Free Dancing On Air by Nicole Hurley-Moore

only for the briefest moment. I don’t think anyone would have noticed,’ Lisette said. She put her hand to her cheek and felt the heat.
    ‘I heard you got a standing ovation,’ John the stagehand said.
    ‘That was only from one gentleman,’ Lisette said.
    Alice gave her a wink. ‘Yes, the same gentleman that threw down that pink rose at your feet.’
    Sally looked at her. ‘Would that be the same gentleman we ran into at Hearth Fire?’
    Lisette shrugged and hoped that Sally would drop the whole conversation. ‘I really don’t know what you mean.’
    ‘Lisette, was it the same young lord who wanted to see you last night? The one who was sniffing around a couple of weeks ago?’ Tommy asked.
    Lisette groaned inwardly. She wanted to make light of the whole conversation but it was apparent that it had already gone too far. As she scanned the room, which seemed too full of curious faces, her eyes met Tinder’s. She could not be sure but he wore an expression that was a mixture of annoyance and surprise.
    ‘It’s nothing... Really. Nothing has happened... Nothing has been said. He gave me a rose and that is all there is,’ she said. ‘Now, if you will all excuse me, I must change. Aunt Marie will be waiting for me and you all know that she doesn’t like to be kept waiting.’
    ‘Yes, yes of course,’ Tinder said as he gestured to the others to leave. ‘We cannot keep Madame Devoré waiting. And once again Lisette, congratulations.’
    ‘Thank you, Mr Michaels,’ Lisette said with a slight smile.
    Sally hung back and waited for the others to file through the doorway.
    ‘Would you like to explain?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Come on Lisette, I’m your friend,’ Sally said.
    Lisette sighed and looked up, she saw Sally reflected in the mirror. ‘Whatever it may be, I want it kept quiet; a secret. I don’t want to be the fodder of gossip and the last thing I need is for Aunt Marie to catch hold of it.’
    ‘But you still haven’t told me what “it” is?’
    ‘Very well. Yes, the gentleman who threw the rose is the same man we saw at the Hearth Fire.’
    ‘Ah,’ Sally replied and her voice sounded as if it held the wisdom of the Sage.
    ‘I have not decided what to do about him, so can we please talk about something else?’
    ‘No, this is the most interesting thing that has ever happened to us,’ Sally said as she looked back at Lisette’s reflection.
    ‘Us?’
    ‘Why of course. Just think, Lisette... If you are courted and married to a lord you could escape your aunt forever. And then, of course, as you will be mixing with the upper echelons of society, you will be able to introduce me to a rich man who is fascinated with ballerinas with red hair.’ Sally ran her hands over her hair and patted her bun in place. Then she gave her friend a wink. ‘See, you are honour-bound to marry your gentleman and provide me with a nice, rich husband.’
    Lisette laughed. ‘I think you have danced too many fairy tales. Young lords do not marry impoverished ballerinas...no matter what their hair colour.’
    ‘Oh pish, why not?’
    ‘Because life never works out that way. Besides, as I said, I haven’t decided if I am even going to see him again. I do have an obligation to Aunt Marie. One that I can never forget about.’
    Sally pulled out the nearest chair and sat down with a bump. ‘Oh please, don’t you mean she will never allow you to forget it? What will you do, Lisette? Allow her to dictate your life forever? Perhaps this gentleman is not the one for you, but do not cut yourself off and hide forever in the dusty theatre.’
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘Because one cold morning you will wake up and discover that you have nothing. You will be as icy and brittle as Madame Devoré...and that, dear friend, would be a travesty.’
    ‘I will never become my aunt.’
    ‘Good, then you can start by meeting this man,’ Sally said.
    ‘It will complicate things.’
    ‘Well, if life flowed smoothly from beginning to end, it