Caught in the act by a rival?
Irene pulled her Odeergin outfit from the laundry bag and hung it in its usual place on the rack, stowing the headgear in one of the cloak’s roomy pockets. She shifted the other clothes so the cloak was mostly hidden behind their folds.
She turned from the task. Valentina stood right behind her, her eyes narrowed.
“Sweet prophets! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” Irene grabbed the clothing rack for support, her knees turning to jelly at the surprise.
“Oh, it’s you. I wondered who was lurking back here.” Valentina’s gaze shifted momentarily to the clothes where Irene had hung the cloak. “Giving up on singing? Tired of coming in second to me, so you’ll become a laundress?”
“I was helping Mrs. Hoffman. Nice people do that, you know. What are you doing here so early?”
Valentina waved her hand as if shooing off a fly and turned away. “Fausto and I wish to change some of the blocking in the third scene of the second act. He keeps stepping on my dress. Come out when you finish playing in the clothes; see how professionals work.”
Irene scowled but remained silent as Valentina swayed off toward the stage. Her heart was still pounding, her gut ice-cold.
Had Valentina seen her hiding the Odeergin disguise? How long had she stood behind Irene?
Releasing June 23.
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