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It was clear Arlyss couldn't resist such blatant flattery “You came to Bath just to see me?” she asked warily
“Of course I did There's no other attraction here”
Michael Fiske joined the conversation, glaring fiercely at his rival in the hbred “Arlyss is with ain”
See a you, sweetling?”
She stood between the twoas she looked from one to the other Tentatively she inched toward Michael Fiske “I'm with Mr Fiske now,” she murmured, in a tone that was far from certain It was a small step, but it was all that Fiske required
Seizing the e kiss on her lips As Arlyss laughed at the blatant display, Fiske hoisted her in the air and slung her over his shoulder Fe everyone in the marketplace to turn and stare at the pair as Fiske carried Arlyss away
“Now see here…” Williaht up short as Daht him by the arm
“Will…find soeon to amuse yourself with”
Willia couple “You kno I enjoy a challenge,” he said wistfully
“Let this one go,” Dah trouble Besides, you're leaving for London with ht…remember?”
Williah spirits, he cast a roguish glance at Julia and back to Da broadly before taking his own leave
Julia turned to Damon “What was his advice?”
“He told me that women like to be charmed and seduced”
Her reat deal to learn about women”
“It appears your friends have left you Would you like to be escorted somewhere?”
Mur a refusal, Julia shook her head “It's only a short walk back to the inn”
“You push me aith one hand and beckon me closer with the other Some would say you are a tease, Mrs Wentworth”
“Is that what you think of me?”
“I think you're the aze caressed her even as hisher ears “Make up your mind about what you want, Julia Soon My patience has its li the bookstalls, her delicate face drawn in a scowl beneath the veil
In spite of the reports of the bad luck My Lady Deception had experienced in London, every seat in the New Theatre was occupied, the building filled to overflowing It see, the audience infected with enthusiass to wait for her first entrance, sement the crew offered as they passed her in the semidarkness
Shethe play as successful as it deserved to be However, it was difficult to push the events of the last few days fro her father had given her, the scene with Dae that she could free herself froht; she would have to make a choice soon, if only for her own peace of mind
Despite the hardships of her profession, she loved being an actress, loved the excitee for good was unthinkable But never to see Daain…or, worse, to see him marry someone else, while her own life was devoid of conant
“You're not thinking about the play,” a voice said behind her, and Julia glanced over her shoulder at Logan Scott
“A thousand other things,” she confessed “How could you tell?”
“You're so tense that your shoulders are at your ears”
Julia made a face at him and relaxed her shoulders She took a deep breath, held it for a an, he seemed reassured
“That's better”
Thoughtfully Julia looked out onto the stage, the shadowy outlines of scenes and props barely visible behind the lowered curtain She had always loved this h her body But for so was tainted with sadness now She felt alhtly wrapped package and found it ee last?” she asked, speaking almost to herself “Will I have another ten years? Even twenty?”
Logan came to stand beside her and viewed her critically “You'll have a long run, I would say As you age, you'll have the talent tosubstantial character parts”
A bleak sh for me, I wonder?”
“You're the only one who can answer that question”
Together they waited in silence for the curtain to be drawn, for real life to be banished and the illusions to begin
The perfor speed For two hours one scene flowed into another, blending into a sea costus, riveted on the action that kept the audience enthralled When she was on the boards, speaking her part, she felt as if she were pullingon every word, their gazes following each gesture, every tilt of her head
Julia knew she had never acted so ith Logan, their scenes resonant with e For a while she ceased to exist as herself There was no other thought in her s inside her except those she manufactured to entertain the audience As the final curtain fell, she knew that she had fulfilled the expectations others had of her, that she had played the part to the best of her ability Triuan pull her in front of the curtain to receive a thunderstor and cheers
Her face glowed, and she sank in a curtsy to acknowledge their appreciation The applause endured for longin an effort to slip away Logan wouldn't let her leave, catching her hand and bringing her forward as the cries of appreciation rose even higher Flowers and s to scoop up a white rose, Logan handed the blosso ste despite the multitude of voices that entreated her to stay
The cast and crew backstage erupted with congratulations, h self-consciously Herroom “There's a pitcher of lemonade for you,” Betsy pointed out, and headed to the door, knowing Julia liked a few minutes of privacy after a performance “I'll be back soon to collect your costume”
“Thank you,” Julia said, sighing in relief at the peace and quiet of the s to unlace the front of her dress Now that the exhilaration of the perfor, she was exhausted There were blotches of sweat beneath her ar to streak and fade
As she contemplated her reflection, she saw a dark form slip into the roo her lips as Daht Whatever he had thought of the perforht or pride he felt A flush colored the tops of his cheeks and the bridge of his nose, and his gray eyes were brilliantly hot He was angry with her…and she wasn't going to be spared the biting lash of his fury
Chapter 11
Staring at her husband in silent wonderment, Julia didn't resist as he approached her in two strides, crushing her back against the looking-glass One large hand gripped her ar around her jaw