you something to eat, won't you, Harris? Ted, you're going to have to circulate too. And no jealous scenes, sweetie, or you'll have to leave."

    How easily Carol handles everything! Will I ever learn, Anne wondered, letting Harris lead her on with her smile so fixed upon her face so that her lips actually ached.
    Fortunately, no one seemed to notice. The local people there were polite, their voices tactfully incurious as to the reason for her presence there, although they all inquired politely after her health and her father's.
    "And how's your fat lazy, Mrs. Hyatt? When will he be coming home again?" They did not question why she was here, with "the theater people," but their veiled looks were curious all the same. The sole representative of the Deepwood News did not question or approach her at all.
    Harris introduced her to a few members of the cast whose names or faces were vaguely recognizable. A young, brown-haired man called Tony, who had been in that first scene she had watched that morning; an older woman, a character actress who had once been a star in her own right; and the director, Michael Fenwick, quietly dressed in a dark suit and very polite now, acting as if he was meeting her for the first time.
    "I think you ought to have something to eat, Anne." Phelps led her to a buffet and began filling her plate without waiting for her reply. He also got her a drink-a very dry martini-and found her a chair to sit on. Why was Harris being so pointedly nice?
    Anne forced herself to take a bite of cold turkey, while Harris, with a murmured "You don't mind, do you love?" sat himself on the arm of her chair.
    God, it was stifling hot in here. And the music was far too loud. What was she doing here, when she should be in that room down the hall? Everything that had happened before seemed unreal, a half-forgotten fantasy. But every nerve in her body strained towards that closed door down the hall, all the pride and the logic that had brought her here seemed suddenly unimportant in the face of what she wanted, had really wanted.
    The martini tasted much better than the cold food. Anne swallowed all of hers, and accepted another glass from a passing waiter.
    "It won't help you to get yourself drunk," Harris Phelps said quietly, a peculiarly controlled tone to his voice. She looked up at him, annoyed, but he went on, putting a hand on her arm for emphasis, "You have a very transparent face, my dear. And you must learn, like me, not to let your feelings show too openly. Webb Carnahan isn't worth your regrets. I'm not asking what happened between you, but you must know he isn't your type. He's an amoral animal who's far too used to taking what he wants, and then ... But you're different, Anne. You've got both birth and breeding, and you haven't been exposed to his kind. It's understandable, of course, that you would be intrigued by him. I was over-protected too, and I learned how to fight my way out of the cage I was in, just as you will, Anne. Only, if you must experiment, start with your own kind. Stay away from the barracudas."
    Harris had surprised her. Anne found herself studying him once again. What did she really know about him? He was very rich, very powerful. A dilettante who could afford to indulge his whims by dabbling in theater and movies. Why was he acting so protectively towards her? She didn't need protecting. She'd had enough of that!
    "Honestly, Harris, I ..."
    He shook his head, this time giving her a slight smile. "I know; how well I know, Anne!
    You must be tired of warnings and little lectures like the one I've just been giving you.
    I don't blame you for it. I too had my share while I was growing up. It was only afterwards that I learned for myself what my father was trying to warn me against.

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