“This is your grand plan?To bring me to the opera I’d declined to attend?”Nora didn’t know whether to be furious with her friend for going against her wishes or elated she finally would view an opera as it was meant to be seen, from the house.
Theresa’s face scrunched.“Wait, this is an opera?As in, they’ll be singing?I thought it was a play!”
The misunderstanding served Theresa right.“Think of it as a play performed in song.”
“But don’t they sing in a foreign language?”Lydia asked as they passed into an elegant yet simple foyer.“How will we understand what is going on?”
“I believeOlivettehas been translated into English, but even if it hasn’t been, you’ll be fine.One doesn’t go to the opera to understand the words, but to savor the music, admire the poignant acting, and be swept away by the sheer emotion of the experience.”
By Theresa’s horrified expression, she already regretted this surprise.Perfect.Although honestly, Nora couldn’t be more thrilled.This might be the only show she’d ever attend as an operagoer, and she intended to enjoy every moment of it.
While Theresa, Flossie, and Lydia speculated about the upcoming performance, Nora walked in silent awe, soaking up each detail.The exquisite front of house was so different from the areas she’d been allowed to see as a child.Here, marble floors echoed the hum of voices into the vast space.A painter’s palette of colorful gowns strolled about on the arms of stoic black suits like their wearers had not a care in the world.The wings had never been so calm.No doubt that even now, the performers and stagehands were dashing about in last-minute preparations.Beyond the crush, three sets of double doors stood wide, welcoming guests into the auditorium.If her friends would stop walking so slowly, she might actually getinsidebefore the performance started and see what wonders awaited her.She leaned to the side so she could see past a couple blocking her view and glimpsed row after row of finely upholstered seats.
“Good evening, Miss Davis.”Mr.Beaumont’s voice caught her by surprise, and she straightened to find him taking note of her obvious curiosity with a bemused smile.
Gracious!Mum would be disappointed at her lack of decorum.It wasn’t as if this was the first opera house she’d ever been in.It was just the first one in twelve years and her first one as a patron rather than an unwanted annoyance.She schooled her features, nailing the lid shut on her curiosity and excitement.
And the unwelcome twinge of appreciation for the man’s good looks.The magic of the opera house must be addling her brain, because Mr.Beaumont could have filled in for one of Lydia’s heroes, as attractive as he was tonight.His suit showed a little wear, but it was tailored well and displayed his broad shoulders and solid frame.He could definitely take on a villain or two and win.
Theresa offered him a polite curtsy.“Thank you for your help in arranging seats for us.”
The little sneak.She hadn’t gotten them tickets for a night together.This whole ruse—the dress, jewelry, and evening—were her attempt at matchmaking.And by the satisfied grins of Lydia and Flossie, Theresa hadn’t been alone in that endeavor.
“It is my pleasure, Miss Plane.”Mr.Beaumont’s smile, though friendly, appeared tired.“Am I to assume these are the friends you wrote about?”
Theresa made the necessary introductions.Like at their previous meeting, Mr.Beaumont was friendly and gentlemanly, but he made no attempt to flirt with Nora’s friends.
“I’ll show you to your seats, but sadly I cannot stay longer as I have duties behind the curtain I must attend to.”He offered Nora his arm, which she couldn’t refuse without being unforgivably rude, and led them up the grand staircase.“I hope you don’t mind, but I reserved balcony seats for you.The music is best enjoyed from there, and I personally enjoy how much more one sees when above the stage.”
“Thank you for the consideration.I’ve never been in the audience of a performance, so I wouldn’t have known.”
His head tilted as he stared at her.“Really?But your ma—”
“Never allowed me.”Well, it was more the managers, but it was close enough to the truth.All that mattered was Nora cut off any possibility of his mentioning Mum’s name.“It isn’t typical for one in her profession to acknowledge her child, let alone bring them along.Female performers have more successful careers if they are seen as unattached.”
Not that Mum followed the typical in anything, for which Nora was grateful.Had she behaved as most, Nora would have been left to the care of some distant relative and largely forgotten.Even back then, Nora had been aware of the ridicule Mum had endured at the hands of her colleagues by keeping Nora and Father close.
“So your mawasa professional singer.”
Nora sucked in a breath and silently berated herself for revealing Mum’s supposed delusion was at least partially true.“Professional in that she traveled and was paid for performing, but she was no Adelina Patti.”But she could have been, had her career not been cut short by the kidnapper destroying their sense of security.
At the top of the stairs, he turned down the left wing and changedthe direction of conversation just as sharply.“May I express how exquisite you look tonight?Green suits you.”
“No you may not, but since you’ve already expressed the compliment, I suppose I have no recourse but to thank you.”
“I didn’t think you’d willingly allow me the honor, so I had to be sly about it.”
The man was incorrigible!
“Tristan misses you, by the way,” Mr.Beaumont continued.“He’s been absolutely miserable the last few nights.Of course, he makes me miserable every day, so it’s only fair he have his turn.”
“And how do you know it was me he missed?He could have been missing your mum.”
“True, but once a man meets you, he can’t help but miss you when you are away.”
Oh, good grief.“Didn’t I tell you to stop the charm?”
“I can’t help it.You bring it out so naturally.”
