Page 86 of Dukes All Night Long

“I f you scowl on stage, your audience will be expecting a murder mystery instead of a love story,” Aunt Daisy scolded Silas as she squared the shoulder of his coat.

“It might be truer to life,” he grumbled as he inhaled deep into his belly to check the give in his waistcoat. The fabric hugged him in all the right spots at the correct time, reminding him of Zara’s singing lesson.

Of Zara clinging to him in the middle of the night.

“Whatever has happened between you and Zara, you put it aside until you’ve taken your bows. Nerves run high before opening night, and it’s worse if you add romance into it.”

He didn’t need to ask how she knew. Aunt Daisy saw everything and never failed to give him grief about it. “I should have learned my lesson.”

“Zara is nothing like Audrey, and you know it.”

The two women were different in many ways, but they shared an ability to twist a knife when it was least expected. “There is more to it, Auntie.”

“I would smack you on the head, but I won’t risk messing up your hair this close to curtain.

I can’t even sit you down for fear of creasing your trousers.

” Instead, she climbed on the stool she used to take measurements.

“No woman likes to be second place, Silas. Especially not to a creaky old building and dreams with little foundation. You, of all men, should understand.”

Father had chased dreams and schemes across England and back again, dragging his family behind and always promising the next idea would be better. His mother had suffered in silence, but Silas had grown to resent it. Now he’d done the same with Zara.

“Edgar’s creativity drove the girl’s voice right out of her, but he kept going until he was in a box and she was left with nothing,” Daisy prattled on as she fussed with his pin. “But then you came along and fell in love with her.”

Damn. He thought he’d hidden his feelings better.

“I can hear it when you sing.” She checked the watch she kept tucked in her waistband. “You need to be in the wings.”

The knot in his stomach doubled in size with each step toward the stage. Benjamin was supervising his burly grandsons, volunteer stagehands who moved with the grace of ballerinas, and Andrew was already in the pit with his orchestra. At least, that was where he was supposed to be.

The light songs they always played to entertain the crowd reminded Silas of days in the country with his parents when the weather was good and the audiences were large. They were one of his secret weapons against stage fright.

Now he couldn’t hear them. And he couldn’t see Zara anywhere.

William rushed up. His evening suit was immaculately tailored, and his deep red cravat had likely taken hours to fashion. “We’re full, lad. To the rafters.” He bounced on his toes. “Standing room. We haven’t seen this many people since Zara said goodbye.”

Silas drew a breath and released it in a long exhale. Then he repeated it. The building vibrated with an expectancy both exciting and terrifying.

Being center stage is much different from being a supporting player. Zara’s words from last night found him. Then all her others followed behind. Coaching, reassurance, lessons…

He was ready for this. He stepped to stage right, loosening his neck and jaw. He would do the same with his shoulders, but Daisy would swat him across the stage.

A splash of blue caught his eye. Then another. Then a third. Violets peeked from every space, leading his eyes across to stage left and to Zara.

She was so beautiful it stole his breath. She’d done it since he’d arrived, but then it was only what he could see. Now he knew the mind under her ebony hair, the determination behind her deep blue eyes, and the drive that kept her moving. He knew her heart.

The orchestra began the lively opening tune, and Silas’s anxiety dissolved. His fingers tingled, and his toes twitched. Drawing a deep breath, he began singing in the wings. Zara did as well. They joined hands at center stage, and everything else faded.

It remained that way, in part because the quick timing twisted his tongue while he took care not to sing over her. But mostly it was due to Zara’s voice, which wove a spell worthy of the most tempting village witch.

It didn’t break until the final notes soared. He drew a deep breath, the way she’d taught him, and let the notes float to the rafters, twining with hers.

The rumble broke the spell. Silas glanced at the set, expecting it to tumble. It stayed in place, but the roar grew.

“Bravo!”

Zara squeezed his fingers before turning toward the crowd and dropping into a curtsy, her dress a pool around her. He gave her the support she needed. This was her moment, not his, and it had been too long in coming.

When she trembled from effort, he helped her stand and bowed to accept his share of applause. Then he led her from the stage so the next scene could begin.

Once out of sight, he pulled her into his arms and put his forehead to hers, careful to keep from disturbing her costume, though that was all he wanted to do. “I’m sorry, love. If you need to start over, we can do it anywhere you’d like.”

“I’m not running away ever again.” She ran a finger over the edge of his collar, the only embrace they could manage in costume.

“I’m not running from you.” She pulled away so he could see her face.

“I adore you, Silas, but if we’re going to form a school, we need a solid plan, and you need a written agreement to protect your investment.

We should also talk to the others in case—”

“Get moving.” Benjamin pulled Silas’s elbow. “You’ve got to be back on stage.”

Zara pushed him away. “We’ll talk after the curtain falls.”

Silas winked. “Eventually.”

The End