Chapter Six

A couple of days later, Leah finally finished the gown. She held it up to herself and looked in the mirror. It was beautiful. The full skirt was wide with soft satin panels and floating sheer. The bodice was form fitting, and the thin sleeves were off-the-shoulder. Hundreds of beads glittered in the light and the embroidery thread trailed around the bodice and wound down the satin panels.

Leah carefully hung it up in the costume room, in its own box, away from the others. She left the room and headed towards the stage, where rehearsals had already begun. Carlotta was in the process of singing the introductory song, the first one in the play, right after the narrator is finished.

Leah stepped quietly over to Madame Giry, who was overseeing the rehearsals. "Madame, I am finished the dress," she said softly.

"Wonderful!" Madame Giry whispered back. "Once Carlotta is finished here I will get her to try it on."

At that moment Carlotta tripped over one of the scenery props and flew into a rage, as she usually did. She began to scream her fury at those around her. Leah took a few steps back, trying to blend in with the other chorus girls and hoped the irate Soprano did not notice her.

"I cannot work like this!" Carlotta was ranting. "I need room to act, I cannot have hunks of junk lying all over the place!" She kicked the fake row of hedges and flowers and it flew off to the side, striking a wall and breaking. One of the young stagehands complained, loudly and unfortunately, about his ruined work. Carlotta whirled on the boy. "Was that your monstrosity that got in my way?" She shrieked.

The managers chose that moment to walk in, just as she grabbed the boy by the front of his shirt and shook him.

"Señora!" One of them cried. "Put that boy down this instant!"

Carlotta dropped the stagehand, who scurried out of her reach. "That boy almost killed me! I demand that the scenery be changed for this scene!"

"Madame," the other manager said apologetically. "We cannot change the backgrounds now, it is too late to make new ones. The play is in a week, you will simply have to get used to the props."

"I will do no such thing!" Carlotta stomped over to the older men. "If you do not change things instantly," she threatened. "I will not perform."

The managers remained silent and Carlotta narrowed her eyes. "Fine," she said coldly. "Then try to put on this play without Belle!" She spun around and stalked off the stage, her serving maids rushing after her.

Once she was gone, the shorter man groaned. "What do we do now?"

"I do not know," his partner muttered. "We do not have enough time to change sets and rehearse with them, but she is right, we cannot perform without the lead actress."

Leah looked around. There were many people in the auditorium at the moment, the full orchestra, the chorus lines, most of the stagehands and any others that had anything to do with the upcoming play. The other singers that were to be a part of that song looked at each other, shaking their heads.

Madame Giry walked over to them, speaking in a low voice that the shocked witnesses could not hear. They spoke and argued for quite some time, but nobody left the room, curiosity rising. One of the managers looked over his shoulder at the chorus girls, and turned back to the discussion. Leah and Angie looked at each other, both wondering the same thing.

Madame Giry looked up. "Leah, will you come here for a moment please?"

Leah's eyes widened. She stepped forward self consciously, feeling many sets of eyes on her. She reached the small group, Madame Giry looking at her proudly and the managers appraisingly.

"Mademoiselle," the taller man said. "Madame Giry tells us you might be able to help us."

Madame Giry cut in. "I have heard you singing the exact song we were rehearsing today," she looked to Leah for confirmation.

The short manager cut in. "Do you think you could sing it for us now?"

"I could, Monsieur," Leah said shyly. "I could do any of Belle's lines. I know them all." She said this quietly, as if embarrassed.

"You learned all of the lead's lines on your own? Why?" He asked her.

"I love Belle's character Monsieur. I did not take any time away from my chores," she said hastily.

"Well please, Mademoiselle, we would like to hear you."

Leah nodded hesitantly and the manager walked over to the conductor to speak with him. After a few moments the thin man nodded and called out, "Quiet on the stage please!" Although nobody was speaking, and he signalled for the orchestra to find their places.

Madame Giry ushered Leah to the middle of the stage. "Sing wonderfully for them my dear, and you will get the part."

"Belle? Really?" Leah asked, shocked.

"Yes," Madame Giry stepped back, leaving her alone on the wide stage.

Leah tried to ignore the dozens of people watching her, and saw Angie grinning widely out of the corner of her eye. Leah closed her eyes, bringing Belle to the front of her mind. She felt calmness wash over her as the beautiful and innocent young girl's character took control, so to speak, and opened her eyes. The music began and Leah began to sing.

"Little town, it's a quiet village. Every day, like the one before…"


The song ended, and the hall was bathed in silence. Leah had her eyes closed for her last note, and slowly opened them once more. People were staring at her as if they had never seen her before. Then the managers began to clap, and everyone else joined them.

"Brava!" The taller one called out, and they approached her swiftly. "Mademoiselle that was magnificent!"

The smaller man agreed as the applause died down. "That it was. Now, if only you would be able to learn the ballet in a week's time."

Leah looked up at him sheepishly. He raised his eyebrow at her. "Do not tell me you have already learned that as well?"

Leah shrugged. "I was a dancer before I was a singer Monsieur. It does not take me long to learn."

"Very well then," he said, grinning. "Although… It would anger Carlotta to no end if you were to take her place." He looked over to his partner, who then turned to Leah.

"So, my dear, you have the part," he said.

Leah smiled widely, "Oh, thank you so much Monsieur!"

"Do not thank us yet Mademoiselle," he warned. "You still have to resize all of Belle's costumes, rehearse all your songs and lines and practice your ballet with Victor and the final ballroom dance with the prince." He looked at her, seeing she was practically bursting with delight and sighed, smiling slightly. "You had better go get started then."

Leah laughed excitedly and ran off towards the side of the stage. The managers watched her go and both shook their heads. "Dancers…" one of them muttered.


"Angie!" Leah called out as she reached the edge of the stage. "Angie did you hear? I'm going to be Belle!"

"Of course you are!" She said. "They would have been stupid not to cast you after that." Angie looked over Leah's shoulder and grinned.

"Congratulations," Jim said from behind Leah.

Leah smiled at his voice and spun around, throwing her arms around him. "Oh Jim!" She said. "I'm actually playing a lead role!"

Jim ran his hand down her hair and Leah realized exactly where she was. She stepped back quickly. "Er, sorry," she said, embarrassed.

"Nonsense," he said and draped his arm over her shoulders.

Angie snickered at the two of them. "Leah, if you want I can help you with your costumes. I'll go get them," she said and left.

Jim looked down at the dancer. "Now you will be able to wear the dress you made," he said quietly.

She turned under his arm to look up at him. "I know," she said softly, thinking. "Belle," she paused. "I am going to be Belle," she repeated to herself. "Oh Jim, do you think I can do this? I have never had such a big part before." Leah felt herself beginning to panic.

"Of course you can, silly girl," he said, laughing. "You learned all of Belle's lines and dances on your own, for no reason, and you do not think you can do it? If you can convince the managers, who think nobody is nearly as good as Carlotta, to replace her with you, then you can do anything."

Leah remembered something the managers had told her, and looked up at Jim, frowning. "I am going to have to work with Victor," she said. "He is playing the Beast."

"Is he also the Prince?" Jim asked her.

"No, at the very end there is not enough time for Victor to change from Beast to Prince, so Simon from the chorus is playing the Prince. He has no speaking lines, just the wedding dance with Belle, so they do not need a major actor for him."

"Hmm," Jim mumbled, thinking. "Well then, since it is the last week of rehearsals, they will mostly be in costume. Victor will be behind that great ugly mask." He looked down at her. "Try not to worry about him too much. Just concentrate on blowing away the audience."

Leah smiled at him gratefully.

"Sorry to interrupt," Angie said from behind them. "But we have to rush if we are to get Leah ready." She hauled Leah away, costumes in the other arm. "We will see you later Jim," she called.

Jim shook his head, grinned and went back to work.

"Okay Leah," Angie said, leading her towards a small practice room. "Madame Giry spoke with me. You are to rehearse the ballet with Victor this afternoon, and the dance with Simon after that. The conductor wants you first thing in the morning to go over all your songs. Then the full play will be rehearsed the day after that, and up until opening night."

They went inside the room and closed the door. Angie hugged Leah with her free arm. "Oh Leah, I am so happy for you! Now," she said before Leah could respond. "We'll start with this one, go try it on and we will see how much it needs to be altered."

Angie handed her a simple peasant's dress and Leah retreated behind the screen. They spent the next couple of hours sewing and fixing, as Leah was smaller than Carlotta and nothing fit her properly.

Leah stepped in front of the mirror. She was wearing the golden dress, newly altered. It fit her perfectly, and as Jim had pointed out, the rich colour suited her own colouring. She turned slowly and looked at Angie. "What do you think?"

"It was made for you," Angie said in a hush, her hands clasped together.

"No, it was made by me," Leah pointed out, laughing.

They placed the costumes back into the storage room and hurried to the kitchen for a small lunch. Leah ate quickly and waved to Angie, who would be practicing the chorus songs this afternoon with the rest of the girls and had no need to rush.

Leah walked out onto the stage, where the conductor, most of the orchestra and Victor were all getting ready. Madame Giry came up to her. "You know what to do?"

"Yes Madame," Leah said, twisting her hair into a bun and straightening her tights. "I have watched Carlotta and Victor many times."

Madame Giry smiled fondly. "If this play goes well," she said quietly. "You can be sure the managers will keep you in mind. Now go show the conductor that you know what you are doing."

The stage was clear of props as it would be when the ballet was performed. It was one thing to avoid tripping while you were singing, it was much harder to avoid things when dancing. Victor stood in the middle of the stage, in his own practice outfit. Leah unwillingly took her place beside him, waiting for the conductor to begin.

"Leah," Victor began, but Leah cut him off.

"Not now Victor," she said. "We are about to start."

The music started and Leah and Victor danced. Leah easily remembered the steps she memorized and practiced alone in one of the small rooms. She danced with Victor as if they had been practicing together for weeks. Leah was not comfortable, as the ballet required them to touch many times.

Leah tensed, as they prepared for their finishing pose. She took a deep breath and ran lightly towards Victor. She pushed against the floor and leaped into the air, landing in his outstretched arms. He whirled them around, until his arms were straight up over his head, and she balanced on top of them.

Victor's arms were steady as he held her high in the air and Leah hated the feel of his hands on her. She had not forgiven him for lying to her about the gala, and did not wish to reconcile with him.

The music stopped, but Victor left her in the air. The conductor praised them both and told Leah he would expect her to be ready in half an hour to practice the final dance.

"Put me down," she ordered Victor.

"Not unless you agree to talk with me for a moment," he said.

Leah tried to wriggle out of his grasp but his hands held firm, keeping her above his head. "I could stay like this for quite some time," he informed her conversationally.

"Fine," she said reluctantly. "Put me down."

He set her on her feet slowly, carefully as if she was about to run. She crossed her arms and waited for him to speak.

"I am sorry Leah," he said.

"For what though? You have said that many times, but I do not know why."

"For the gala," he clarified.

"Hmm, now which part? When you accompanied me only because Carlotta told you to? Or when you ignored me all evening so you could bask in your admirers' worship? Or when I tried to have a good evening and you bit my head off?" Leah stated calmly.

Victor winced. "I was ordered to take you!" He declared. "Carlotta threatened me. She said if I did not take you, she would ruin my career. But," he said quickly. "I really did want to you to go with me, Leah."

Leah rolled her eyes. "I do not believe a word of that Victor. You could have told me if she threatened you, you know how she hates me. We could have had a good night even if she made you take me, only you had more orders, to keep me miserable. And how would she ruin your career? Refuse to act with you? The mangers would make her if she wanted to get paid." Leah turned her back on him, not wanting to see his face while he lied to her.

"Leah, it was all Carlotta," he pleaded. "Please believe me. I care deeply for you Leah. I would never hurt you."

Leah turned around. "Too late Victor, you already have. I thought you were my friend. I thought I could trust you. But you are lying through your teeth and each word you speak wounds me further." She looked away from his handsomely distressed face. "Now I have to get ready for another rehearsal. Go away Victor. Leave me alone."

She turned and walked away, to the other side of the stage. She kept her back to him and began to stretch, keeping her muscles loose. She did not hear him move, but when she cautiously looked behind her, he was gone.

Simon showed up soon after, and the conductor signalled for the orchestra to play the intricate waltz. They did not have to dance specifically, but just to follow a certain path across the stage. It did not take long, as their scene together was short. Belle and her Prince dance on their wedding day, simply showing them together, both human. Simon made a good human version of the Beast. Victor's costume head and claws were covered in black 'fur', and Simon had black hair and bright green eyes. He was roughly the same size as Victor, which was another reason he was chosen. Leah did not know him very well, but enough that she was comfortable dancing the romantic wedding waltz with him.

They were supposed to end up in the exact center of the stage, and gaze adoringly at each other as the music finished, the perfect picture of a young couple in love. They did just that, and the conductor waved the orchestra to silence.

"Very well done," he said to them. "I just need you to revolve a bit slower and not so wide across the stage."

They nodded and he continued. "You are free to go for the day. Mademoiselle I will see you here tomorrow morning to rehearse."

"Yes Monsieur," she said and turned to Simon. "That was lovely Simon, thank you."

"Why are you thanking me?" He grinned. "I'd rather not have to dance with that spoiled cow." He winked at her and took off.

Leah shook her head and wondered if anybody actually liked Carlotta in the whole place. It did not seem so. She pulled a sweater on over her practice tights and wandered to the kitchen, where the other chorus girls were having their one large meal of the day. Leah sat on a bench next to Angie and served herself from the large bowls and plates in the middle of the table.

They chatted about nothing in particular, simply passing the time while they ate. Leah yawned, tired and not sure why. "I think I need to go to bed. I have to be up early tomorrow."

They said goodnight and Leah made her way to the dormitories. There was nobody there yet, as most of the girls went to bed at a later time. Rubbing her eyes, she slowly made her way over to her bed. She sat down and untied her slippers, pushing them off. Something caught her eye and she looked over. A tiny, white flower, a snow drop was lying on her pillow. She chuckled softly and picked it up. It was still cool from outside. "Oh Jim," she whispered. "How do you keep getting into the girls' dormitory without being seen?" Smiling gently, she placed it in the cup that had held her roses.

Leah changed into her night dress and buried herself under her blankets. She kept her eyes on her gift until she felt them wanting to close, then lost herself to sleep.


The next week was a blur. All those working and living in the opera house were caught up in the frantic last-minute preparations. Thankfully, Leah knew her lines well enough that extra rehearsals were not required. Every morning they rehearsed the play in their costumes and did other chores in the afternoons. Ever since Carlotta walked off the stage, she had not returned. The managers were sure that she would come back, as she would not want to go without her fame and Leah dreaded the day the Soprano walked through those doors.

The morning of the play dawned bright and clear. Leah woke with the rest of the girls and got dressed quickly. They made their way to the kitchens in a mass of chattering nervousness. Leah picked at her small meal, her stomach too fluttery to be hungry. Thankfully, Madame Giry came to collect them early and Leah could abandon her untouched plate. There were some more last minute costume changes that had to be fixed, and the girls spent all morning needles in hand.

Lunch was small again, and more of the plates left behind were as full as they had been when served. Those strictly in the chorus were sent to get cleaned and dressed up, while those with larger roles were doing the same thing, only more elaborately so. Madame Giry herself took care of Leah's hair and makeup.

Afterwards Leah was sent to a small dressing room, where her costume was waiting. She dressed in the peasant's clothing and paced for a while, trying to control her nerves. After nearly half an hour of pacing Leah made herself sit at the vanity and breathed deeply. A knock sounded at the door. Leah called, "come in," and was horrified when her voice shook.

The door opened and Jim stepped inside. He was holding a bouquet of snow drops, which he held out to her.

Leah smiled shakily and stood up, walking over to him and taking the tiny flowers from him. "Thank you Jim," she said quietly. "And for the one last night as well." She raised her eyebrow at him.

"I am sure I have no idea what you are talking about," he said, but his eyes were laughing.

Leah set the flowers down on the vanity and turned back to him, slightly trembling. Jim walked up to her and placed his hands lightly on her shoulders. "You will do fine Leah, stop worrying."

Leah closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. Jim's words seemed to have more of an effect than her own nervous pacing.

"I cannot stay, I have to go help set up the stage. You are supposed to stay here until Madame Giry comes for you when the play is about to begin. You will be wonderful Leah, I have no doubt of that." He kissed her softly on the forehead, thoroughly shocking her.

He left her standing there, still stunned and closed the door behind him. Leah shook her head, clearing it and touched her forehead gently. She sighed and realized she had completely forgotten about the play for a moment.

Leah started to pace again, this time reciting her lines as she wandered around the dressing room.

What seemed like only minutes later, Madame Giry knocked and entered the dressing room. Leah stopped in the middle of the room and looked at her. Madame Giry smiled at her. "We are about to begin," she said. "And if you do well tonight, this room is to be yours. A leading actress does not sleep in the dormitory."

Leah looked around the room. It now seemed huge and beautiful compared to her small bed and night table that she called her own. She left the room after Madame Giry, hope rising in her chest.


She stood on the stage, far behind the still closed curtains. On the other side, the narrator was introducing the play. Leah closed her eyes and closed out everything around her, concentrating. She was surprised at how easily her character rose up in her mind. Opening her eyes, she was Belle. She smiled as the curtains swept across the stage, revealing her to the hundreds of people watching. Watching her.


The audience loved the play. Most were rather shocked to see a young, unknown girl in the lead role instead of Carlotta. But soon they forgot their puzzlement. The girl was a delight to the eyes and ears, and was a bit of a relief to those used to the over-the-top Prima Donna. During the intermission the entrance hall was full of the loud mutterings of spectators, discussing the new girl, and wondering what happened to Carlotta.

While the audience members were discussing her, Carlotta was seated in the back of the auditorium, seething. She was wrapped up in her cloak so that nobody would recognize her, allowing her to watch the little usurper in peace. Carlotta narrowed her eyes, muttering angrily to herself, before falling silent as the crowd drifted back into the room for the second half. She hunched down in her seat and kept an eye on the stage. "I swear you will pay for this humiliation you little bitch," she hissed. "You will pay."


The play continued, the lead actress oblivious to the evil thoughts and threats aimed at her. The ballet was performed without a flaw, Victor's head piece and claws did not hinder him in the slightest. The audience gasped when Leah ran and leaped at the seemingly unseeing Victor. He turned at the last moment and caught her, whirling her above his head. The audience clapped loudly as the curtains closed for the next scene.


Look at her, he thought. She was an angel, her dancing was perfect, her voice like liquid honey. She was his angel, and only his. And soon enough she would know it. They would love each other until the end of time, his beautiful ballerina singing to him every day. It was time to introduce himself properly. Tonight was the night.