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It was said that women pursued hie performances as the romantic hero, but even o or Barabbas…he was the consummate seducer, betrayer, and manipulator, and women adored him for it

ALord Clifton was not Madeline renched with sudden longing Logan Scott inhabited a world she would never be part of She would never h and dance, never be seduced by a man's tender words or a lover's touch

As she stared at Logan Scott's face, a wild, ers tremble

“Madeline, what's thethe print from her “You're so white all of a sudden, and you look very strange—”

“I' a smile to her face She wanted to be alone; she needed time to think “The weekend was a strain Perhaps if I rest for a while—”

“Yes, of course Coirls—we'll meet in someone else's room” Considerately Eleanor herded the crowd out the door and paused before closing it “Madeline, is there anything you need?”

“No, thank you”

“I' Lord Clifton this weekend was an ordeal I wish I could help in some way”

“You already have, Eleanor” Madeline lay on her side, drawing her knees up to her chest, the skirts of her simple school frock bunched around her Her hts, and she scarcely noticed her friend's quiet departure

Logan Scott…a endary as his acting talent

The longer Madeline considered her own dilemma, the more convinced she became that Scott could provide the solution She would use him to make herself so undesirable to Lord Clifton that he would have no choice but to call off the engagement

She would have an affair with Logan Scott

The sacrifice of her virginity would solve everything If she had to live out the rest of her days in disgrace, regarded by society as used goods, so be it Anything was preferable to beco Clifton's wife

Feverishly she began toher to return fro weeks, her parents would assuht would think she had returned ho Madeline free to accomplish her task

She would go to the Capital Theatre and acquaint herself with Mr Scott After she indicated her willingness to sleep with him, Madeline expected that the matter would be quickly resolved It was a well-known fact that all men, nogirls And a man with Scott's reputation would show no hesitation in matters of sin and debauchery

When she was ruined beyond redemption, she would return to her parents and accept whatever punishment they meted out Most likely she would be banished to the home of some relative in the country Lord Clifton would have a complete distaste for her, and she would finally be free of his attentions The course she had set for herself would not be easy or pleasant, but there was no other way

Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad, living as a spinster after all this was over She would have ample tiht allow her to travel She would try to involve herself in charitable works and do soood for people in circus At least, Madeline thought with grim determination, she would choose her fate rather than have it handed to her

Part One

One

Gripping the leather handle of her valise, Madeline paused at the back entrance of the Capital Theatre It had been frightening and yet exhilarating to h London alone Her ears were assaulted with the noise of carriages, horses, and street sellers, while her nostrils were filled with a confusing e; the yeasty scent of a nearby bakery, and the hot waxen odor of a candle-maker's shop

Earlier in the day Madeline had pawned the ring Lord Clifton had given her, and the pocket of her dress was filled with the satisfying weight of coins Wary of pickpockets, she had kept her plain gray cloak wrapped tightly around herself, but no one had seemed inclined to approach her Now she had arrived at the Capital, and her adventure was about to begin

The theater appeared to cos thatthe e was located, Madeline walked through a maze of hallways and rehearsal roo instruh the half-open doors was nearly overwhel

She reached a large roo sandwiches and wilted cheese and fruit Actors and actresses of varying ages lounged in the roo cups of tea Apparently accustos, they took little notice of Madeline However, a shopboy paused and stared at her inquiringly, his eyes friendly in a foxlike face “Is there so you want, miss?” he asked

She s for Mr Scott”

“Oh” He looked at her speculatively and jerked his head toward the far door “He's rehearsing now The stage is that way”

“Thank you”

“He doesn't like to be interrupted,” the boy advised as Madeline walked toward the stage door

“Oh, I won't bother hi her valise handle with one hand as she opened the door with the other She pushed her way past set pieces and flats, and found herself standing in the right wing of the stage Setting her valise on the floor, she drew close to the edge of a green velvet curtain and looked across the stage

With its seating capacity of fifteen hundred, the Capital Theatre was a grand and spacious building Massive gold colulass lined the walls Tiers of boxes and seats filled the auditoriuht on delicately painted scenes that adorned the ceiling

The floor of the stage was built at a slant, so that actors downstage could be seen as well as those in the front The heavy boards were scarred from thousands of perfor indeliblearound the stage with foils in hand, discussing the choreography of a fight scene One of they build of a cat “…not certain what you want…” he was saying earnestly, tapping the rubber-tipped foil against the side of his shoe

The other man replied in the most distinctive voice Madeline had ever heard—dark, deep, worldly…the voice of a fallen angel “What I want, Stephen, is for you to put some fire into your performance Your intention, if I'm not mistaken, is to kill thethat foil like an old wo needle”

Madeline stared at hian Scott was taller than she had expected, y, muscular body was clad in a simple white shirt that was open at the throat and a pair of dark trousers that closely followed his lean hps and long legs The print Madeline had seen hadn't begun to do justice to him…the color of his hair, dark brown touched with fire; the sardonic curve of his wide mouth; the rosewood hue of his skin

Somehow his polished appearance was tempered by a hint of brutality…the sense that the princely facade could disappear at anyMadeline blinked uneasily She had expected Scott to be so skirt-chaser, but there was nothing light-hearted or dandified about him

The blond actor protested “Mr Scott, I' that last bit of choreography, you won't have time to parry—”