Leading Lady by Jane Aiken Hodge

Author:Jane Aiken Hodge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2012-10-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Waking reluctant and gritty-eyed next morning, Martha wished she had had the strength of mind to banish Franz to the dressing-room, or to sleep there herself. Impossible to do so after that brief, horrifying scene, but it had meant a disastrous night. And their mutual state of jangled frustration was all wrong for this important day. He stirred a little beside her and she knew he was awake, fighting off morning. ‘I’m sorry, love.’ She bent down to kiss him lightly.

‘You’re sorry! Oh, my darling, what can I say?’

‘Nothing. No need.’ This time she said it lovingly. ‘Let’s just get through this day. Tomorrow has to be better. And, Franz –’

‘Yes?’

‘Forgive me for what I said?’

‘No need to ask. We were both on edge, and no wonder. And anyway it’s I who should be on my knees to you.’

‘What an idea!’ She laughed and kissed him again. ‘Besides, I hear Anna with our breakfast. How I wish it was tomorrow’s!’

Down at the hostel, Desmond Fylde was grumbling over an early summons from Franzosi. ‘Something about the way he wants me made up,’ he told Cristabel over the breakfast to which he had somewhat belatedly returned, presumably from the arms of the seconda donnar. ‘Tedious fellow, why could he not think of it sooner? Shall I tell him we are leaving while I am at it, my queen? I’m tired of being at the beck and call of a second-rater like him. Besides, there is something going on in town. The sooner you and I are safely out of here, the happier I shall be.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Wish I knew! Something. Winks and whispers. Dry up tight when they see me coming. And Prince Gustav back at the palace, behaving like the lord of creation, they say. Princess Gertrude (as we must now call that tavern keeper’s daughter) is very kindly telling your friend Martha how to go on. And the palace full to bursting with Gustav’s servants. I don’t a bit like the sound of it.’

‘No.’ She thought about it. ‘You are sure of this?’ After she spoke, she remembered the rumours about the seconda donna and Baron Hals.

‘I make a point of being well informed. And I can tell you, just as soon as you have scored your triumph tonight, and put paid to the talk about your voice, my angel, we are going to give Franzosi our notice and have some time for ourselves. I cannot do without you any longer, my own. I hope you give me credit for my strength of mind, these last days, but tonight we shall celebrate. I will make up to you for all your sad solitary nights. What a good little trouper you have been to bear it all so patiently.’ He pushed down the sleeve of her négligée and planted an owner’s kiss on her shoulder. ‘Until tonight, my lovely. I must go while I still have the self command.’

Left alone, she amazed herself by bursting into tears.

‘Curious how isolated one feels in this palace.

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