And another.
Her hand rose to her chest, pressing against the deep ache gnawing at her. But in the midst of the swirl of her thoughts, a wild plan formed in her mind.
Could she pull it off?
Grandmother had made it clear that she was using her final years on this earth—and whatever financial resources she had—to help others. What would the Nazis do to Grandmother if they knew she was helping the Jews? Germany had already taken Austria, what if they went after Holland next?
In her mind she could hear the soldiers marching into Amsterdam, whistles blowing, people screaming, as the Gestapo arrested anyone they desired.
Clamping her eyelids shut, Chaisley willed the horrific thoughts away. There was no turning back now. The wheels had been set in motion. And nothing could make her grandmother give up her cause.
Chaisley had that same determination with her music. But now... Now the Lord was asking her if she would use that tenacity and drive in a different way.
The time to act was upon her.Yes, Lord.A settled feeling swept over her. Almighty God would guide her steps. And she would follow Him.
She stretched her arms above her head and rotated her neck in circles. Melanie and Rick would be done securing her dressing room at any moment. Whatever they had planned, she trusted them. She was here to warm up on the piano and test it out. It was time to play the part.
Scales flowed from her fingertips. First, all the major keys. Then all the minors. Natural, harmonic, and melodic. Arpeggios were next.
In the middle of C# minor, the unmistakable throat clearing ofthe conductor she’d met when they arrived sounded to her right. “I’m sorry for the interruption, Fräulein Frappier. Is the instrument satisfactory?”
Chaisley turned her head toward his voice. “Yes, it is, but the tuning in the eighth octave is off, and the tension is a little loose there as well. I’m sure you can rectify that before tonight’s concert.”
Another clearing of the throat. She imagined his face turning red, lips tightening. Most conductors didn’t like to hear that their nine-foot concert grand wasn’t in the best of condition when it had probably been tuned that very afternoon. “We are honored to have you here, Fräulein. The Führer asked for everything to be the very best for you, so I will call the tuner back immediately.” Feet shuffled away toward stage front. His voice was stronger now but held an edge. “We are overjoyed to have such honored guests with us this evening. We’ve never had the world’s best pianistandthe world leader of our day.”
He sounded so smug. Well, two could play at that. “It should be quite an evening.”
“I must say, Fräulein, I’ve never heard a woman play with your skill and ... um...”
“Lack of sight?” When the man had called months ago to schedule this date on the tour, he’d practically begged her to come. Now? His tone of condescension stiffened her spine. She would not give him the upper hand. Difficult enough for the great conductors of the world to accept her gender and superior skills. Now that they knew about her blindness, they would be all-too-inclined to dismiss her.
The quick footsteps approaching from the left were definitely Melanie. And by her stride, she wasn’t happy.“Guten abend.”Her tone held a chill. “I must insist that we allow Fräulein Frappier to finish her preparations for this evening’s concert. The world’s best pianist shouldn’t have to accept interruption from a common conductor.”
The haughty words grated over Chaisley. Whatever was her friend up to?
Fingers snapped. “Friederich!”
The next set of footsteps was heavier. Purposeful. Rick. “Yes, miss?”
A tug at her elbow pulled Chaisley to stand and then into motion.
“That will be all.” Melanie’s dismissive command followed them offstage.
Once they were safely inside the vehicle once again, Rick spoke from the front of the car. “Well done, Miss Brigman.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you, Mr. Zimmerman. I couldn’t believe the gall of that man. Some of these Germans are downright insulting.”
Chaisley agreed. The conversations she’d overheard since the newspaper came out were like little knives stabbing at her heart. As if she were suddenly less of a person.
But word had also reached her that newspapers around the world had reported that there was no match to her talent. Even more so now that they knew she was blind.
Melanie and Rick were still chatting about what they’d overheard. Mel was riled up. “That sniveling little conductor can just pack up his Nazi views and try them on someone else. Don’t let it get to you, Chais.” Her friend squeezed her arm tight.
“I know.”
“You handled yourself very well, I might add.” Mel still sounded like she was about to punch someone.
For any of this to work, Chaisley had to keep her wits about her. And even though parts of the newspaper article weren’t what she would have written herself, she could use it to her advantage. Her great-grandparents were the purest of Germans—almost royalty to Hitler’s Pan-Germanist Nazis. She could show the same air of confidence and condescension that Hitler portrayed and expected from his master race.
