Backstage Romance: An Austen-Inspired Romantic Comedy Box Set by Gigi Blume (ebook reader with highlighter txt) 📕

“Beth.” Colin took my hand in his, so we were standing in a lopsided circle. I would have protested had he begun to dance the Horah. “I hope there are no hard feelings between us. I actually want to thank you because…”

He let go of my hand to rest his palm on Charlotte’s and gazed in her eyes with a sappy expression. “…Charlotte has made me the happiest of men.”

I didn't know how much of their sugary sweet exchanges I could handle, but I didn’t know anyone else at the ball, unless you counted Will, which I preferred not to. I’d put on a smile, support my friend, and make it home before the ball dropped. Technically, the ball had already dropped on the East Coast. Happy New Year! My idea of the perfect New Year’s celebration included cozy pajamas, pizza, and Netflix.

I plastered on a thrilled expression which contained too many teeth and respectfully slunk out of Charlotte’s vice grip. I think she was a little nervous around all the industry big wigs and supermodels.

“No hard feelings here,” I said. “I’m happy for you both.”

“Excellent,” he said with a huge smile. “Because I want to introduce you to the great Catherine de Bourgh, founder of Rosings Institute and international ballet legend.”

With an introduction like that, no wonder the pressure was on for Charlotte. She’d met her briefly once before and told me the woman was a force to be reckoned with. I get that she wanted to make a good impression on her boyfriend’s boss, but if the woman was so fierce, I didn’t see why she couldn’t just avoid her company. It’s not like she was a dancer or anything.

Colin led the way through the serpentine path beyond the crowded ballroom, down a paved walkway and into an elaborate private room. There was a password to enter, like a speakeasy. It was kind of cool. Catherine de Bourgh sat on a wingback chair with her hands folded on her lap. Lots of people mulled about, drinking and conversing in small groups, but there were a few fortunate (or unfortunate however way you look at it) people sitting in her circle holding court. When we approached her, I had to fight the urge to bow or curtsy.

“And who is this you have here, Mr. Hunsford?” she said with a regal air.

Colin removed his hat and introduced me, half prideful, and half groveling. “May I introduce a member of my company at the Gardiner, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

He crowned the introduction with a flourish of his arm. His hat, a pink beacon in my direction. I smiled, not entirely sure of the correct protocol. After all, she was an international ballet legend. She narrowed her wrinkled eyes on me and puckered her lips into a frown.

“Well?” she said after a short pause. “Do you talk?”

“What?” I was caught off guard by her sour disposition. Of course I could talk.

She rolled her eyes. “I’ll forgive your unintentional incivility. You must be quite overcome by the grandeur of Rosings.”

“She is,” exclaimed Colin. “Quite overcome.”

“I wasn’t speaking to you, Mr. Hunsford. You must let the lady answer for herself.”

Alrighty then.

Now I had an idea why Charlotte clung so tightly to me earlier.

“Mr. Hunsford gets a little ahead of himself sometimes.” Catherine shook her head. “But I’m sure you already knew that.”

“Yes,” I said with a nod. “I mean, yes to your earlier question. This place is ginormous.”

She glanced over me in open assessment, starting from my not so fancy footwear to the top of my hastily coiffed up-do. She shrugged her brows in a she’ll do sort of expression.

“You may sit.” She nodded in the direction of three recently vacant chairs. Colin and Charlotte swiftly took her up on the invitation, which I followed with more trepidation. I felt like I was on an interview for a job I didn’t want.

“I see you’ve brought the heiress.” Her eyes cast briefly onto Charlotte.

Heiress?

Charlotte shot me don’t you dare glance. What exactly was that about?

“Yes,” said Colin. “My girlfriend Charlotte.”

“Thank you for the invitation.” Charlotte offered a genuine smile to the imposing woman, which won her a glance of approval.

Then the woman’s eyes rested on me. “I hear you’re an actress.”

I laughed under my breath and said, “If you can call it that.”

That little quip earned me another sour frown. “Do you dance?” she questioned.

“Does flossing count?”

Her frown became more pronounced. Apparently, they didn’t consider flossing a serious dance move at Rosings.

“I’m more of a singer that moves well,” I amended.

“She's being modest,” said Charlotte. “She’s actually a triple threat.”

I was sure Charlotte was biased when it came to my talent. Plus, she was about as proficient a judge of theatre as I was of impressionism. I knew Monet was good, but I couldn’t tell you why.

Catherine de Bourgh disregarded Charlotte entirely and plowed through my interrogation.

“If you practiced more, you’d improve. My granddaughter Anne was such a frail little thing, but she grew stronger the more she practiced. You’d hardly recognize her if you knew her before she took classes.”

Colin interjected, “Anne is one of the principal dancers in the company. She was Clara in the Nutcracker.”

“You must be so proud,” I said with sincerity.

“I am,” she beamed. “But there’s always room for improvement. That’s why I invite friends of Colin to use my small barre room to practice. If you’d like to take advantage of my offer, I’m sure you won’t be in the way.”

“Um, thank you?”

“I would be able to find your deficiencies right away. There are very few people with my eye for talent. And if I had taken up singing as well as dancing, I would have excelled at it.”

“I only wish I would have started dancing earlier,” I admitted.

“How old are you?”

“Old enough to know what to do with my young face.”

It amused me to find the astonishment on her face at not receiving a direct answer. Also, I loved quoting Gene Kelly movies whenever opportunity