I held my breath, allowing his words to both unsettle and calm me. I trusted him, I found, as far as dancing was concerned. His unbridled confidence had pulled me along, taking me to new depths and heights, new ways of understanding ballet. If Jack Dorian claimed I possessed an element of Delphine Bessette and swans, I’d embrace it as being so—with delight.
A hush of breeze swirled around us, tickling my exposed neck and cooling my warm cheeks. “Thank you, Mr. Dorian, for this trip. I’ve learned a great deal about myself as a dancer and my limitations—or lack of them, perhaps.”
“We’re not through yet, love. Once you’ve hired Jack Dorian, you’re stuck until the work’s completed.”
“You truly want that payment.”
His eyes glittered with danger. “Aye.”
“You aim to keep me training out here in the country indefinitely, then? Breaking my contract?”
“Training is no more limited to one location than you yourself are. We’ll pick up in London. Just wanted to ruffle your feathers a bit before we polished you up.”
“You’ve done a grand job of it.”
“Splendid.” He winked. “Let’s get you back to the barn. We’d best be on our way if we hope to reach London today.”
Rising from the rock, I tromped through the tall grass, lifting my heavy skirt that was now hopelessly countrified—every wrinkled, wet, soiled inch.
“What if I wanted you to see de Silva? What if that’s what I asked for as payment? Would you do it?”
I paused, considering his earnest face. Not a hint of amusement lit his features. “You truly don’t let a thing go, do you, Mr. Dorian?”
“You’re catching on.”
“Well, I’ve already seen de Silva.”
He stopped, blinking at me.
“I found him where you said he’d be—right under my nose. I followed him outside after a performance.”
“And?”
I shrugged, unsure if I was able to say the words. It took a few moments. “He wanted nothing to do with me.”
He stood rooted, a deep frown lining his face. “You’re certain it was him? And that he knew who you were?”
“I made it clear. Who I am upset him even more.”
Jack turned, still frowning. Disappointed. We continued on to the great barn.
When I stepped inside and pushed all my weight into shuttingthat door, the place was suddenly quite dark. I stood blinking, tempted to call out softly for Jack. I took cautious steps forward, thinking always of the tiger in the far corner.
I jumped when I felt his hand settle on my shoulder. “I’ve found some things for you to wear.”
A puff of fabric and underskirts dropped at my feet. My eyes adjusted to the dark.
“Here we have ... this.” A taffeta overskirt wafted down. Then a puff of flounced fabric and boning. “A few of these for good measure, and that should do it.”
For all his flirting and playfulness, he seemed so out of place around women’s garments. I forced a stern voice to keep from laughing. “What’s wrong with this?” I held up fistfuls of my own skirt. “It suited perfectly well for our journeyoutof London.”
His eyes, two glowing marbles in the dark, met mine. “Precisely.”
When he vanished into the shadows, I understood the nature of his gift. I smiled into the dimness at the notion that Jack Dorian was taking pains to protect my reputation. Sweeping the whole lot up in my arms, I made my way blindly back to where I’d slept and pulled the sheet across the rope to curtain me in. Pink now glowed in the window, a rosy light filling my little space and making it lovely.
I sorted through the garments and found three separate petticoat sets, the outdated bodice of a riding habit, and the gaudiest, most ridiculous taffeta overskirt I’d ever seen outside of a costuming room. With all the iridescent colors of a peacock feather, black fringe, and sewn-on beads, the skirt was a statement in itself. I couldn’t bear the thought of handing the garments back, so I chose the petticoat and corset that seemedthe nearest to my size, sucked in a breath to make it fit, and began dressing.
After nearly a half hour of fumbling with buttons and closures, I collected all my poise, emerged to a barn now subtly lit with the rising sun, and faced Jack—and, to my surprise, everyone else. Lizzie spat out her tea and Doc stifled a laugh with a cough into his sleeve. The others stared like deer about to dart.
