A/N: I don't own these characters; I'm just engaging in a bit of wish fulfillment. Also, I promise I'm going to update at least once a week for the rest of the year. I'm putting it in writing so now you all have to hold me to it.
Chapter 9
Winter passed smoothly with both Régine and Hélène away. Spring had just begun to show its colors when the Le Haut residence was rocked with the news that Hélène had died in her sleep on her last night in Vienna. The staff was in a frenzy; Régine and Clemente would be cutting their own honeymoon short as, according to Madame Arsenau, 'Madame Régine has blessedly become with child.' Odette had worked hard not to snort at the news. She wondered idly if Clemente would understand what it meant when Régine delivered two months early.
The day before the Le Hauts were slated to return, Odette was working on polishing the arms of each chair in the main theater when a gaggle of young dancers came prancing in, laughing and chatting, and settling into the front rows of the theater and the floor of the orchestra pit to stretch and put on their shoes. 'Auditions.' Odette cursed at herself for forgetting. She paused to watch one of the new girls, one she didn't recognize, do some simple choreography and this time she did snort. "The energy of a bullet and the lightness of a depressed elephant," she laughed.
"My, that's a strong opinion."
Odette gasped and turned to face Mérante, her cheeks flaming with embarrassment. Eyes down, she curtsied low. "Forgive my impertinence, sir. I only meant…. Nothing, sir. I meant nothing."
Mérante gave a quick and courteous bow, staring at her with a look on his face Odette couldn't quite read. Odette expected him to turn, or to break eye contact, and when he didn't the high-pitched chatter slowly faded away. A tiny smile formed on the right side of Mérante's mouth, making Odette's stomach lurch in an unexpectedly pleasant way. The moment stretched until the pianist began warming up. Odette jumped, startled by how little space was between them, and landed awkwardly on her left leg. It crumpled below her, Mérante's arms wrapping around her before she hit the ground. Odette again felt that unfamiliar tug in her stomach, this time leaving her feeling flushed all over. Straightening, and with every ounce of grace she could muster, she bid Mérante adieu and left him staring after her in wonder once again