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Authors: Victoria Holt
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Some people came more than once. That was a sign of success.
Lisa used to come home from the theatre with my mother and Martha. I did not think Martha was very pleased with the arrangement. She was very possessive towards my mother and I was sure that she resented her interest in Lisa.
Lisa was aware of this and tried hard not to offend. In fact, it seemed to me that Lisa was aware of a good deal and was treading warily, terrified of alienating anyone.
I mentioned this to my mother and she said: “Yes, it’s possible. The poor girl is very anxious to hold her job. She doesn’t want to upset anyone. I know exactly how she feels. We must try to make things easy for her.”
Then something happened which was significant. Janet Dare had an accident. She had gone shopping in Regent Street one afternoon, had slipped on the pavement and broken her leg in two places. It was going to be a long time before Janet was back at work.
Janet was in the chorus as well as being understudy, and the chorus line would now be as it was before Lisa came. They could get by with those, but an understudy, although fortunately rarely needed, was a necessity.
I could see the dreams in Lisa’s eyes.
She approached my mother first. “I know the songs. I know the dances … and I’ve watched every one of your performances.”
“I know,” said my mother. “You’d be right for the job. I can’t answer for Dolly. If I suggest you, he’s bound to raise objections.”
“But I do know it so well. I’d practice … I’d rehearse …”
“I know, dear. You are the one for it. Leave it to me. I’ll see what I can do.”
Dolly was surprisingly acquiescent. I think he must have realized that Lisa Fennell was the best choice. She had modelled herself on my mother. She knew the songs.
He raised no objections and it was settled.
Lisa Fennell, in addition to her role in the chorus, was to understudy Desiree .
The Understudy
I had seen Roderick Claverham on one or two occasions. The meetings were never planned. They took place on matinee days.
I would stroll out shortly after my mother had left and he would be waiting for me in the street. There was always an element of excitement because I would be wondering whether he would be there.
I was almost sure that he would be all the same.
I think we liked it that way because both of us had a feeling that the meetings should be something of a secret, in view of the relationship between our parents.
However, I enjoyed the meetings very much. We walked a good deal: we had tea in our little tea shop, and then he took me to the theatre, where I would join my mother, and we would come home in the carriage with Martha and Lisa.
We sometimes walked down Piccadilly to Green Park. There we would sit and watch people as they strolled by, and the children feeding the ducks.
I had learned a certain amount about his home—enough to give me a fairly clear picture of it. I heard about the interesting people who had visited Leverson Manor since the discovery of the Roman remains. And, of course, I talked about myself.
I knew this was an intermediary period. We could not go on meeting like this. In a way it seemed almost furtive, for I said nothing to my mother of our acquaintance, which was extremely odd, for up to this time I had always been completely open with her. And I guessed he had said nothing to his father.
I was right when I told myself that it could not last like that. I wanted him to come and meet my mother; he wanted me to visit his home in Kent. I had a longing to do so, and a burning curiosity to see Lady Constance even more than the Roman remains.
It was Tuesday and my mother was spending the afternoon with her dressmaker. She wanted some new clothes for the show. She thought it needed brightening up a little.
I had told Roderick that I should be free on that particular day and he had immediately said we must meet.
We made our way to Green Park and as we were sitting there Roderick
Lisa used to come home from the theatre with my mother and Martha. I did not think Martha was very pleased with the arrangement. She was very possessive towards my mother and I was sure that she resented her interest in Lisa.
Lisa was aware of this and tried hard not to offend. In fact, it seemed to me that Lisa was aware of a good deal and was treading warily, terrified of alienating anyone.
I mentioned this to my mother and she said: “Yes, it’s possible. The poor girl is very anxious to hold her job. She doesn’t want to upset anyone. I know exactly how she feels. We must try to make things easy for her.”
Then something happened which was significant. Janet Dare had an accident. She had gone shopping in Regent Street one afternoon, had slipped on the pavement and broken her leg in two places. It was going to be a long time before Janet was back at work.
Janet was in the chorus as well as being understudy, and the chorus line would now be as it was before Lisa came. They could get by with those, but an understudy, although fortunately rarely needed, was a necessity.
I could see the dreams in Lisa’s eyes.
She approached my mother first. “I know the songs. I know the dances … and I’ve watched every one of your performances.”
“I know,” said my mother. “You’d be right for the job. I can’t answer for Dolly. If I suggest you, he’s bound to raise objections.”
“But I do know it so well. I’d practice … I’d rehearse …”
“I know, dear. You are the one for it. Leave it to me. I’ll see what I can do.”
Dolly was surprisingly acquiescent. I think he must have realized that Lisa Fennell was the best choice. She had modelled herself on my mother. She knew the songs.
He raised no objections and it was settled.
Lisa Fennell, in addition to her role in the chorus, was to understudy Desiree .
The Understudy
I had seen Roderick Claverham on one or two occasions. The meetings were never planned. They took place on matinee days.
I would stroll out shortly after my mother had left and he would be waiting for me in the street. There was always an element of excitement because I would be wondering whether he would be there.
I was almost sure that he would be all the same.
I think we liked it that way because both of us had a feeling that the meetings should be something of a secret, in view of the relationship between our parents.
However, I enjoyed the meetings very much. We walked a good deal: we had tea in our little tea shop, and then he took me to the theatre, where I would join my mother, and we would come home in the carriage with Martha and Lisa.
We sometimes walked down Piccadilly to Green Park. There we would sit and watch people as they strolled by, and the children feeding the ducks.
I had learned a certain amount about his home—enough to give me a fairly clear picture of it. I heard about the interesting people who had visited Leverson Manor since the discovery of the Roman remains. And, of course, I talked about myself.
I knew this was an intermediary period. We could not go on meeting like this. In a way it seemed almost furtive, for I said nothing to my mother of our acquaintance, which was extremely odd, for up to this time I had always been completely open with her. And I guessed he had said nothing to his father.
I was right when I told myself that it could not last like that. I wanted him to come and meet my mother; he wanted me to visit his home in Kent. I had a longing to do so, and a burning curiosity to see Lady Constance even more than the Roman remains.
It was Tuesday and my mother was spending the afternoon with her dressmaker. She wanted some new clothes for the show. She thought it needed brightening up a little.
I had told Roderick that I should be free on that particular day and he had immediately said we must meet.
We made our way to Green Park and as we were sitting there Roderick
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