Digging wealth

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Elizabeth was so furious that she was nearly in tears. How dare he take that woman's part! What was she? A jumped-up servant, nothing more! I don't know what you've said to turn him against me, but I know you for what you are, Elianna O'Donnell! A grasping, scheming, conniving . . . b***h! You're not fit to live in my mother's house, let alone sleep in her bed! Its disgusting, that's what it is! Disgusting!'

'Elizabeth, get out of this house now!' Lewis thun dered.

His voice fell on empty air. Elizabeth was half-way across the hall.

The slamming of the front door rattled all the windows and suddenly Elianna felt sick and dizzy. She clutched the edge of the table.

'Oh, Lewis, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to cause such a rift. Go after her.'

'Sit down, you're ill!' He pushed her gently down into a chair. 'You've nothing to apologize for and I'll be damned if I'm going after her. I should have sent her packing a long time ago. Let her manage on Ernest's salary. I can only apologize for the dreadful things she said."

Her head was clearing. She was angry, Lewis. She

probably didn't mean it." 'Oh, yes she did! But don't let her upset you.' 'I hate to see your hard-earned money frittered away,

Lewis. If I hadn't already promised Ariah we'd go, I'd write and tell Gina we can't make it.' Elianna stood up, managing a wan smile. 'I'm all right now. I'll get Vi to bring in some tea.'

'You'll do no such thing. We both need a drink. When I think of the money I've lavished on her . . . the ungrate ful 'Lewis, please! Everyone was upset I'm sure she'll calm

down in time.'

He held out a glass of brandy and watched her sip it. I'm not going to stand for behaviour like that. You're my wife, Elianna, and I'll not have her calling you names like that. Unless she apologizes - which she won't unless she is really in dire financial straits - she isn't welcome in my house."

Elianna took another sip and the liquid burned her throat. Oh, what a hornet's nest she had stirred up, but at least she'd put a stop to her step-daughter's parasitic habit, although she realized that she had made a serious enemy as a result.

'It's too tight! Can't you do something with it?'

Miss O'Donnell, unless you've put on weight overnight, it can't possibly be tight. You had your final fitting only yesterday. Now turn around and let me check that every thing is just as it should be."

Gina turned to face her dresser. Ellie was an old hand and completely disregarded all complaints and tantrums.

'I can hardly breathe, let alone sing!" You did just fine at rehearsal. It's nerves."

It was nerves, she knew that, but she didn't need to be reminded that in ten minutes she would face the most daunting challenge of her career. The months of learning lines and songs and timing and endless rehearsals were all over and she felt sick.

'All I wanted to be was a singer - a famous singer! I

never wanted to be an actress!' she had shouted at Edward

after the first rehearsal had been a total disaster.

You've known all along that it was a musical play and that you'd have to act as well. I seem to recall you begging me to move heaven and earth to get you the part. Now you've got it and, whether you like it or not, you're going to make a success of it,' he'd answered, coldly. So she had struggled on, despairing of ever being able to acquire the skill to act, and then, suddenly, it had clicked into place. If she imagined that she was Maybelle Leroy, immersed herself in the character, got into Maybelle's skin, as it were, then she found that all her stumbling self-consciousness was easily overcome. But it was the hardest lesson she'd ever had to learn.

Now she stood dressed in the pink and white flowered crinoline, frothing with frills and tightly nipped in at the waist, her own hair covered by a blonde wig styled in elaborate puffs and ringlets, ready for the biggest moment in her life. The thought terrified her.

'You'd best get along. You've got all those stairs to climb up and hitch that skirt up or you'll catch it on something and tear it or fall flat on your face!' Ellie instructed dryly.

'Are you sure I look just right? This wig feels as though it's slipping.'

'When I dress someone, nothing is left to chance! Now go on and mind you don't trip."

The wide skirt was something of a nuisance and Gina found Ellie's advice sound as she made her way along the corridor to the wings. The stage had been transformed to look like the banks of the Mississippi River, complete with the steamboat, the Magnolia Rose, a replica in wood of a paddle steamer. Some of the cast, blacked up as n*****s, were already on stage. She hitched up the cumbersome skirt higher, ready to ascend the concealed staircase that led to the upper deck.

'Gina I wouldn't have recognized you!' 'Oh, Edward! Fancy sneaking up on me like that. What are you doing here, you should be out the front."

'I just wanted to say "Break a Leg!" You certainly look the part.'

'I feel ill!'

He laughed. "That's a good sign. No nerves, no perform ance! You'll be fine and we're all out there rooting for you, to use American parlance, which I think is quite apt in the circumstances.' Edward bent and kissed her on the cheek. 'Go on, you've got a packed house - if you don't make it tonight you never will! I'll have to go or I'll not get to my seat in time."

He watched her go with a mixture of pride and affection. Oh, she was a handful at times, there was no doubt about that.