Free Daughter of Deceit by Victoria Holt Page A

first act to one of deep mauve and the one in the last act was to be red.
    “Those colours stand out more. Besides, it will give the show a new look. And it will be good for us all. We’re getting a bit rusty. What do you think? I called on Janet Dare. Poor dear! She’s going out of her wits. She is just longing to be back. If it has anything to do with her, she won’t be off much longer.”
    I thought I should tell my mother that I had met Roderick. Lisa might mention that she had seen him and it would appear strange that I had not talked of it.
    When we were alone I said, trying to appear casual: “By the way, do you remember Roderick Claverham … Charlie’s son? He came here once.”
    “Oh yes, of course. What a nice young man!”
    “I’ve seen him … once or twice. I happened to run into him.”
    “Did you? How interesting.”
    “As a matter of fact, I was with him today. Lisa was with us.”
    “Oh, Lisa … I was just thinking of her … having been with Janet Dare of course. She is so thrilled to have that job in the chorus … and the understudy.”
    “She’s eternally grateful to you. After all, you fixed it for her, didn’t you?”
    “I couldn’t have done anything if she hadn’t had the talent.”
    “She tries to be exactly like you.”
    “She’s thinking of playing Countess Maud, that’s why. God forbid, she might have to one day. My goodness, her nose is going to be put a little out of joint when Janet comes back. The poor child fancies herself as understudy.”
    I was thinking I need not have any qualms about seeing Roderick. My mother was not greatly interested, nor was she in the least perturbed about her relationship with Charlie.
    A few days later Jane came to my room and told me that my mother wanted to see me and would I go to her at once.
    “Is anything wrong, Jane?” I asked.
    “She don’t look too well, Miss Noelle.”
    I hurried to her room, and was immediately filled with alarm. She looked most unlike her usual self.
    “I’ve been so ill,” she said. “It could have been the fish I had last night. But it was immediately after lunch that it started. I feel dizzy as well as sick.”
    “Why don’t you lie down?”
    “I’ve been lying down. What’s so awful is that I don’t think I can go on tonight.”
    “You certainly can’t if you are like you are now. I think I ought to call Dr. Green.”
    “Oh no. That’s not necessary. It’s just something I’ve eaten. It will pass in time. I think you’d better get a message to Dolly, though … just in case it’s necessary … which it may not be … but we must be prepared.”
    “Thomas can go right away,” I said.
    In half an hour Dolly was at the house in a state of great agitation.
    “What’s happened? Eaten something? Oh, Almighty God, what have I done to deserve this?”
    “I should cut out the dramatics, Dolly. It’s not the time for them. If I can’t go on tonight we’ve got to do the obvious … and we ought to be busy with it right away … just in case it’s necessary … which it may not be, but we have to be ready. Lisa will have to take my place.”
    “That amateur!”
    “She’s not an amateur. She’s not bad, actually. You yourself have said so, though it was like getting blood out of a stone to make you admit it.”
    “You talk as though this is of no importance. Let me tell you, it’s a disaster … a calamity. I’ve got to placate all those people who have paid to see Desiree, not some little amateur from the country.”
    “Anyone would think it was the first time you’d had to put in an understudy. It’s nothing. Shut off the histrionics and bring out the common sense. You’ve got to get busy, Dolly. Of course, I might be all right. There are a few hours to go. But at the moment …”
    “Is that girl here?” asked Dolly.
    “Yes,” I told him. “Shall I tell her to come down?”
    “Right away.”
    I went to Lisa’s room. She looked up expectantly.
    “My mother’s not