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“Don’t. It’s the male dancer’s job to take care of his ballerina,” he joked.

Backstage, the other members of the gala performance took their places in the wings. The finale was a show of the best skills of each dancer. The audience clapped until their hands were raw as the endless sea of leaps, pirouettes. and other brilliant skills were showcased. They would be talking about the performance for a long while.

David had never enjoyedballet more. Perhaps he would look into attending more than the opera.

“David?” his mother asked. “David?” she repeated.

“I’m sorry, Mother. My mind was other places.”

“Clearly. I was asking if you wanted to attend the Royal Ballet next week with me to seeOnegin.”

“I need to review my schedule, but I’ll have James ring Abigail.”

“It’s the perfect starter ballet if you intend to make this your new hobby.”

Knowing better than to let his mouth do the speaking, David remained silent.

“It was the ballerina inTheSleeping Beauty‘Wedding Pas de Deux’ wasn’t it?” his mother conjectured. She glanced down at the program and read off Clara’s name. “She is the one Eddie had the incident with today? And to think she danced so brilliantly.” David looked away from his mother.Dun, dun, dun.The sounds of trouble echoed inside David’s head.

Jenna gleefully jumped to her feet as the dancers prepared to come out on stage one last time, startling David and his mother. Her eyes were glued to Clara. “She’s such a lovely dancer. Her port de bras reminds me so much of Margaux Fontaine.”

Jenna applauded enthusiastically. David’s attention shifted to the stage as his eyes followed Clara moving through a beautiful lift with Anton. He applauded with bravado like Jenna.

David wanted nothing more than to go behind the scenes to check in on how Clara was doing. He would not have the opportunity, however, as a royal guest. He would be expected to meet some of the patrons of the ballet and then get in a car with his mother to go for refreshments and after-event cordials.

When did he start thinking of her ashisballerina? David was affected in ways he couldn’t fathom; there was no denying that he had never been so taken with a woman so quickly. He didn’t believe in love at first sight and didn’t know anything about her, but something drew him to her.What if I had a spy to assist me here?David felt like a brilliant tactician.

“David, why don’t you invite the lovely Miss Little toOneginwith you? I’m sure she’ll enjoy seeing a live performance, and I would just love to meet her.” His mother smirked. Before David could mention he hardly knew Clara, David’s mother turned and exited the theater toward the reception area.

That’s one way to exit.David laughed. He waited and pulled Jenna to the front of the box, under the guise of asking her about the technical turns they just witnessed. “Jenna. How would you like to take on a little task for me? It’s very important you don’t mention this to anyone, though. Can you do that for your favorite prince?” he asked.

Jenna’s eyes widened. “I’m not sure. Will it get me in trouble?”

David needed to sweeten the deal. “I promise it won’t get you in trouble. I very much like the ballerina we watched tonight, Clara Little. Do you think you can find a way to follow your father backstage to check on her for me? Anything you can learn about her favorite foods would be helpful to me. It would give you the opportunity to meet Clara, and I’ll even play a game of Mario Kart with you.” David rubbed his hands together and offered his hand to Jenna. “Do we have a deal?”

David could sense Jenna considering his offer as she rocked back and forth on her heels. “Three rounds of Mario Kart, and you don’t lose on purpose. You let the master show you how to play,” Jenna countered.

“You drive a hard bargain, but I think those are acceptable terms.” David and Jenna sealed the deal with a handshake and departed to join the others for drinks and dessert.

Clara was exhaustedafter the end of the night and felt as if she was floating on air. Had she really just completed a showcase at the Royal Opera House? Had she danced with Anton Nichols?

“Anton, I don’t think I’m going to be able to thank you enough for tonight. I’ve really been at home here, and to be among so many amazingly talented individuals has been a dream.”

“I’m glad you’re past the point of embarrassment from this afternoon. I enjoyed working with you, Clara, and it’s going to be the first of many gigs together. You won’t escape me when I need a partner.”

“Are you serious? You want me?”

Anton laughed. “Yes, I want you. I don’t think you understand how rare it is to be thrown together so suddenly and just be able to read another dancer’s actions so quickly. You are a true gem.”

Clara remained speechless. She’d impressed Anton Nichols, the premier dancer of the Royal Ballet. Little old Clara from Seattle.I did that.Clara placed her hand on her heart and flashed a humble smile to Anton.

“I’m too tired to be embarrassed any more, but I am in dire need of taking my pointe shoes off. Do you happen to have any ice? I don’t know if I can get it off the Frankenfoot right now.” Clara’s weary voice didn’t go over well with Anton. He stayed close and hovered over Clara, not letting her move from her spot until Clara saw him track down a medical staff team member.

“I am not the best person to try to get your slipper off, but I wouldn’t force it. Let’s get you up to the physio room.” For the second time that evening, Anton took hold of her and carried her into the treatment area of the Royal Ballet.

Upstairs, try as they might, the shoe would not come off the very swollen foot. Clara was forced to submerge the appendage in a freezing trash bin of ice. It was a shock to the system. Anton handed a blanket over to Clara, who was grateful to at least pull her heavy tutu off. Dr. Evans had assured her she wouldn’t make the foot much worse than it already was, yet that popping noise didn’t sound, nor did it feel, too great. She hoped she didn’t make a mistake pushing through this for nothing. Did she help or hamper her career?

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