The Boy I Love (41 page)

She turned round and embraced Rupert, clinging to him so he would remember her through her thin silk dress. ‘Good luck. It has been an amazing experience for me, I will never forget this
moment.’ She kissed him gently on the lips and then pulled away. ‘Off you go – the curtain is rising!’

The performance went like clockwork. Everybody upped their game. The only mishap was that having never injured each other in the duelling scene, Rupert nicked Jeremy on the neck. There was real
blood! Although it looked very dramatic from the wings, and poor Heather was trying to get first aid organized
and
stay on the book, disaster was averted as Jeremy pulled a silk hankie from
his pocket and used it to good effect to stop the blood. Thank God for the hankie. Later that night, a toast was proposed to the indomitable Gwendoline, who had a policy of always secreting hankies
on her actors for just such emergencies.

As soon as the curtain came down, the boys were off to set up the shindig. The crew were in, already tearing down the walls of Elsinor. It was an easy get out tonight as there was no real set to
erect for the Victorian Music Hall. So they had high hopes of making the party before all the food and drink had gone, which is what usually happened, though Sally and Janie had made a pact to hold
some back for the workers.

It took Sally a bit longer than usual tonight to get ready. She had a shower and reapplied her make-up, because she wanted to look her best. She had saved a new dress for tonight and even
managed to hide it from Dora. It was a little low at the front, and Sally was not sure about flashing her cleavage – but it was now or never! She waited for Janie and Gwendoline to finish
putting the washing in, so they could walk up the hill together.

‘Where’s Geoffrey? Isn’t he going to escort us ladies then?’ enquired Sally as she appeared at the door. Gwendoline managed a tight smile and replied, ‘He has
escorted his opposite number, the Queen of Denmark, to the party. Felt he couldn’t leave her to walk on her own. So come on, girls, let’s give it all we’ve got.’

The party was in full swing when they got back to the flat. The music was very loud, and could be heard halfway down the street, but everyone reckoned that for one night
only, Crewe and their downstairs neighbours would have to put up with it. Sally put her shepherd’s pie in the oven to warm up, with mountains of garlic bread to sop up the drink later. She
dropped her stuff in her bedroom and then went to find Rupert. She should have known he would be pinned in a corner by her dear sister. Where Sally had gone for cleavage, Dora had gone for a
plunging backless dress. She looked stunning, and Sally’s heart sank.
Here we go again. I can’t compete with that
. She went to the kitchen to get a drink and Janie caught her
grim expression.

‘Not fed up already, surely?’ she commented.

‘Oh no, just feeling inadequate as usual. Darling Dora has set her sights on Rupert tonight – she obviously has intentions of giving him a good send-off.’

Janie came and gave Sally a hug. ‘Listen to me. You have a bond with Rupert, you always have, and that counts for a lot. I don’t know if it can go anywhere – let’s face
it, a week ago he was wildly in love with Isabelle – but don’t let Dora muscle in on your night, and it
is
your night, Sally. You have been a triumph in every way on this
production, and saved a lot of people’s arses. You go for it and enjoy. You look gorgeous. Now please find my errant boyfriend, and tell him I need him for five minutes.’

Sally did as she was told and sent Pete to the kitchen. She then made her way to the corner.

‘Hi, guys! Wow, Dora, you look amazing. That dress is almost finished,’ she quipped.

‘Yes, very funny, sister dear. But I could say the same about yours,’ Dora threw back.

‘Now, girls, please no scrapping. This evening is all about feeling the “lurve” in the room.’ Rupert was laughing at them.

‘Can I get you another drink?’ suggested Dora.

‘Or would you like some of my homemade shepherd’s pie? You must be starving,’ ventured Sally.

Rupert raised his hands in surrender. ‘I give in! Both, please.’

Sally and Dora exchanged murderous looks and went off to the kitchen. Rupert meanwhile went in search of male support and found Geoffrey and Jeremy in deep conversation about the play.

‘Oh, we will miss you, Rupert,’ said Geoffrey, ‘even though the competition has been gruelling, hasn’t it, Jeremy?’

‘Indeed it has – from both sides of the fence,’ teased Jeremy. ‘You had the pick of the bunch.’

‘Oh don’t,’ groaned Rupert. ‘Sally and Dora have been on the attack already. I am beginning to wonder if this would be my chance to have a random night with two sisters.
What do you reckon?’

‘Oh, too much information!’ chorused the other two. ‘We will await the results, like two sad old farts.’

‘Actually, I must say my farewells, Rupert, as I am off to Manchester tonight,’ Jeremy told him. ‘So good luck, mate, and I hope we meet again very soon. Maybe even in the West
End, fingers crossed.’

‘Absolutely – wouldn’t that be great? We could knife each other to pieces every night!’

Jeremy went to find Sally and accosted her on the way to the kitchen. ‘Hey, Sal. Sorry I have to go so early, but Eddie is picking me up in five minutes. Have a great night and see you
Monday morning. Love you.’ He gave her a kiss and loped off.

Peggy and Percy were tucking into the shepherd’s pie at the kitchen table when Sally came in to get her share for Rupert.

‘This is spot on, girl,’ mumbled Percy through a large mouthful. ‘You’re not only a lovely actress, but a consummate cook. You’d better watch out, Peggy, you have
got competition.’

‘Yes, dear – in your dreams. Well done, Sally, it is lovely. Come over here, I want to ask you something.’ She beckoned to Sally, who crossed the kitchen and knelt down at
Peggy’s side.

‘What’s up?’ she asked.

‘Have you see that Sarah tonight anywhere?’ Peggy whispered.

‘No – come to think of it, I haven’t. Did she say she couldn’t come?’

‘No, but I tell you what, she is up to something. Every Saturday night I notice she is gone a bit quick, and I just wondered where she goes. You mark my words, there is something going
on.’

Sally filled her plate and went in search of her man. Rupert was surrounded by the boys and they seemed to be having such a wonderful time she felt a smidgen of guilt at breaking it up, but once
the boys saw the grub they were off!

‘Well, you certainly know how to clear a room,’ laughed Rupert. ‘Ooh yummy, is this for me? Sally, you have been so outstanding on everything to do with this job. I really
couldn’t have coped without you. I hope we can stay in touch. Do you think Giles might ask you to understudy in the West End? Wouldn’t that be great? Maybe I should mention it to
him.’

‘Well, it is a kind thought,’ agreed Sally, ‘though it would be great to have a real part in something next. Who knows?’ She knocked back her drink, and decided now was
the time for the champagne before everyone was too plastered to enjoy it. ‘Will you excuse me a minute, I have a hostess job to perform,’ she said and reluctantly turned away to see
Dora bearing down on him with a bottle of champagne, no less, tucked under her arm.

‘Um, just a minute, my girl. That belongs to me and is going to be opened when
I
say the word and not before. So give it here and go and find some other form of alcohol with which
to seduce your prey.’

‘My word, aren’t we the Diva tonight? Here, take your miserable champagne. I don’t need any help to seduce a man.’ Dora sashayed across the room and joined Rupert and the
boys, who had returned with their spoils.

Well, that should keep her out of trouble till I return, thought Sally.

When Sally got back to the kitchen she was greeted by the sight of Janie and Gwendoline laying out an incredibly beautiful cake onto a plate.

‘Oh my goodness, where did
that
come from?’

‘Oh no! You were not supposed to come in here until we were ready to present this to you and Rupert. Janie made it and I supplied the ingredients,’ said Gwendoline.

‘Oh, girls, what a wonderful idea. And it’s great timing, because I was just about to open the champagne I have bought as my surprise. So we can have cake and champagne to finish off
the evening with a bit of class.’

Sally got all the glasses laid out on the side while the girls finished arranging the cake.

‘Shall we carry the cake in last?’ said Gwendoline.

‘Absolutely,’ nodded Sally, ‘and I will now go and give everyone a glass of champagne and prepare them for your entrance.’

She managed to get everyone next door to be quiet, and not sip the champagne until she had said her few words, but first she went to the kitchen door and announced, ‘Ladies and gentlemen!
Pray silence for that talented duo in the wardrobe department, with yet another side to their talent. Let them eat cake!’

The girls entered to wild cheers, and applause at the sight of this huge cake. On top they had written:

‘Would Rupert and Sally please like to come and cut the cake,’ said Janie, producing two big knives, one for each of them.

Rupert spoke first, saying, ‘I never imagined it was going to be as good as this. All the ups and downs – and that was just my sex-life! No, seriously, we have had our problems, but
you have all been so supportive to me and I hope we all meet again one day in the future. But can I say a special thank you to Sally here. She has been my rock.’ Rupert leaned over and gave
Sally a big smacker on the lips as everyone cheered with delight. Perhaps Dora less so!

Sally responded with a short and sweet: ‘Thank you so much, everyone. I am completely overwhelmed. No job will ever compete with this. Thank you.’ She swallowed hard, and raised her
glass of champagne to the room. ‘Cheers, everyone, and good luck always!’

The toast resounded around the room, and then in a flash all was back to normal and the business of eating and drinking was resumed.

‘Let’s hope once the champagne dries up they will start to leave,’ said Sally, who was feeling a little tipsy.

‘Oh, don’t worry, they will go soon enough, but you and I have some serious drinking to do,’ Rupert said. ‘I have never seen you drunk. It could be quite a surprise, a
bit like your lack of underwear in your Ophelia costume. That was so arousing – but you already know that, don’t you?’ He held her gaze.

Sally did not look away but murmured, ‘Yes, it was very exciting – one of those rare unexpected moments. I love them, and I love to be surprised.’ She turned away to give
someone a piece of cake.

Rupert slipped his arm around her and drew her to him, whispering, ‘Perhaps I can surprise you again tonight?’ It took all of Sally’s self-control not to let out a whoop of
delight right there. Instead she looked him straight in the eye and whispered back, ‘Show me.’ And then she walked away, hoping Rupert could not see how her legs were trembling. The
next half an hour seemed like an eternity, but eventually everyone was gone except Sally and Rupert and Dora. Oh yes, Sally had forgotten about Dora!

‘This is cosy,’ the girl said, opening the last bottle of champagne – the one Sally had been saving to take to bed with Rupert.

‘Where did you find that bottle, Dora?’ she asked carefully.

‘In your bedroom, for some reason in an ice-bucket ready to go.’

There was a deafening silence. Then Rupert spoke very quietly, but steadily. He said, ‘Ah yes, Dora, you have caught me out. I was going to spend some time drinking that with Sally tonight
before we say our goodbyes. We have been through a great deal, as you know. So no offence to you, but we will say good night now and go in the other room, if you don’t mind.’

Dora was dumbstruck, probably for the first time in her life. She had nowhere to go with this. So she stood up and put the bottle down on the table, but kept her own glass in her hand.

‘Good night then. I am sure you won’t begrudge me this one glass. I raise it to you both, and wish you health, wealth and happiness.’

And with that she went to her room without a murmur.

Sally turned and looked at Rupert. ‘I can’t believe you did that,’ she breathed.

‘Needs must sometimes. Now come on, take me to your room so we can have that talk, or whatever . . .’ There was a very naughty twinkle in his eye, or so Sally hoped, because quite
frankly she was two sheets to the wind and her own eyesight was blurred. She hoped Rupert’s sight might be similarly incapacitated for the rest of the evening, should she have to take her
clothes off. But stop! She was getting above her station.

They adjourned to the bedroom with the bottle. Rupert placed it by the side of the bed and proceeded to take his clothes off.

Sally was taken aback. ‘What are you doing?’ she asked rather foolishly.

‘Isn’t it obvious? I hardly think lying in your bed in my brown boots and Levis is very suitable.’ He had stripped to his pants, and then pulled back the sheets and got into
bed.