He found her pacing in the corner, reciting barely intelligible lines. He stood for a moment watching her. "Stupid Italian opera! Why can't all operas be written in French? Stupid Italians!"

He laughed, making his way toward Cecily, who looked up in surprise. "We are not all stupid, mademoiselle."

"Fabrizio! I, I didn't mean…" Cecily bit her lip in frustration. "It's just that these words are so close to French they should be easy, but I can't seem to pronounce them. After several weeks of rehearsal, you'd think I could pronounce them at least reasonably well."

"You like help?" The young Italian man had already relieved her of her libretto and was mumbling words to himself.

"I suppose I should get some, thank you."

He smiled, and Cecily understood what Linnea had been telling her. Linnea was desperately in love with Fabrizio di Cicina. She babbled endlessly about him when the two young women were alone. It was odd for the two of them to speak like schoolgirls about such things; both were far older than the traditional age of marriage. Then again, much of the chorus was made up of such girls.

"Here," he said, motioning her to look at a particular line. "'Stride la vampa! - la folla indomita
Corre a quel fuoco - lieta in sembianza.' Si?"

She looked down at the line. "Stredi la vampa…"

"No, 'Stride la vampa!' Try."

"Stride la vampa…"

"Si! Bene! 'La folla indomita…" he motioned for her to follow.

She sighed, a bit perturbed by the childishness of it, but knowing she had to repeat. "La folla indomita…"

"Corre a quell fuoco – lieta in sembianza…"

She repeated the line as well as she could. For several minutes, Fabrizio pored over the libretto, carefully enunciating parts that he thought would give Cecily problems. Finally Cecily stopped him.

"Fabrizio, thank you for all of your help, but I'm not sure I could remember anything else!" She laughed, and he laughed with her.

After a moment, the laughter faded, and his face grew earnest. "Cecily, I ask you question?" Cecily nodded, curious. "Linnea is your friend, si?"

"Yes, why?" Fabrizio took a deep breath, but no words seemed to find their way out of his lips. "Fabrizio, forgive my bluntness, but do you love her?"

That breath came rushing out. His face was the picture of youthful longing. "Si. I love her. I want to, eh, to… Desidero sposarlo!"

"You want to marry her, so why are you talking to me?"

"You think she say yes?"

"Fabrizio, if she says anything else, I will drop dead when I find out."

"True? You make me very happy, Cecily."

She smiled at him as he hurried away. "I try!"

She shook her head. She hoped that he would ask soon. Looking Linnea in the eye while she rambled about how she thought he didn't think of her as anything more than a friend would be increasingly difficult as time went on.

"Cecily! Come here!" It was Mme. Giry, who was standing in the doorway to her quarters. "I wish to speak with you."

Cecily followed Mme. Giry into her room, allowing the woman to close the door behind her. "What about Madame?"

"Two things. First of all, you need to practice your dancing for your part. While not ballet, precisely, there is still a bit of dance you must learn for this. I will practice with you early tomorrow morning."

"Very well, Madame."

"That means no late night escapades tonight." She gave the younger woman a look that clearly read: I know what you were doing last night. Cecily tried vainly for a response, but Mme. Giry prevented her. "And in case you were wondering, which I'm sure a girl of your propriety was, he did not help you change last night. I did."

"You?" Cecily closed her hanging jaw rapidly.

"Yes, me. He and I are acquaintances. You have no need to worry about any indecency; I assure you he left the room before I changed you."

Cecily was flabbergasted. "Thank you, Madame." She paused, unsure of her next words. "I can assure you that I will be well-rested for tomorrow's rehearsal. What time?"

"Five in the morning. I will see you then." She rose, showing Cecily out the door. "And my dear, if you have any need to speak of him, bring it only to me. No one else."

Cecily nodded, then walked swiftly out the door. This day was becoming ever more interesting.