Ezekiel was more than happy to sacrifice his hack money for tonight if it meant getting Adler out of the building sooner.“Here.Don’t do that.I need you here for the next two performances, or Crosley will have my head.”
Adler accepted the coins and lifted them in salute.“Thank you.”
Ezekiel walked with him to the alley exit, then used the excuse of forgetting his coat to leave Adler.He waited a minute more in the hall, just to be sure Adler didn’t double back, then strode to the front of house, where the foyer stood nearly empty.
Miss Davis and her friends waited by the cloakroom with their coats in hand.When they didn’t immediately notice his approach, he stopped to openly admire the difference a well-suited dress made.He’d always thought Miss Davis pretty, but the ensemble flattered her shape and softened her features in a riveting way.With her relaxed posture and unguarded expression, she even appeared approachable.It was a remarkable illusion.
“I still say we wore our pants better than those chorus girls did.”Miss Plane’s comment echoed in the large space.
“Hush.You can’t go around saying things like that.”Miss Pelton glanced around, seemingly embarrassed by the curious statement.She spotted Ezekiel, and her pleasure at catching him so brazenly admiring her friend could rival Tristan’s with a fish fillet.“Mr.Beaumont, you’ve come at last.”
Miss Davis immediately discarded any semblance of openness as she faced him.Was he wasting his time and energy by pursuing a woman who gave him no encouragement?Then again, it had only been a couple days, and nothing worth pursuing was won that quickly.He needed more time ...and sleep.Lots of sleep.
He smiled and closed the distance between her and her party.“How did you find the balcony seats?”
“They provided the perfect view, just as you promised,” Miss Davis answered.
“The perfect view of the performance or of me?”
“I’ll leave you to guess that answer.”
Was that a smile she held back?One could only hope.“Oh, come now, Miss Davis.Would it be so terrible to admit you sought me out on more than one occasion?”
A slight flush appeared.“It would indeed ...even if true.”She mumbled the last part, and it pleased him to no end.
Maybe he’d made more progress than he’d thought.“It’s nice to know you were at least curious about what I did in the wings.Although it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if you desired to admire my rugged good looks.”Her lips parted, and he rushed on before she could crush what little encouragement he’d taken.“If you are still interested in the tour, I can give you a glimpse of what happens behind the mysterious curtain.What do you say?”
“She says yes.”Miss Gibson spoke for Miss Davis, then took her arm and nodded for him to lead the way.“I’ve never been behind the curtain before.What is it like during a performance?”
Ezekiel had no trouble filling the brief tour with anecdotes of his three years managing the opera house.He stuck mostly to humorous stories, like the time an actor’s pants split while on the stage, but he still had an entire scene to perform.He’d done all sorts of maneuvering to hide the unfortunate exposure from the audience.Ezekiel had a callboy rush to the costume closet and find a spare pair of pants.None were available, and the pants had to be sewn up while on his person as the actor waited for his next cue to go on stage.No one in the house was the wiser, but the actor had endured much ribbing afterward.
Miss Davis did not laugh as her friends did, but she did partially smile once—a victory that made staying longer all the more worth it.
They entered the greenroom to find a handful of chorus members gobbling up the remaining food.After introductions, Miss Gibson, Miss Plane, and Miss Pelton eagerly conversed with them, exclaiming over the independence the female performers had that most women did not.Miss Davis hung back like she sought to be a forgotten shadow.This was not going as he’d hoped.Instead of becoming more open, she had closed herself off more.
He drew her aside.“Is there anything in particular you’d like to know or see?A person you’d like to meet?”
“No.I’ve been taking it all in.I’m a listener, remember?Although—” She shut her mouth on whatever thought she’d almost expressed.
“Although what?If it’s within my power, I’ll do it.”
“There was a man—tall, thin, and balding.Is he still here?”
“No.He’s left.”Had he been mistaken about the nature of Adler’s interest?“Do you know Adam Adler?”
Miss Davis’s shoulders relaxed.“No, I guess not.”
Good.He’d made the right decision.“I’m honestly surprised anyone is still here.Between the full rehearsal after last night’s show, our normal morning rehearsal, and then this evening’s performance, we’re all exhausted.”
Her usual mask slipped and revealed her appall.“And yet you’re giving us this tour?”
“I’m a man of my word.I didn’t know Miss Soldene would require the extra rehearsal when I offered the tour, but even if I had, I still would have offered.It’s been worth the lost sleep to have these minutes with you.”
She stared at him like she was reasoning out a puzzle, her maskall but forgotten.“I don’t understand you.You don’t flirt with my friends, but you insist upon doing so with me.You are obviously of a more gregarious nature than myself and must find me boring, yet you choose to single me out.Is it because you see my disinterest as a challenge to conquer?Or are you not quite right in the head?”
He almost laughed at her directness, but the seriousness in her demeanor sobered him.Did she truly not believe herself capable of attracting a reasonable man?Someone needed to correct that misconception, and he was happy to volunteer.“I am of sound mind, Miss Davis.I’ve observed you display loyalty, patience, and love to your ma week after week.If that were not enough to garner my attention, your gentleness and kindness to my own ma made it impossible not to form a tendre for you.”
“You do not know enough of my character to reasonably form such an attachment.Besides, you know where my mum resides, what her troubles are.Who is to say I might not become like her?A man of sound mind would not willingly entertain even a friendship with me.”
