Rouge (33 page)

We slipped out into the streets again, walking quickly toward the theater. We passed Philippe’s, which was dark and had a card in the window reading
Closed
. I took a quick breath, biting back the tears. A dry ache twisted in my stomach, and I longed for him so hard it hurt. But I had to be strong, to do what was best. In time this pain would diminish. I would move on with my life in
Paris
and let him go, regardless of his promises. Promises that could never be fulfilled.

Around another corner, we were in sight of the theater when a dark form lurched from the shadows. “Out again?”

I stopped short, and Teeny let out a little scream. The woman’s eyes moved to her and froze. Her voice changed to a cracked whisper. “Who is this?”

Teeny’s fingernails cut into my arm, and she shrank behind me. I stood firm and looked into Molly’s eyes. I’d wanted to see her since I’d overheard Fiona, but now there was so much, I didn’t know where to begin.

“Who are you?” she whispered, stepping forward in Teeny’s direction. She stretched out a bony hand, and Teeny let out another squeal.

“She won’t hurt you,” I started, but my little friend broke into a run. Her small feet clattered loudly on the metal steps, and I looked up in time to see her disappear through the back door.

“I’m sorry. She’s just scared,” I said, considering the woman’s starved appearance and remembering the money left over from our shopping trip.

“Molly,” I said, digging into my skirt. I found several bills and pressed them into her hand. “Here.”

Her head snapped down. “What’s this?”

“We’re leaving. And I… I just wanted to help you.”

She flashed at me and threw the money at my feet. “You can’t buy me off. I don’t want his reparations. His hush money.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” I started, but she cut me off.

“I know where the devil lives; he can’t be hidden.”

I swallowed back the truth. She didn’t know I’d met the devil, and now he was dead. All I wanted was to help her. “You don’t understand. It’s not his, it’s from Freddie Lovel. My fiancé.”

Molly stood staring at the door Teeny had just gone through, but I pressed the money into her hand again and held it there. “It’s not his, it’s mine. Please take it.”

She looked down at our hands, and I released her, hurrying after my little companion. “I’ve got to go now. Goodbye.”

As I disappeared through the door, I caught one last glimpse of her still standing there watching us.

* * *

Rosa
was placing the last of our things in the trunk when I ran into the room, breathless. “I didn’t appreciate how many dresses we altered through the years,” she said.

She didn’t seem to remember our last exchange, or if she did, she’d decided to let it go. She looked up at me, but I quickly scanned the room and frowned.

“Where’s Teeny?” I asked.

“I thought she was with you.” She reached for the chair to help herself stand.

“She was. And we saw Molly, and she ran away.”

I turned back into the passage and raced through the narrow hall, taking a left into the backstage area. I looked up and down the wings, but the only people I saw were the dancers and other performers waiting around. I took the aisle up to the lobby entrance, but I stopped short when I heard men’s voices speaking. One was Gavin, the other I didn’t recognize.

“You say you have an appointment with my brother. Here.” I could hear the skepticism in Gavin’s voice.

“He contacted me,” the man’s voice had a light French accent. “Said he had information of interest to my new employer.”

“Look, Mr…. Landry, is it? I don’t know what you’re after, but my brother’s rarely here.”

“He sent me a letter yesterday saying to meet him here today.”

My blood ran cold. Landry. And he was supposed to meet Guy today? The day I was leaving with Freddie? Why? And what would happen if he insisted on searching for him?

I skipped back into the house and ran to the stage where Roland sat making notes on a new sheet of music. He looked up and took the cigarette from his lips.

“You’re amazing. So wonderfully energetic after not sleeping all night.” I shook my head, and he stood when he saw the panic on my face. “What is it?”

“Trouble,” I whispered. “Come with me.”

He jammed his cigarette out, and we left the stage, hurrying back into the wings and down the backstage passage.

“What is it?” Roland asked when we finally stopped.

I looked up and down the corridor before leaning in close to his ear. “Landry’s here. He’s looking for Guy.”

“Landry? Why?”

“He told Gavin that Guy had scheduled a meeting with him. That he had something of interest to Mr. Lovel.”

“Any idea what he could mean?”

I twisted my skirt. “It could mean anything. Everything here would be of interest to Mr. Lovel, from my true story to this place to—”

“Calm down,” Roland whispered, pulling me to him. “Gavin knows how to handle the Landrys. Remember, he’s helping you leave with Freddie.”

I released my skirt, smoothing my damp palms over the fabric. “Maybe. But what if he starts to dig? What about you?”

He gave me another hug. “How can I ease your mind about that?”

“When I get to
Paris
, I’ll write to you. I’ll let you know where I am, and if you’re in any danger, ever, you’ll come to me at once.”

“You mistake me for a rich man,
cher
.”

“Freddie will give me the money if I ask him. You’re my only family. He wouldn’t deny you aid if I ask him. Will you promise me? You’ll keep in constant contact with me?”

“With pleasure,” he smiled and kissed my head. “Now let’s go back.”

We walked quickly up the passage and split up at the back of the stage. He went out to the piano, and I resumed my search for Teeny. I didn’t want her to be afraid, and I needed her to gather the remainder of her things. But when I got to the staircase leading down, I stopped. I knew where it led, to the narrow hall that ended in Guy’s secret rooms.

I stood there staring at it for several moments. Then as if compelled, I reached out and grasped the rail. Shallow breaths were all I could manage as I walked, one step at a time, toward the place filled with hideous memories. I crossed the empty trap room and crept through the small sitting area lined in black paper, my throat growing tighter the closer I got. The table and chairs were there, still glistening as if newly cleaned. The second door was shut, and I saw my fingers shake as I reached out to touch the handle.

The hinge creaked as it swung inward, and I took one step into the blood-red room. Across from me, on his back on top of the lounge, lay Guy. I slowly stepped forward, closer to his body. Embers were dying in the hearth, a charred log that resembled a stage pin. It gave just enough light for me to see the black hole I’d beaten into his skull. I studied it for a long while, until gradually my eyes traveled to his face. His dead eyes stared at nothing. And all I could do was stare back at what I’d done.

The log snapped in the fireplace, breaking my trance. I jumped. Then I turned and ran. I didn’t stop running until I was back in the hall, around the two quick turns to the left and down the narrow corridor that led to my room. I burst through the door, shaking and near tears when I saw Teeny sitting on the bed, her face pale.

I rushed forward and clutched her in an embrace. “Where were you?” I cried.

She held me, but I couldn’t stop trembling. “I went to Evie’s. I was frightened, and I wanted to tell her goodbye.”

My throat was still tight, the sick taste of bile in my mouth. “It’s okay now,” I whispered, trying to calm my nerves. “It’s all going to be okay.”

I looked up at the window and saw it was afternoon. “Freddie will be here any moment.”

Our trunks were packed and everything collected. I took one last look around my small room, and then gasped. Dropping to my knees, I spread the drapes on my dressing table and pulled out the small basket hidden there. From under the discarded stockings, scrap material, and ribbons, I took Freddie’s comb, the earbobs, the remaining money from the purchase of Teeny’s shoes, and the diamond bracelet.

I still hadn’t found the golden locket Freddie’d given me, but it was too late to think about that now. I had to hope he didn’t ask. The last two items were my father’s pen and the tiny perfume bottle, and as I held them in my hand, I knew what I had to do.

“Here,” I said, holding the diamond bracelet together around my wrist. “Help me.”

“Oh!” Teeny gasped. “It’s gorgeous! Why have I never seen it?”

“It was a gift. From Freddie.”

Her face took on a rapturous expression. “It’s going to be heavenly to be so rich.”

I didn’t answer as I slipped the other items into my dress pocket. I watched her working the clasp and thought of the tiny gold band still on my finger under the new pair of calf gloves I’d purchased at Celeste’s. I touched it with my thumb, and when the bracelet was secure, I took her hand.

“Let’s go,” I said, leading her from the room.

Together we went up the passage, through the maze of boxes and discarded scenery, through the wings, and onto the stage. The group of performers who for all these years had been our family waited to embrace us both. Tears spilled over as I hugged Mary, then Carla. Frank gave me a small bow, and I squeezed his hand. At last I stepped into Evie’s waiting arms.

“It’s your happily ever after, yes?” she smiled through her misty eyes.

I nodded back. “If only there was one for you.”

But she shook her head. “You’re the star. In the end, you’re the one to ride off in the carriage with the handsome prince.”

I choked back another surge of emotions and tried to smile.

“Take care, you,” I said. She kissed my cheek, and with a brief hug, Teeny and I continued to the front of the stage and then down the short flight of stairs and into the house.

We walked up the aisle to the bright lobby where Freddie was waiting in a pale gray overcoat and hat. A short, round man with dark hair, a wrinkled suit and a black bowler hat stood near my fiancé. He had to be Landry, and he regarded me with curiosity. But I quickly looked away, at Freddie’s smiling face.

Freddie stepped forward to take my hand. “I trust you had a relaxing evening.”

Teeny made a little noise, but I spoke quickly. “I spent it thinking of you,” I said with a smile.

He grinned and escorted me to where Gavin stepped into the bright light of the exit. The sun shining on Gavin’s hair revealed auburn highlights, and I frowned, thinking how I’d never noticed them before.

“Best of luck in your new life,” he said lifting my hand.

I watched as he pressed it to his lips and glanced up at me. I hoped never to see those green eyes again, but at the same time, I saw sadness in them. I remembered how once he’d loved my mother enough to promise to protect me. It didn’t soothe the anger I felt, but I was leaving with Freddie because of him.

I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen when he learned of the body in the secret salon under the theater.

“Thank you,” I said. “I won’t forget how you took me in and gave me a home.”

He bowed slightly, then he straightened and turned to Freddie. The two clasped hands, and Freddie stepped aside with Landry.

I heard the smaller man’s words. “Just a few matters to finish up here, and then I’ll be right along.”

“As soon as you can,” Freddie said.

I couldn’t help a twinge of worry at what the stocky investigator might be finishing, but Freddie was back, taking my arm. I glanced at Teeny and assessed her coat and hair in the sunlight. She glowed in her bright pink taffeta dress and beige chiffon shawl. Evie had done her hair in smooth curls. Auburn highlights. I frowned at the similarity, but she smiled, her blue eyes bright.

“I can’t wait to see the carriage,” she giggled. “And the furs and your little dog.”

I gave her a tight smile and took her hand.

Freddie placed his hand on my lower back. “Ready?”

“Just one last thing,” I said, leaving them and going quickly to where Roland stood near the back doors of the house. He was watching from afar, and though he wore a smile, I knew like me, his tears were waiting to be shed in solitude.

“Yes, love?” He frowned.

I slipped my father’s pen from my dress pocket, keeping it hidden. “Wait a bit, until we’re away. Then give this to him.” I pressed the slim white box into Roland’s hand. “Tell him I was sorry. That I wanted to wait.”

His expression was confused, but he lifted my hand to kiss it as he took the box, secreting it in his palm. “Of course.”

Our eyes held each other’s for the last time. I smiled, blinking back the tears. “And you promise to write to me constantly?”

He smiled. “I’ll be waiting for your first letter.”

I nodded, then I went back to Freddie.

“Now,” I said, with a smile for my fiancé.