Rhyme or Reason by Amelia C. Adams

Author:Amelia C. Adams [Adams, Amelia C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-23T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

“Hold still or I’ll stick you with a pin.” Alice was trying to shorten the hem on Louisa’s gown, and they only had ten minutes to spare before curtain. She had taken Louisa’s measurements, but somehow she still got the length wrong, and if they didn’t do something about it, Louisa would trip as she walked out onto the stage. Not that it would be unusual—Louisa was quite sure that she’d trip no matter what. Or faint, or forget all the words, or come down with a sudden coughing fit. Any, or all, of those things were very likely to happen.

Alice looked up from her crouched position at Louisa’s feet. “Are you trembling, or are we having an earthquake?”

“I’m trembling,” Louisa replied. “And maybe I’m trembling hard enough to cause an earthquake.”

“You’ve never performed on stage before?”

“No, never. I’ve done quiet gatherings and ladies’ teas and whatnot, but a theater like this? I’m terrified. Simply terrified.”

Alice stood up and put the pins she hadn’t used back in the box. “If there’s one thing I’ve noticed about working here, it’s this. The stage is a great equalizer. You can be as brave as you want to be back here, but once you’re out front, everyone is terrified. They all just deal with it differently.”

“Are you sure? I’ve seen some performers who seem very confident in themselves out in front.”

“They take their nerves and turn them into energy. Antonio Balza told me that.”

Louisa blinked. “The actor?”

“Yes. He was here our first week open—I don’t know how Mr. Westcott managed to bring him in.”

Louisa considered that. Could she take her nerves and turn them into energy instead of terror? It sounded like some sort of science experiment, actually.

Alice finished adjusting the dress, then stood back. “I’ll do the hem up properly tomorrow. In the meantime, the pins aren’t visible from the outside.”

“Thank you, Alice.” Louisa turned to the mirror and smoothed down her hair. “Do I look all right?”

“You look beautiful. And I believe it’s time for you to get ready.”

Louisa stepped out of her dressing room and walked down the short hall to the stage. If Mr. Westcott had been able to bring in Antonio Balza, what did he want with her? She was no one. She had never even performed in a theater. Her audition here was the first time she’d ever sung on a full-sized stage. She felt like an imposter, as though any minute, someone would point at her and have her thrown out.

She stood in the wings, waiting for her introduction.

“Are you ready?” Mr. Westcott asked as he approached.

“I’m not, but I suppose that’s not the answer you’d like to hear.”

“You’re correct.” He gave her a comforting smile. “Our audience tonight is very friendly, and none of them will jeer at you for being nervous. Think of it as singing for friends.”

“Oh, that’s much worse. I’d rather sing for strangers.”

“All right, then—you’re singing for strangers. Whatever it takes to help you through. You can do this, Miss Brown.

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