“Welcome back, Daisy Lovelace.” The shadow watching from above greeted me as I stepped directly under the spotlight on the stage. “Take down your hair.”
“Why?”
He didn’t answer, which made me uneasy. With shakyhands, I reached up and pulled the ribbons from my hair, allowing it to cascade around me. I gave him a glare and then moved into position. A moment later, music played. A song I was familiar with, Juliet’s Theme, from Romeo and Juliet.
I knew this one well. My Nona had taught me all the classics. Closing my eyes, I lifted my leg and began to move. My mind shut off, and the world fell away as my body moved across the stage. In moments, I wasn’t alone, dancing for a strange man, but for a room full of people coming just to see me. I imagined flowers and gasps as I leaped and spun. I put on the performance of my life, as if this was the dance that would define my entire career. The one my children would one day study and say,this was what made her famous.
The music dwindled to an end, and just like the notes, I drifted back to center stage and ended my performance. I bowed, and then looked up and out, all pretense gone. There was no massive audience to tell my story. Just the man without a face.
I stood straight and looked up in his direction, waiting for praise, but none came.
“Did you enjoy yourself, Daisy?”
“I-I don’t understand.”
“You wanted to perform here, and now you have.”
My shoulders fell.
“Thank you.” I turned away so he wouldn’t see my tears.
“Why are you upset?” he asked, and I spun around.
“Because I came here to convince you to let my company dance here, and now you’re tossing us away!”
“When did I say that?”
“You didn’t have to.” I sniffled. “I’m not naïve. Good day, sir, whoever the hell you are. I’m glad I don’t know who you are.” I stomped off the stage toward the dressing rooms, pretending his hands were beneath my feet with each step. Ifought back tears until I reached the dressing room and slammed the door shut, collapsing against it. Closing my eyes, I opened them again, my heart skipping a beat as I stared at the table. Slowly, I walked over.
A bouquet of daisies had been placed on the table, along with an envelope. With shaky hands, I reached for the letter and opened it. I lost my breath a moment as I took in the words.
You looked beautiful in green. Next time, I want to dance with you.
Chapter 14
Daisy
“You’re spicy today,”Tuth admired, watching me pour a third drink before dinner. “Who is this Daisy?”
“Want some?” I offered, feeling the effects of the alcohol already.
“Actually, I can’t stay tonight. Will you be good on your own? I didn’t think Max was going to be here.”
“He’s staying in the city,” I confirmed. “I’ll be fine. I think I’ll have a quiet dinner and then do some dancing here. Max is always asking me to use the studio he had designed for me.”
“It is really nice,” Tuth relented. “Even if it was created by an asshat. Maybe slow down on the drinks, though, k? If you fall or something, Max will blame me and I don’t need that in my life.”
I set the glass down on the bar and sighed. “I’m sorry, I just... haven’t been sleeping well.”
It’d been a week since I’d gone to the Tennant. A week since I danced on the very stage my late parents and grandparents did. I danced for a strange man that simultaneously infuriated me and intrigued me. I couldn’t get his shadowyfigure and distorted voice out of my mind. At night, he invaded my sleep. I dreamed of him dancing with me, a man encased in darkness. He moved seamlessly with me, in a way as I’d never done before with someone. Each morning when I woke, images of the mysterious shadow figure lingered from my dreams.
“Do you want me to schedule something? Maybe get you on some sleeping medication?”
I shook off their offer. “I’ll be okay. I think some alone time will do me good. I’ll take a hot bath tonight. Maybe add some perfumes and bubbles.” I forced a smile. Tuth didn’t believe me, but dropped it. I hadn’t told them about the stranger, or what I’d done in the opera house. I’d made sure to give them that day off.
But why? Had I known, somewhere deep in my soul, that I would want my visit to be a secret?
Tuth left shortly after I assured them I was finished drinking for the evening. I had a light dinner outside, facing the other side of the lake. That light on the dock near Neal’s home taunted me as it flicked on the moment the sun set. It too, was green, like the one on my dock. Paired with Neal telling me their neighbor called himself Gatsby? I couldn’t stand to look at it. I pushed my chair back and left my dinner unfinished.
