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

a good Pirate King, when in fact he could play any role. This, I thought to myself, was a true professional. I momentarily relapsed into imposter syndrome, and then reminded myself that I was the girl with the lanyard. My presence was requested at this thing—even if that meant they were temporarily insane in bestowing me the honor.

We were in a sweeping, glorious tent situated on the back lawn of the house. A baby grand piano sat on a rented stage, and we rehearsed while the event coordinators made quality checks on the round banquet tables. Colored lights lined the draped tent walls and trellis held the stage lighting in place. Georgia played the accompanying score until Fitz arrived. She was an astounding pianist. She apologized a few times when she missed a note or two, but I didn’t even notice. She explained she wasn’t used to accompanying singers. She was a concert soloist, trained at Juilliard, and far surpassed the piano teacher of her youth. Fitz was the first to admit it. Of course, when you get to that level of excellence, the difference between magnificent and outstanding is a difference with blurred lines. Especially for the untrained ear.

Fitz was all hugs and air kisses. It was good to see him. When he saw my stained dress, he said, “Darling, is this what kids are wearing these days?”

I giggled. “Apparently, a teenager with a slushy thought it would be a good look for me.”

I didn’t care my dress was ruined. Once it dried off, the red splotch was hardly noticeable. Still, I couldn’t perform like that. Stella assured me not to worry. I figured she probably had my maiden costume sent over from the theatre.

When evening came and there was no more we could do to perfect our scenes, Stella and Georgia ushered me into the house to get ready. I was given the use of a guest bedroom down the hall from the bathroom I’d used earlier and was encouraged to enjoy a bubble bath. When I saw the Roman tub and jacuzzi jets, I didn’t need much convincing.

It felt sublime to wash off the craziness of the day. Many parts of it would stay with me, but the dust from the carnival, the sticky syrup on my skin, and my rattling nerves could just melt away with the body soap, thank you very much.

When I emerged from the bath wearing the provided terry cloth robe and slippers, four people were waiting for me in my room. Stella, half ready with a fresh face of makeup and curlers in her hair, Georgia, looking very much the same as earlier, and two other women introduced to me as Julie the makeup artist, and Sierra who would be doing my hair.

Makeup and hair! Wow. We didn’t even get that kind of treatment at the theatre.

Julie and Sierra turned out to be two of the funniest ladies ever. Any sentence one would begin, the other would finish, and usually, it was more of a punchline than anything else. Then they’d giggle and do a little shimmy while they set about their work. They were hilarious. At one point, Julie had to force a frown on her face to stop me from laughing just so she could apply my lip stain.

“It’s color-stay,” she said. “For all the kissing.”

Then she and Sierra burst in peals of laughter and didn't come down from it the rest of the evening.

They did a fabulous job. I never really liked having my makeup done by other people. In my opinion, professional was a term loosely given to the mall employees whom I’d previously entrusted. This was a whole other ballgame.

“It helps to have a beautiful face to work on,” said Julie, deflecting the compliment I paid her.

By this time, Georgia was growing impatient. She jumped off the bed where she had been tapping away at her phone and said, “So, are you ready for your dress yet?”

Ah yes, my Pirates of Penzance costume. I looked around the room. Where was it?

“Sure,” I said. “Did Ari bring the costume yet?”

“Costume?” Her brows shot up. “Why would you be wearing a costume?”

“Um… for the show?”

She and Stella shared a laugh. What was so funny? Was I supposed to wear my stained dress? That poor scrap of cloth was currently in the bathroom sink. Stella stood behind me, fixed her eyes on my reflection, and smiled warmly.

“You can call it a costume if you like,” she said with a wink. “But you should probably try it on before you decide.”

She grinned with a twinkle that hinted she had a special kind of secret—a secret Georgia was evidently in on because she wore the same grin as Stella and skipped to the closet, emerging with a magnificent gold gown in her arms. She could hardly contain her excitement when she brought it to me. Fluffy socks covered her feet as they danced on the floor. She looked like a little girl who had to pee really bad, except I knew the bouncing she was doing had nothing to do with the state of her bladder. It was cute, how thrilled she was to see my reaction. I was sure not to disappoint her. My eyes went wide, and I couldn’t speak for a full minute while they swept over the golden offering. The dress was breathtakingly elegant.

It was made from a light chiffon, the torso a ruched V-neck with gathered straps and a tulle, floor-length skirt draping from a high waist. The entire dress was covered in golden lace appliqués. On closer inspection, I noticed a sprinkling of Swarovski crystals and a small tag on the interior by Ivonne D Mon Cheri. In other words, that dress didn’t come from Target.

“Well…” chirped Georgia. “What do you think?”

“It’s gorgeous.” I didn’t have a more creative reaction than that. I was too busy being tongue tied. “Are you sure you want to let me borrow this? I’m good at bumping into people with