Since he was coming to the concert—and by now he surely knew the truth about her—what did that mean? He wouldn’t harm her, would he? No. She’d gained even more acclaim overnight when everyone found out she was blind. To be honest, Hitler was probably coming because he always wanted the best of everything, andshehad been touted as the best. It didn’t hurt that she was of German descent. But now that the article was out, his presence tonight could mean any number of things.
Would he come after her? Melanie and Rick?
Her stomach plummeted. Every shred of confidence from earlier evaporated.
Had she signed her own death warrant by sharing with the world that she could no longer see?
Thunderous applause resonatedthroughout the large concert hall. Chaisley stood, gripped the edge of the Steinway with her left hand, and bowed deep at the waist. She imagined the gold statues Melanie had described, which acted as pillars to hold up the slim balconies surrounding the hall. The stage was relatively small, with no curtains, simply doors leading off the stage and to the back under the pipes of the massive organ.
She bowed again, taking her time. The margin for error was zero. A bead of sweat slipped down her neck and onto the collar of her evening gown. When was the last time she had been this nervous?
Not in years.
Stop it.Thinking about being nervous would reflect in her playing. And she couldn’t afford that.
Now was the time to play her trump card.
She nodded in the direction she knew Hitler sat, took her seat on the padded bench, and started into Liszt’s piano transposition of Wagner’sSong of the Evening Star.
Wagner was a favorite of the Führer. So much depended on her impressing him...
Chaisley allowed the music to take over, pouring everything she had into the piece. She didn’t need to see the faces of her audience to know that she had them enraptured. The great hall was devoid of sound other than what emanated from the piano.
Thank You, Lord, for this gift. Please guide me.
Even though her face portrayed the confident, accomplished musician, she feared the fierce pounding of her heart might give her away. Or the slight tremor in her legs. The planhadto work. But if it did, it meant a more difficult path lay ahead. Was she capable of seeing this through?
She must. Just like Esther.
Lives were at stake.
Two minutes before she was to be onstage, one of the Führer’s men came to tell her that the nobility—almost royalty—of her German lineage, accompanied by her recognition as a great pianist, had caught the attention of the leader ofDeutschland.
He also made sure to mention that since her blindness had been caused by an accident, it hadn’t “marred” her in any other way.
Hadn’t marred her.
Insufferable man!
“But it makes you impossible for Hitler to resist.”Rick’s words after the little meeting echoed in her brain.
No pressure.
Well, whatever they had intended by insisting to speak with her right before the concert was for naught. She’d prayed the whole walk onto the stage and as she took her seat.
Now as the last notes resounded from the heart of the great instrument, Chaisley slowly lifted her hands and rose again to the crowd’s resounding appreciation. Keeping her head lowered, she bowed and placed her hand over her heart, acknowledging her gratitude.
Hurried footsteps ascended the steps to her right, and she breatheddeep as they marched toward center stage. Rick’s steps from behind brought him closer. Guarding her. Giving her strength. When she’d been introduced at the beginning of the evening, she’d almost turned around. Run away. Hid. The enormity of her revelation to that newspaper felt like a boulder crushing her into the ground.
But she’d stood firm. Barely.
Now was the moment she’d dreaded.
The Führer was onstage. She heard him speak briefly to the crowd, and the very sound of his voice, so full of self-righteous passion, sent a shiver racing up Chaisley’s spine. She hated his voice but had studied it for hours in preparation for tonight. With all her senses heightened, she could recognize his voice with just one syllable.
More applause and shouts of adoration forced her smile.
Then steady steps approached her.
