Dancing On Air (28 page)

‘Lisette!’

‘I’m alright, Tinder. Madame Devoré is not here,’ Lisette called out as she walked back into the parlour. Both Tinder and Charlie were standing in the room. They were both trying to catch their breath and their presence made the room feel small and insignificant. ‘As I said, Aunt Marie isn’t here and I doubt that she has been in days.’

‘Are you sure?’ Charlie asked.

‘I think so. The apartment and her room have not been disturbed. If she is not here, or at the theatre... I mean where else would she be?’

‘That’s right, Madame Devoré is always at the theatre. I can’t remember a time when she wasn’t. Something has happened to her,’ Charlie said.

‘Yes, Charlie...I believe that too. I must go to the police constabulary.’

‘Do you really believe it has come to that? Is there a possibility that she went away and stayed with friends?’

‘No Tinder, my Aunt Marie does not have any friends. If she is not here and no one has seen her since...since when?’

‘The last performance.’

Tinder’s words hung in the air like the sword of Damocles. The connotation suspended over them, yet none of them were ready to voice their fears.

‘Come on then, I’ll accompany you to the Police. Charlie, can you go back to the theatre and double check that no one knows the whereabouts of Madame Devoré?’

‘Yes, of course,’ Charlie said with a nod.

‘Thank you Tinder, but first I must find Lord Gainswith.’ She felt him stiffen beside her.

‘Why?’

‘Because I must. Please do not push me on this.’

‘Very well. In that case I shall accompany you to Lord Gainswith.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Thank you for coming, Detective Constable Reeves,’ Evander said as he looked up from behind his mahogany desk. The thin man was shown into the study. He was about thirty five and of average height and had a pleasant face.

Reeves inclined his sandy coloured head. ‘Not at all, Lord Gainswith. Your man said that the situation was both urgent and delicate.’

‘Yes, it is indeed. May I present Miss Devoré, ballerina extraordinaire from the Imperial Theatre,’ Evander said as he gestured towards Lisette.

‘Miss Devore. A man would have to be blind not to recognise you.’

‘Thank you, Detective Constable Reeves. It is very sweet of you to say so.’ Lisette said.

‘Please sit down,’ Evander said.

Both men waited for Lisette to sit in a high backed chair that was positioned next to Evander’s.

‘Perhaps if you would be so kind as to tell me what this is all about?’ Reeves said as he sat down.

Lisette leaned forward. ‘Can you keep a secret?’

Reeves’s eyes widened with surprise. He appeared to pause for a moment, as if to gather his thoughts. ‘Well, that would depend Miss Devoré. If the secret was an integral part of the case then...no. However, if it has nothing to do with the investigation then I assure that I will be as silent as a tomb.’

Lisette sat back in her chair and threw a glance at Evander.

‘There is nothing we can do, love. We must tell the Detective Constable if we are to locate your aunt.’

‘Yes. Yes of course, you are right,’ Lisette said and, for the second time, she noted the astonishment in Reeves’s face.

‘Miss Devoré’s aunt Marie is missing,’ Evander explained.

Reeve’s forehead puckered in a frown. ‘And that is the secret?’

‘Oh no, of course not,’ Lisette said with a hint of a smile.

‘No, but Marie Devoré’s absence may expose our secret. Miss Devoré and I are, well…married. However, we wish to keep it a secret.’

‘I see...’ Reeves said.

‘No Detective Constable, I do not believe you do. I care for the people at the Imperial; they are my family. Bessie — one of our ballerinas — went missing two or more months ago and our prima ballerina, Florentia, is injured and unable to dance. We cannot announce our marriage until I have someone to take my place. For if I were to leave now, the theatre would be without a principal dancer and it would flounder. If it struggles then my dearest companions are at risk of losing their livelihood. Therefore, we must keep our marriage a secret until I can train one of the corps de ballet.’

‘I understand, Lady Gainswith. At this present time, I cannot see a need to expose your nuptials. But tell me, when was the last time you saw your aunt?’

‘After Saturday night’s performance. We spoke briefly straight after curtain call. She said that she was going to work late, that she had some tasks she wanted done.’

‘And after that, what did you do?’ Reeves asked.

‘I was intending to go home, however Evander arrived and my plans changed.’

‘How?’

‘The devil take it! I don’t see how that is any of your business,’ Evander broke in.

But before Reeves could respond, Lisette gently placed her hand on Evander’s arm. ‘It is alright. The Detective Constable only wants to piece together the night Aunt Marie disappeared. I’m sure we can count upon his discretion in this matter.’ Lisette’s eyes met Reeves’s; she held them, unblinking, until he nodded in agreement. ‘I came here, to Lord Gainswith’s residence. I was here all night.’

Reeves gave Evander a questioning look.

‘Yes, what Lady Gainswith says is the truth. We were here all night and then left for Temperly at first light...where we were wed.’

‘Temperly?’

‘Yes. It is an estate that belongs to my brother, the Marquess of Coltswood. We were married in the village church in Temperly Edge the following day.’

‘And all of this can be confirmed?’

‘Yes. Vicar Davis will be able to verify our movements as well as the staff at Temperly.’

Reeves nodded his head. ‘Thank you. But now to your aunt, Lady Gainswith. Would there be anyone who disliked her?’

‘Yes.’

Reeves lifted his eyes and stared levelly at Lisette. She was innocent of everything but his stare still managed to make her feel uncomfortable. He said nothing and she wondered if she should be silent or carry on.

‘My aunt is a difficult woman. She is hard and brittle and says exactly what is on her mind. She has insulted a multitude and made many enemies over the years. The difficulty would be in trying to pinpoint just one person. You think me cruel and harsh and that as a loving niece I should not say such things. The truth is, Detective Constable Reeves...my aunt has never loved anyone, least of all me.’

‘And yet you are concerned about her?’

‘Yes, yes I am,’ Lisette said.

Reeves regarded her for another moment and then stood up. ‘Lord and Lady Gainswith, thank you for your time. I shall look into the matter immediately and shall stop by the theatre to see if anyone can throw some light onto Madame Devoré’s disappearance. Was there anything out of place at her residence?’

‘No, everything appeared to be as it should,’ Lisette said before she jumped off the chair and hurried over to where her reticule sat on a small table. She opened the bag and withdrew a small iron key and a small photograph in a tooled leather frame, which she handed to Reeves. ‘The attic apartment is located at number 8 Beggar’s Mews.’

Reeves studied the photograph. ‘Thank you. I shall return the key as quickly as possible. Am I right in thinking that your aunt quite likely disappeared between the Imperial Theatre and her residence? It is a very short distance, with only a road and a couple of alleys separating them.’

‘That’s correct. It is a distance she walked every day, even with her damaged leg.’

‘She was lame?’

‘Yes, I suppose you could say that. In her youth my aunt was a ballerina, like my mother. However she had an accident that damaged her knee and she was unable to dance ever again. She uses a walking stick.’

‘Thank you, Lady Gainswith. You have been a great help,’ Reeves said with a nod. ‘Now, if you will both excuse me.’

Evander stood up to ring the bell but Reeves held up his hand.

‘It’s quite all right; I can find my own way out. Good day.’

‘Good day,’ Evander said as he watched the man slip out of the room. He turned and walked over to Lisette, pulled her out of the chair and into a tight embrace. ‘Are you alright?’

Lisette breathed deeply, the scent of green woods and cool air wafted from Evander’s warm skin. She closed her eyes and took the moment’s peace. His arms were around her and she felt protected and cherished.

‘Yes, I’m fine.’

‘Good, but you must stay here tonight.’

‘But surely that will compromise our plans? If anyone discovered —’

‘Perhaps but it is not safe for you to stay by yourself. We do not know what has become of your aunt or the circumstances that surround her disappearance. I must know that you are secure. If we are careful, no one will know that you are staying here.’

Lisette nodded in agreement and only then did she realise how relieved she was.

‘I will escort you to the theatre each day and each night I shall bring you back here...back home.’ He dipped his head and caught her lips with his own. The kiss was firm, tinged with passion and possession.

Lisette’s hands slipped around the back of his neck and pulled him closer. She met his kiss and then heightened it. Her tongue slipped and teased its way across the sensitive skin of Evander’s bottom lip. A growl emanated from the back of his throat and his hands swirled up and down her back. The heat and excited anticipation began to build within her. She heard herself sigh as Evander’s hand settled over her breast. Their kiss broke apart and Lisette’s head lolled to one side to allow Evander access to her neck. His lips trailed down the column of her neck. He nipped, kissed and tasted her until her heart beat faster and a series of throbbing waves began to build. In a quick movement he picked her up, her eyes locked on his. His normal sherry-coloured eyes had darkened with ardour as he carried her to the desk. She lost one of her slippers as he sat her on the desk and it fell with a soft thud onto the rose scattered Aubusson rug. Evander pushed her skirt and petticoat asides, then, without hesitation, his hand reached up and pulled apart the bow of her drawers.

‘Evander, do you believe this is the best location to —’

With a grin he spoke over her. ‘Yes.’ And then showed little or no remorse as he pulled the drawers down, ripping them in the process.

‘Evander!’

‘Ah, what can I say in my defence, love? Only that I have no control when it comes to you. It is just as well that you love me.’ He stepped between her thighs and his clever fingers started to glide along her skin, leaving a tingling trail in their wake.

‘Hmm, indeed,’ Lisette said, but found herself distracted by the slow circles that Evander was tracing with one hand along her thighs. With his free hand he undid his trousers.

‘I love you Lady Gainswith.’

‘More pretty words, Evander?’

‘No, it’s the truth. And, well, you know it.’

Lisette smiled as she ran her hand gently down the side of his face. ‘And I love you, my lord.’

‘Good,’ Evander said as he moved forward and in one swift movement filled her entirely.

‘Again Sally. And one, two, three,’ Lisette said as she tapped out the count on the stage floor.

Sally twirled on pointe, spinning faster and faster until she stopped with one hand on her hip and the other poised in the air.

‘Excellent, Sally. You did it. See? I told you that you could do it.’

Sally smiled as she tried to catch her breath. ‘Thank you but I still don’t understand why we must practice for so long. I may be your understudy, but nothing will happen to you. I will never have to take your place.

Lisette bit her bottom lip and glanced at her friend. She was torn. She shouldn’t tell anyone about her marriage, but Sally was her dearest friend. She trusted Sally with her life, so why not her secret?

‘You may have to dance the lead quicker than you think.’

‘Whatever do you mean?’

Lisette beckoned her across the stage. She waited until Sally was close, close enough to hear a whisper. ‘I mean that I intend to leave the Imperial and someone must be able to dance the part.’

Sally grabbed her hand and tugged her to the edge of the stage. They sat down, two sets of worn silk pointe shoes dangling over the orchestra pit.

‘Tell me,’ Sally demanded.