The Goddess of Shipwrecked Sailors by Skye Alexander

Author:Skye Alexander [Skye Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Level Best Books
Published: 2023-08-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

“The exhilarating ripple of her voice was a wild tonic in the rain.”

— F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

As midnight approached, serving girls carrying trays of champagne flutes began wending their way among the guests. It was the first time Lizzie had seen alcohol served in the Gardners’ home. When the grandfather clock in the hall struck twelve, The Troubadours played “Auld Lang Syne” while men and women toasted each other and sang, welcoming in 1926.

Alan had left early to drive back to Boston to be with his ailing mother. Sarah hadn’t returned after her outburst, and Lizzie began to worry about the girl’s threat. What might she do to get even? Would she complain to her parents about Lizzie’s flirtation with Alan? And if so, would the Gardners blame Lizzie for his lack of interest in their daughter? Would they cut short The Troubadours’ engagement or refuse to pay them?

Cora’s tarot reading had described a “tricky situation.” Certainly, this one qualified. But was Sarah capable of causing the danger the cards had predicted? To Lizzie, she seemed like a petulant child, not someone who’d intentionally inflict physical harm. Still, she probably shouldn’t underestimate Sarah. If the girl had her heart set on the money and prestige that a match with Alan would bring, only to be upstaged by a showgirl—in front of her family and friends no less—well, Lizzie decided, a bit of caution might be in order.

After officially heralding the New Year, The Troubadours played a few more jazz numbers. The serving girls made a last circuit of the parlor, refilling champagne glasses before retiring. None of the raucous excess of Isaac Roman’s party, and unless some of the guests had brought along their own flasks, they’d all go home sober. Once again, Lizzie wondered if Matthew and Abigail Gardner knew about their daughter’s behavior last night. Perhaps Sarah’s indiscretion would count against her if she tried to cause trouble for Lizzie.

By one o’clock, all but Matthew Gardner’s brother, who lived in Connecticut and planned to stay the night, had departed. Melody and Bert began packing up their instruments.

“Sensational show,” Lizzie told her colleagues.

Bert grinned his lopsided grin and cracked his knuckles. “All in a night’s work.”

“Don’t be modest,” she said as she tousled his oak-brown hair. “You were the cat’s meow.”

“We really were darb, weren’t we?” Melody said.

“And how!” Lizzie agreed. “We outdid ourselves. Happy New Year, everyone!”

“Care to come by my humble abode for a nightcap, Bearcat?” Sidney said. “The night’s young. They’ll be dancing in the streets of New York ’til the sun comes up.”

“Ab-so-lute-ly. Let me change into warmer clothes. I’ll catch up with you in fifteen. Make sure my gin’s sufficiently chilled.”

Servants moved in to clean up and restore the double parlor to its usual state as Lizzie and Melody gathered their paraphernalia and headed for the stairs. Before they got there, however, Matthew Gardner met them.

“Your performance tonight was most lively and inspired,” he said. “I dare say you’ll be the talk of the town tomorrow.

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