Chapter Three
Noise forced Leah's mind back into awareness. She blinked and focused herself back into the present. The audience was on its feet, applauding loudly.
Victor stepped up beside her and bowed as she curtseyed. The curtains closed in front of them and Victor looked at her, breathing heavily. "That was amazing," he said quietly.
"I try," Leah said and laughed shakily.
They rushed off the stage as others hurried on, quickly changing the background and getting everything set for the next act. Leah rolled her tense shoulders, now able to relax. They had performed the chorus ballet earlier, and she was done for the night.
Leah sighed. Weeks and weeks of preparation over and done with after a single night or two. They would be performing this opera only the one night, and preparations would soon begin for the next.
A towel was dropped onto her shoulders and Leah smiled gratefully at her friend. "Thank you Angie," she whispered.
"You were absolutely wonderful Leah," Angie said in a hushed voice. She ushered her friend over to where Angie had been watching from the side wing, and they sat against a crate, waiting for the next act to start.
Leah dried herself off, thanking whoever did the sewing that the costumes did not show sweat. Ballet was hard work.
"Oh Leah," Angie sighed. "I do not think anyone noticed Victor with you up there."
"Angie, hush, that is not nice." Leah patted her face carefully to dry it.
"Ask anybody that watched you, I am sure they would agree." Angie smiled and Leah rolled her eyes.
"I doubt that Angie, but thank you for the thought," Leah whispered, and they both fell silent as the curtains parted.
The music ended and the curtains closed to the thundering sound of applause. The actors and dancers all lined up to bow and curtsey, Victor and Carlotta afterwards to have the whole stage to themselves. From where Leah was standing, the managers looked very happy; she assumed they collected quite a bit of money from the evening's work. They knew how much Paris loved its entertainment, and tried to produce as many plays and operas as possible in a year. They were already into October and they would be doing one more full play and two ballets before New Year's.
Leah and Angie and the rest of the chorus girls made their way to the dormitory for the night. Their costumes were put away, their faces scrubbed and clean, and their hair let down and brushed out.
Leah ran a hand through her long hair, relieved to be loose from the stage creation. She started to braid it for the night, after giving her scalp a good scratch.
"Do you know what you are going to wear tomorrow night?" Angie asked her as they closed the dormitory door behind them.
"Yes, I have an idea. Good thing they have a closet of fancy dresses for us to borrow, or else we would be going in our costumes," Leah said, amused.
"Oh I know. I am going to wear the pink one with the little sleeves."
"Mm, that is a nice one. It will go well with your…." Leah's words faded to a stop as she reached her bed.
Lying on top of her pillow was a small bouquet of yellow roses. They seemed to glow softly in the dim light and Leah reached out, gently touching a frail petal.
"Leah! Those are beautiful! Who are they from?" Angie sat on her bed, looking up at her friend.
Leah picked them up carefully and closed her eyes, enjoying their sweet smell. She looked around, "I do not know. There is no card." She sighed and smiled as she found a tall glass of water and set it on her night table. Leah arranged the flowers in the glass and sat back to look at them. "I wonder who did send them," she said quietly. "I mean, who would send me flowers?"
"Well, whoever did, either did not want you to know their identity, or he must have assumed you would know who they were from." Angie nibbled on her thumbnail.
"Hmm," Leah climbed into her bed, thinking. "Victor maybe? He is taking me to the gala tomorrow."
"I don't know," Angie said slowly. "Maybe. He does not seem the type of man to send flowers though. You should ask him."
"Or maybe I should just wait. If he says anything, I will know, but if he did not send them," she reached out and touched one again. "I will wait and see if anybody else confesses."
Angie laughed softly and pulled her blankets up. "Well, whoever is your secret admirer better reveal himself soon, or you will be looking for signs every time somebody speaks to you."
"Indeed," Leah agreed, and looking at her gift once more, rolled over and went to sleep.
The girls slept late the next morning, as they were given the day off. Most of the chorus girls were attending the gala that night and chattered excitedly all day. Angie and Leah went to the dress closet to claim their gowns for the evening early before they were snatched up by somebody else.
They spent the day lounging around for once, not sure of what else to do. It was raining and miserable outside and neither of them had any ambition to go wandering through the city.
As the day grew later, the girls sought the bathing room and spent an hour in the small tubs, soaking in scented water and scrubbing their skin and hair. They had a small dinner in the kitchens waiting for their hair to dry and their favourite cook sneaked them a cup of hot chocolate each, disguised as tea.
When they went back to the dormitory, they found it full of girls getting ready, the room in practically chaos. Angie and Leah fought their way back to their portion of the room and quickly got dressed. The dresses they had picked out looked similar, but Angie's was a light pink with small capped sleeves and Leah's was a dark green with no sleeves, but wide straps. Both gowns had full skirts and form fitting bodices, with satin straps lacing up the back. Leah had also found small gloves that matched her dress.
Leah twisted Angie's hair up into an elaborate bun and pinned it into place with the pink hair pins Angie handed her. Leah left her hair long and straight, and dabbed some rose water around her neck and wrists, hoping to get a sign that night. Neither of them had any jewellery other than the costume pieces that belonged to the Opera House, so they paid careful attention to their makeup instead. They slipped on their shoes and waited for somebody to come and tell them when it was time to leave.
Leah was playing with a bit of her hair and humming to herself when the knock came. Somebody opened the door and Victor was standing there. He looked into the room, but Leah was at the very back, still sitting on her bed. "The gala is commencing downstairs," he announced.
Leah stood up and shook back her hair, heading for the door. The chorus girls let her go first, as Victor was her date. Angie stopped her before she got to the door. "Be careful tonight Leah," she warned.
"Nonsense Angie, it is just a ball. Please stop worrying about me." She stepped past her friend and continued.
Victor saw her approaching and smiled, holding out his arm. She took it and they began down the hallway. "You look beautiful tonight my dear," he said.
"Thank you Victor, you look very charming as well." Victor's tuxedo was black, and the embroidery and ruffled shirt were both a gold colour.
He grinned and led her down to the ornate ballroom, marble and gold everywhere, in carvings and pillars and statues and everything else decorating the large room. It was already full of people and the orchestra were getting ready. The amount of colour was beautiful to Leah's eyes, gowns and suits every colour of the rainbow and some different ones as well. There were tables along one wall, covered in large bowls of punch, bottles of champagne and small hors d'œuvres.
More people were still filing in, a few Leah recognized as other performers from the Opera House, most she did not know, mainly guests and the small number of patrons. The orchestra started up, signalling the beginning of the first waltz.
"Would you care to dance with me?" Victor asked her as she was still looking around in awe.
"Of course," she said and they took their position on the dance floor among the many other couples.
The music started up for real and Leah smiled, loving the sound of it. The room was full of dancers and their steps were not choreographed and memorized weeks before. The freedom of it went to Leah's head, making her feel a bit giddy.
The song was over much sooner than she would have preferred, and Victor led her away from the dance floor. He picked up two champagne glasses and offered her one. "Come," he said. "Let me introduce you around."
Leah looked back to the dance floor where the next song was being danced to and nodded, almost reluctantly.
He saw her look and said, "We will dance later, I promise." He offered his arm again and began to mingle with the people grouped along the walls.
Leah got tired of it in a hurry. Although some people did recognize her from the opera, most did not and ignored her once they were introduced, focusing on Victor instead. She knew that this was supposed to be helping her, but she could not hold back her boredom. Most people were fawning over the Tenor or gossiping about things she did not know or care about. Victor was loving it though, and barely paid her any attention. Partway through the night Leah decided that he did not send her the roses. Angie was right, Victor seemed too caught up in himself and his admirers to do something as romantic as secretly sending her flowers. She wondered, not for the first time that night, why he had asked her in the first place.
At one point Victor looked up into the crowd locked on to something with his eyes and nodded once. He turned to Leah, speaking to her for the first time in an hour. "Would you mind waiting here for a moment? I have something I have to attend to."
Leah nodded and he walked off, quickly disappearing in the throng of people. Leah sighed and watched the dancing longingly, wondering when she would dance again. The way things were going, it would not be tonight. Leah hoped Angie was having a good time at least.
"Would you like to dance with me?"
Leah turned around and Jim was standing there, looking very handsome in a dark grey suit and holding his hand out to her. His blue eyes were sparkling and he had a small smile on his face.
Leah smiled gratefully. "Yes please," she said, and took his hand.
He practically swept her into his arms and onto the dance floor. They joined the others dancing and Leah laughed, feeling her heart lift. She did not realize how tall the stagehand was before, she only came up to his chin.
"I hope you did not mind me interfering," Jim said, "But I thought you were looking rather bored."
"Oh I was," Leah admitted. "I just wanted to have a good time tonight, but Victor was determined to introduce me to everyone. 'Help my career' he told me," she said, a touch bitterly.
"Did it help?" Jim asked.
"No!" Leah all but shouted, and then quieted. "Nobody noticed me with him around, and he was plenty happy letting them admire him."
"I noticed you. I don't think I have ever seen you with your hair like that before. You look stunning," Jim told her.
"Thank you," she said softly. She was not sure why, but the compliment sounded much better coming from Jim than it did Victor.
"You smell very nice too," he said quietly, almost too quietly to hear.
"What was that?" She asked.
He shook his head. "Nothing. By the way, I wanted to ask you, have you received anything interesting in your post box lately?"
Leah frowned, confused. "I have not received anything in the mail for quite some time, why do you ask?"
"Oh, I was just curious," he said, obviously not telling her something.
"Oh come on," Leah coaxed.
Jim just grinned and shook his head. "Trust me, it is nothing."
"Infuriating man," Leah muttered and Jim laughed.
They did not speak for the rest of the song and simply danced. Leah loved every moment of it; Jim was a very good dancer and seemed to be enjoying himself as well. When the song ended, they broke apart and applauded the musicians, like everyone else around them.
Leah cautiously looked around the edges of the room.
"Looking for someone?" Jim asked.
"Victor," Leah replied. "I do not want him to find me yet. I don't think I could handle any more of his 'introductions'."
"I could help with that, if you wish," he said.
"Really? And how do you plan on doing that?"
"A moving target is harder to spot," he replied. The next song started and they whirled onto the dance floor again.
Leah laughed with pure joy as they spun. Jim led her around the dance floor and Leah saw people she knew dancing as well. Madame Giry was teaching the waltz to one of the managers and Leah saw Angie with a young nobleman. Angie had smiled at her, looking very pleased with both of their situations.
At one point later that night, while Jim was looking around the ballroom, keeping watch for Victor, he frowned and muttered something unintelligible.
"What is the matter?" Leah asked him.
"I found your date," he told her quietly. "With Carlotta."
"Hmm, where are they?"
Jim pointed her, and she saw Victor and the Prima Donna standing on the bottom row of stairs, near one side of the ballroom. Victor was looking around sheepishly and Carlotta looked furious. As Leah watched them, Carlotta swept her gaze across the room and, for the briefest of moments, locked eyes with her. Carlotta turned away and tapped Victor on the arm. If possible, Carlotta looked even angrier, ranting at the man and pointing at the dancing pair.
"Oh dear," Leah said. "What do you suppose is happening?"
Jim bit the inside of his cheek, thinking. "I had overheard something earlier today, something I am sure I was not supposed to."
Leah raised her eyebrows, silently asking him to continue.
He sighed and did just that. "I was underneath the stage this morning, fixing the lock on one of the trapdoors, and I heard people speaking. At first I ignored them, but what they were saying caught my interest." He looked down at Leah as they continued to dance. "It was him and Carlotta. Nobody else was in the auditorium, which seems to be why they chose that spot. She was making sure everything was set for tonight."
"And?" Leah asked, her insides growing cold.
"And he said yes, that he had asked you and you had jumped onto his offer. He said he would keep you busy."
"What!" Leah shook her head. "I did not jump on his offer! He waved my career in front of my nose to convince me. Wait. Keep me busy? Why would Carlotta want Victor to take me to the ball? Keep me busy and away from what?"
"Well," Jim said. "Look at her, she does not look very happy. Maybe she just wanted to keep you from having a good night; you know, torment you like she usually does."
Jim led her across the room, further away from the Prima Donna and her Tenor.
"Well too bad for Carlotta," Leah declared. "I am having a perfectly good time."
"And thus why she is angry," Jim laughed.
The song ended and Leah and Jim remained in the mass of people on the dance floor. Leah was a little afraid of what would happen when she saw either Victor or Carlotta again. Leah looked up to the large clock on one wall and saw that it was near midnight. She was surprised; the night had practically flown by. She and Jim had spent over an hour dancing, but Leah was nowhere near tired.
The conductor turned away from the orchestra and addressed the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen. This will be our last song for the evening; I suggest you find your special someone and take them to the dance floor."
Jim looked down at her and raised one eyebrow. Leah grinned. "Why not," she said and took his hand once more.
The song the orchestra played was one of Leah's favourites, and a very romantic one on top of that. Looking up into the Jim's blue eyes, she felt attraction sparking. It made her a bit nervous, as she still barely knew the man, but decided that a night of dancing did not mean they were going to be married and that she should just enjoy herself. Leah closed her eyes, loving the sound of the prominent violin, and the feel of Jim's strong shoulder under her hand as they danced. She opened her eyes and found Jim watching her, an unreadable expression on his face.
The music slowed and Leah sighed, not wanting it to be over. They slowed to a stop, Jim keeping hold of her hand and waist, keeping them in place.
"I hope at least part of your night went well tonight," he said quietly.
"The latter part of my night was wonderful. Thank you Jim," she said solemnly.
"No, thank you," he said and kissed the back of her gloved hand.
She blushed and he grinned. His eyes caught on something and he sobered. "Here comes your shining knight."
"Oh no," Leah said. "Really?"
Jim nodded. "I will stay for a moment. I want to make sure he does not harm you."
"Victor? I did not think he is violent, but thank you," Leah replied, growing nervous again.
"Leah!" Came the angry voice. "There you are! I have been looking for you all night!" Victor's face was tinged pink with anger. Leah took a step closer to Jim, feeling safer with the man she knew less.
"I am surprised Victor," she said, her voice steady. "I was under the impression that you did not even notice I was even there for half the night."
"Of course I noticed! I was introducing you to important people, keeping you…er," he paused. "Showing you around," he said quickly, trying to cover up. He glared irritably at Jim. "You came to this gala with me Leah, not some stagehand."
Jim narrowed his eyes. "What are you saying sir, that you were worried because you could not find Leah, or angry because she was with me?"
As Jim had thought, Victor pounced on the first option. "I was worried!" He snapped and turned to Leah. "I could not find you dear," he pouted and Leah restrained herself from drawing back in disgust. "I was afraid something had happened to you." He pulled her away from the taller man and tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow. Leah tried to pull back, but the man was stronger than she. "Come now, I will walk you back to your room."
He started to walk away, pulling her along behind him. Leah turned her body as much as possible and looked back at Jim. 'I'm sorry' she mouthed and he shook his head, mouthing 'don't worry' back.
Leah smiled, turning back to Victor and allowing him to haul her away. She did not let him speak though, all the way back to the dormitory. She cut him off every time he tried, saying things like; "I do not wish to speak at the moment, perhaps another time."
They finally reached her door and Leah was able to pull free of him.
"I'm sorry Leah," he said before she could move.
"Do not concern yourself Victor, I had a fine time after you left," she replied. "Goodnight."
Before he could say another word, Leah was inside and had the door closed between them. She listened until she heard him walk away, before moving further inside. She peeled off her gloves as she walked and rubbed her warm hands together, thinking.
"Leah! There you are," Angie exclaimed from the end of the room. "Wasn't it a wonderful night? I had so much fun!" Angie laughed, her eyes twinkling in the candlelight.
Leah smiled at her and sat down, pulling off her shoes with relief. "Who was that you were dancing with all night?" Leah asked her.
Angie blushed faintly. "Oh, that was the son of Lord Montblanc. But never mind him, how was your night? I saw you with Jim for quite some time, what happened to Victor?"
"Jim was saving me from Victor," Leah went on to explain her night.
"Oh Leah," Angie sighed once she was finished. "I told you to be careful around Victor. And I was right! He is just Carlotta's lapdog, following her orders. No wonder he didn't tell you why he wanted to go to the gala with you."
"Angie please," Leah muttered quietly. "I feel very much a fool as it is, you do not need to remind me of that."
"Sorry Leah," Angie said, apologetic.
Leah shrugged it off. Without another word she finished getting ready for bed and buried herself beneath the covers.
