Many thanks and hugs to my new beta Celtic Heart. With out her help this would just be a jumble of misplaced commas and periods.
Chapter 8
I watched in a mixture of amazement and disgust as Aunt Maria slowly made her way over to the slightly perturbed managers. Still grinning that horribly false smile, she and Aloysia halted in front of the three men.
"And who may we thank for this delightful interruption?" Monsieur Rayer asked, his calm, soothing voice dripping with sarcasm. Aunt Maria giggled, a low gutsy sound and waved a hand playfully at the concertmaster.
"I am most gratified that you would call me a delightful interruption." She replied, missing Rayer's hint completely. A forced smile came over Rayer's thin face, and he looked over to the other men sitting beside him. The taller manager rose, sweeping into a bow that was all too refined for a simple maid. Though she blushed at his gesture, I could tell that by no means was she completely caught off guard.
My Aunt Marie had been raised in a family that often gave themselves because several generations back, a duke had come from their stock. From the very first day that I met this overbearing, loud woman, she had made it perfectly clear that she was to be treated better then most. Her sharp gaze had passed over my gawky fifteen-year-old body slowly, her nose wrinkling, distorting her chubby features. I curtseyed quickly for her, not wanting to give a bad impression to my new family. Raising my head to see her response I watched as a slow sneer crossed her face.
"Eliza? Is that what you said your name was?" I pulled myself up to my full height, raising my chin as I always did when I felt like I was in unfriendly territory.
"Yes Aunt Maria. I am pleased to meet you."
"Aunt?" She sputtered in outrage. "Don't be silly girl! I hardly know you. You will address me as Madam Mason until I tell you other wise." Hiding my shock and hurt at her sharp words, I nodded.
"Yes Madam Mason. Forgive me for offending you so."
It had been an undeclared war between the two of us ever since. For a few months I bowed under her strict rules and cruel comments, but soon I was tired of the charade. At the first signs of my disobedience to her wishes she had merely sulked; like a spoiled child who hasn't gotten what they asked for. Then she began go out of her way to make my life miserable. Often she would deliberately spill red wine on a newly washed tablecloth, knowing that it was my task in the house to clean the laundry. But I soon found that a sharp comment to her remarks would put her in her place. Now she stood in front of the leaders of this new opera house, two of who would have control over our jobs and salaries.
"Is it alright gentlemen if I speak with Monsieur De Perix outside?" Her question caused the men to glance at one another in surprise. I gaped at her boldness. If we lose our places here I'll know whom to thank.
The other manager who was sitting comfortably in his plush red chair, blinked slowly, as if trying to make sense of this request. His little brown moustache and glasses wiggled slightly as her narrowed his eyes, trying to size up the woman before him.
"Why, if you don't mind me asking, do you need me? Are you not happy with your new positions?" Aunt Marie looked slightly taken aback at his question.
"Why no Monsieur. In fact washing the laundry has proven to be a perfect pastime for me." I nearly leapt to my feet in outrage. That horrid woman! How dare she take credit for my hard work? I don't see her hands cut with the task, or her face chapped from that painful heat. De Perix smiled and gestured to his handsome cravat, which I could recall throwing in with some of the finer fabrics yesterday.
"If you are the one who has helped to take over the laundry then you are quite excellent at it. I have never had something so carefully cleaned." Gritting my teeth, my angered breathing coming out in little pants, I watched as she stood there and took the thanks for my work. I bit my lip to keep my treacherous mouth from calling her bluff.
"I am glad that you like my washing. I hope that you will continue to do so." Aunt Marie said, her voice a light purr. I went back to scrubbing the wooden slates of the stage, throwing my anger into harsh scrubbing. She chattered on and on to the men, praising the "washing skills" that she had acquired from her mother. I pressed my lips together as her lies grew, ever so often looking at the now forgotten singer on the stage.
I hoped that Aunt Marie would get a rise out of her, but my wish went unanswered. She simply played with the ruffles on her fine red dress, humming softly to herself. Loudly dropping the rag back into the soapy water, I sat back on my haunches to think. Just as I was trying to work my mind around the thought of dear Aunt Marie having extra money, I heard a low swish of fabric.
I started slightly, my mind falling back to the previous night. It was the same telltale sound; the same soft clatter of boots on wood. My eyes growing wider by the second I slowly tilted my head to look at the sun-bathed flies.
An outline of a man was projected raggedly in the bright light. I let out a shaky breath, and inhaled sharply. Someone was watching what was going on. Someone was wandering about the opera house.
Aunt Marie's loud voice pulled me back to her conversation. She was pleading with De Perix to come with her outside to discuss a matter of great importance. The bespectacled man didn't seem to care much for the request and tried to egg her into telling him in the auditorium. But I was still unsettled about the man behind me. I turned my neck slightly once more, but the fly was empty.
"Come now madam, surely you can tell me the content of your discussion in here." De Perix stated, his voice taking a whiny quality.
"Please monsieur, I was requested to talk with you alone." Aunt Marie threw back, using suspense as a wild card against the stubborn man.
"By whom?" De Perix asked, his curiosity roused. I noted that Rayer also looked taken aback by the offhand comment of the secret request. His long face stretched out to a sharper degree when he frowned.
"I am not at liberty to say. He wishes to remain...an... anonymous." I nearly laughed at her inability to say the word, her elegant manner shattered for a moment.
"I see. And you refuse to tell me the matter in here?" De Perix tried again. When Aunt Marie shook her head in refusal he sighed and rose.
"Very well. Monsieur Rayer, Monsieur De Guise I presume that you will be able to continue on the auditions without me for a moment?" When the two men nodded their consent, De Perix extended his arm to Aunt Marie, who took it gracefully. Sweeping her around, the mismatched pair made their way up to the double mahogany doors that led into the main hall. I watched, fascinated and wondering what she had to tell. I was still gazing after them when I noted the stark white boots once more tapping away at my side. I cast an annoyed look up to Aloysia who plopped down beside me.
"I don't have time to talk." I stated, praying that she would have enough gumption to wander elsewhere. Sadly that would be giving her poor little brain too much credit.
"I wonder why mama said that she did the laundry? Perhaps she got up in the middle of the night and washed it." I glared at her, hating every golden ringlet on her head.
"I did the clothes Aloysia. Your mother would never lift a finger to help anyone other then herself." My words dripped with malice and ice and she sat there unfazed by it all.
"There is someone who can help me have the proper wedding." Aloysia stated, grabbing at the hem of her periwinkle blue gown. The lace and satin on it proved it to be far to fancy for a simple maid.
"What are you talking about? What wedding?" I asked tossing a rag to her. She squealed slightly as it made a small plop on the slate next to her. A quick hiss to be silent came from the diva on stage, who was finally getting to sing. I listened as her voice soared on the cadenzas and flowed over the rich Italian words.
"Mama always said I would marry well. That I would not end up like you Brett's and DeFlur's."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked through clenched teeth.
"I shall become a duchess or a noblewoman." She stated simply, as if it was every girl's destiny to achieve. I stopped scrubbing to look at her expression, hoping to decode anything behind it.
"With what? You have no dowry..." I began but was interrupted by her indignant reply.
"Mama says that if you have a pretty face and great talents you don't need a dowry." I arched my eyebrow at her answer.
"And what talent do you have?"
"I can sing of course." I stared at her. Never in my five years of knowing her had I ever heard her sing. In fact, I had never seen her do much of anything.
"You sing? I had no idea Aloysia." My tone had become kinder towards her, wanting to hear her let loose this marvelous talent.
"Oh yes." It was all she said. I even waited for a few moments for her to continue, but she just swirled water paths about on the floor.
"Well," I began. "What part?" She peered up at me, her face blanker then usual.
"What do you mean?"
"You know...alto, soprano. What part do you sing?"
"Oh! Tenor." I couldn't help myself, I laughed. My giggles caused Rayer and the others to throw me glares and harsh shushes, but I couldn't seem to stop. Soon Aloysia even laughed, though she had no idea what I had found so amusing. When I had control of myself once more I looked back to Aloysia.
"So you've taught yourself the male part have you? Well I wish you luck with your career. I'm quite sure that there will be no one else to challenge you in that field save men." The poor girl just stared blankly at me, her deep brown eyes empty.
"Males? What do you mean? I'm a girl?"
"Glad to hear it. Aloysia, tenor is a male part." I stated, smiling at her lack of knowledge in her talent.
"I see. Then I am the highest part for women."
"Ah! A soprano. Lyrical or dramatic?" I teased.
"Beg pardon?"
"Never mind. Come on, help me clean this floor." I moved my rag across the dusty wood once more, my cheerful mood replaced by determination to finish this task by lunch. Aloysia hesitantly scrubbed, stopping to admire her reflection in the bucket ever so often. I was about to scold her when her eyes roved back once more but the banging door caused me to look up.
De Perix came into the room in a hurry. His face was quite pale, his hair unkempt and messy, almost as if he had run his hands through it several times. He made his way back to the others, shaking his head at any questions, glancing about the room, lingering on one of the boxes.
I followed his gaze, counting the luxurious spaces as I went. Box Five.
I tilted my head at the lonely box in the far right corner. As I tried to figure out what was so frightening about the plush red seats or gold handles I saw a flash of black. I drew in my breath. It's that man again. A small flash of white soon followed. I leaned forward slightly, trying to make it out more clearly. Then I felt the ground under me give way.
I glanced down as the bucket of water and I tumbled onto the wet wood. Sputtering at the soapy taste that filled my mouth, I ignored Aloysia's giggles and moved my eyes back to the box. The white and black flashes were gone, but the red curtains swayed slightly.
"Do be careful girl!" I looked over to the managers to see De Guise snarling at me. I rose to my feet, my skirt sopping wet and curtsied, before rushing off to find a mop. Who is this person who sneaks about in the shadows?
