The stage lights were bright and warm, but I wouldn’t trade this spot for anything in the world. I missed the stage—though I would never give up flying now. It was a part of me. The most exciting thing I’d ever done.
With one final wave, I left the stage as the manager gave me a handshake and then bid the audience farewell.
Grace was waiting for me with a wide smile in the dim backstage. “The audience loved you.”
I returned her smile. “And I loved them, too.”
A stagehand brought my evening coat, and the manager handed me a substantial check that would be sent to Mama and Daddy. Ever since returning to New York, I had been making appearances all over the city. With my earnings and the money Grace had received for her articles, combined with the last of our parents’ savings, we’d come up with just enough for the first payment on the orphanage.
But this was my last scheduled talk. I had several exhibitions planned for the summer, and I hoped to make money from contest winnings, but there was no guarantee. And I had other expenses to consider—like the aeroplane I had ordered from Blériot that would be shipped to me at the end of June.
The second half of the payment for the orphanage was looming.
“What do you think about going to Delmonico’s?” I asked Grace as we headed for the stage door. “I’m starving.”
She yawned, putting her hand over her mouth. “It’s almost ten o’clock, and we shouldn’t waste what precious money we have on eating out.”
“I don’t want to go to bed yet—and I have a little extra set aside.” Delmonico’s was something I never wanted to give up, no matter how much it cost.
But really, I just didn’t want to go back to Salem. There was nothing there, except chaos and heartbreak. Dozens of people now stood accused—including Reverend George Burroughs. He had been a pastor in Salem Village several years before and was being accused by several of the afflicted girls of being the ringleader of the witches. There were claims, from several afflicted people, that he led massive gatherings of hundreds of witches in Reverend Parris’s field.
He also owed a large debt of money to the Putnams.
The worst news had come yesterday, though.
Mary Warren was brought back to be examined after amonth in the Salem gaol, and this time she had new people to accuse. Including Ann Pudeator.
Mary didn’t even know Ann—and we couldn’t help but wonder why she had been accused. Had Father discovered that Ann visited us? Had Leah said something after all? Or had Ann been accused because she was a widow and a healer?
“I don’t want to go to bed, either,” Grace said to me, stepping through the stage door out onto the street. “But we can’t avoid Salem forever.”
I followed her out the door and then put my hand on her arm to still her comment. “It’s Luc.”
Grace glanced in the direction I was looking.
Luc was waiting just outside the stage door. Since returning to New York, he had gone back to teaching aviation and working with Glenn Curtiss. We had not seen him in over a week and rarely spoke about him. I didn’t want to repeat the conversation we’d had while Grace gardened, especially because I couldn’t deny her comments. Luc did not behave like a man in love with me—yet he was here now. That had to mean something.
“Bonjour,” he said, a smile on his handsome face as he looked from me to Grace.
“Bonjour.” I couldn’t hide the pleasure from my voice. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I have exciting news.”
The street glowed from the Broadway lights. Well-dressed people walked past, some glancing in our direction, a few whispering as if they recognized us, but no one stopped.
What news would bring Luc all the way to the Globe Theatre? It must be very good.
“What is it?”
A group of people stopped, and a lady in a beautiful fur coat looked between me and Grace. “Is one of you Hope Cooper? The aviator?”
I nodded and smiled, though I didn’t want to be interruptednow. Being famous had taken a toll over the past month, and I finally understood how Luc felt when he was bombarded by fans.
The lady’s eyes opened wide, and she grasped my hand, tugging me toward her. “How wonderful! No one will believe I’ve met you.”
I gently pulled my hand back, and Luc stepped close to me, wrapping his arm through mine before offering his other arm to Grace.
“Have a good evening,” he said to the group as he began to escort Grace and I down the street. “Can we go somewhere to talk?” he asked us once we’d left the group behind.
