Applause (The Dudley Sisters Saga Book 2) by Madalyn Morgan (best authors to read txt) 📕

‘You don’t have to be,’ Lena said. ‘Richard won’t expect you to do pliés, only demi-pliés. But you will have to perform them more gracefully than the other dancers auditioning if you want the job. Right!’ she said, turning away from the bar. ‘Warm up exercises. Start with bending and stretching. Shan’t be long,’ she said, and she ran out, laughing.

Margot had warmed up at home, in a fashion, but began now in earnest. When Lena returned she was sweating and breathing heavily.

‘Keep going or you’ll get a chill.’ Ten minutes later she shouted, ‘Slow it down… Right down, and… Stop! Grab your towel and come over here, I have something to show you,’ she said, waving a brown folder in the air.

Margot rubbed the perspiration from her face and arms and put the towel round her neck. ‘Oh my God,’ she said, reading the name on the front. ‘Is that what I think it is?’

‘Yes. It’s a list of what Richard wants to see tomorrow, so have a drink of water,’ she said, handing Margot a glass, ‘and let’s get down to it. You obviously know your positions – first to fifth?’ Margot nodded. ‘Show me.’ Margot returned to the bar and did as directed. ‘Good!’ Lena shouted. ‘Now show me your demi-pliés.’ When Margot had finished Lena said, ‘Lovely.’

Margot rolled her shoulders and stretched her arms. ‘Show me what you can do with your arms. Reach out into a broad sweep. Further,’ Lena shouted. ‘Further still.’ Margot thought the muscles in the tops of her arms would burst into flames they felt so hot and strained. ‘That’s lovely. Now bring them into your body… Sweeping, brushing the air. Head down and-- lift it! That’s lovely. Straight back. Head high. Tummy in. Watch your eye line and sweep out again. Bend your knees and follow your hand. Look at it, look at it. Keep looking. Look along your arm all the way to your fingertips. And… bring your hand back, slowly. Slowly… that’s it. Perfect.’

‘You’ve worked hard,’ Lena said when they stopped for a break. ‘You’re better than the understudies, which I expected you to be.’ Margot smiled and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. ‘Which doesn’t mean you can stop work,’ Lena said.

‘Not even to eat?’ Nancy appeared from the wings. ‘Thought you might like something sweet, give you some energy,’ she said, handing Margot and Lena a jam doughnut each.

Delighted to see Nancy, Margot took the doughnut. ‘Should I?’

‘Of course,’ Lena said, taking a bite out of hers and letting the jam drip down her chin. ‘And tea!’ she said, spotting three cups. ‘I’m dying for a cuppa.’

Nancy held out the tray. ‘Yours is nearest to you, Margot. I put a couple of sugars in it. I know you don’t take sugar, but you have the rest of the afternoon to dance it off.’

‘We won’t ask where you got the sugar,’ Lena said.

‘That’s good, because then I won’t have to lie,’ Nancy said, and they all laughed.

The afternoon went quickly. The routines weren’t as difficult as they had been earlier, which was good because halfway through Margot’s calf muscles hurt so much she wondered if she would be able to walk in the morning, never mind dance.

That night, after a hot meal and a long soak in a Radox bath – both courtesy of Bill – Margot fell into bed and slept like a baby. When she woke the following morning she ached all over and had blisters the size of sixpences on her heels and toes. Only slightly concerned about the pain, she took a couple of aspirin. They didn’t help, but Margot knew that if she got the chance to audition for Kat’s roles, Dr Theatre would kick in and she’d perform through the pain.

Natalie was sitting at the piano on stage when Margot slipped backstage to watch the auditions. The director, Richard Smiley, and choreographer – now friend – Lena Di Angelo were in the stalls. The first and second dancers to perform were no competition to Margot or the understudies and were told to stop before they’d completed the director’s list. The third and fourth were the understudies – both familiar with Kat’s roles. Margot watched from the wings. The dark one was as tall as Kat, but to Margot’s delight she was nowhere near as good a dancer. The second, a pretty fair girl, had a sweet voice and could dance beautifully, but she lacked Kat’s physical presence and vocal range. But, Margot thought, she’d be perfect to take over from me.

‘We’ll let you know,’ she heard Richard Smiley say to the second understudy. And as she left the stage he shouted, ‘Next?’

Margot strained her ears, hoping to hear his reply to Lena’s suggestion that she could play Kat’s roles. ‘Margot’s in this morning, Richard. I said I was sure you’d audition her. I mean, there’s no reason why you won’t, is there?’

‘No. No reason.’ Margot wrinkled her nose. He didn’t sound very enthusiastic. She heard a seat go up with a slam. ‘Will someone get Margot Dudley?’

‘I’m here.’ Running onto the stage, Margot put her hand up to shade the glare from the stage lights, and looked into the auditorium.

‘Waiting in the wings again, Margot?’ She ignored the sarcasm. ‘Do you know the routines?’

Margot couldn’t see Lena’s face and wasn’t sure whether she should admit to having seen them.

‘I have a spare set,’ Natalie said, handing Margot a list of the dance moves and a song sheet.

‘You know Kat’s work, so when you’re ready.’ He sounded irritated, impatient. Margot didn’t delay. She looked at Natalie and took a breath. Natalie winked and began to play. She wasn’t going to let Richard Smiley intimidate her, nor was she