“You made me take a hard look at how I behaved. I want to think I’m better for it for the lesson.” He gave a self-deprecating smile. “I might not be. I’m stubborn when it comes to change.”
“I don’t wish you to change. I like you the way you are. I’ve missed you.”
The tension left him. He leaned back as if he could not believe his luck. “My life has seemed empty since you left. I had a second chance and I learned—”
Before she could hear what he’d learned, Mr. Arnold appeared at the door, his hand up ready to knock until he saw that it was open, and that she had a guest, a male one. “I’m sorry, Miss Addison. Wanted to tell you the house is full. We are turning them away.”
Brandon looked at her. “This is what you wanted. You’ve done it, Kate. You have made it happen.”
“Yes,” she said uncertainly, not sharing her fear that it was a hostile house. She didn’t want Brandon to know that. He was here. That was what was important.
“It is almost time for curtain,” Mr. Arnold reminded her.
“I’ll be ready. Will you take Mr. Balfour to his seat? I need a moment more to myself.”
“I’ll be happy to. This way, sir.”
“I will see you after the performance?” Brandon asked.
“Yes. Come here.”
He nodded and then left with Mr. Arnold.
Kate took a last look in the mirror. She closed her eyes.Brandon was here.He’d come to her. And now, she needed to focus on her upcoming performance.
Releasing her breath, she straightened her shoulders and left the room.
Silas, Mary, and the actors who played the sailors were already waiting upstairs. Kate gave them all an encouraging smile.
She could hear the restless audience. It had been fifteen years since she’d listened to one this large. In a few moments, there would be a clap of thunder to signal the storm and she planned for it to be loud enough to bring them all into the story.
The sailors took their places.
Silas leaned toward Kate. “Jess is in the audience. I thought you should know.”
Before she could respond, the thunder sounded, the lightning rumbled, and the curtain came up.
Chapter Twenty
From where she stood in the wings, Kate could see Jess. She understood why Silas had warned her. Jess sat right in the middle of the audience, surrounded by men. Her admirers. And they were talking in carrying voices as if eager to destroy the dramatic opening of the play.
There was no way Kate would have missed her from the stage.
Kate wondered if the infamous Lord Dervil was there. She’d never met him so she wouldn’t know.
Unfortunately, Jess’s presence had scrambled Kate’s concentration. She forced herself to breathe, to take in what was happening on the stage.
The sailors spoke about the storm. The ship rocked and then the sailors turned the pillars and the stage became that magical island.
Kate heard the audience voice its approval over Brandon’s fanciful design, as she knew they would.
Prospero and Miranda began telling their story. In a few moments, Ariel would make her entrance. This was not the time for fear.
Kate placed herself in the story. She took on the bearing of the fairy spirit—and then it was time for her entrance.
She opened her arms and danced upon the stage, coming to a halt before her master, Prospero—that was when the hissing began. The audience suddenly sounded like a thousand angry geese.
Kate endeavored to ignore them. “All hail, great master! Grave sir, hail—!”
