Nights Like This

Chapter 24

The first dress rehearsal was the second week of November. Metty wore her plain day dress. She had one scene at the Bennet house, with Mrs. Lucas and the Bennet women. Then she changed for the ball scene. She wore the dowdy grey grown, frumpy compared to the other girls. The Lucas girls were all in plain gowns and shawls with simple hairdos. In the ball scene, she had the first dance with Bingley, played by Ralph Orton, a senior majoring in drama.

Wilson said, "OK. Let's rehearse the ball dances. Remember, most of you will be background while Elizabeth and Darcy talk." The cast moved to their marks upstage while Elizabeth and Darcy and their group met in the front.

After the rehearsal, Metty changed in a room with several other girls. She handed her gown to Tonya and hurried into her street clothes. Lois, the girl playing Kitty, changed next to her, talking with Agatha.

"Is it true you're going to the Winter Dance with Marco," Lois asked Agatha, enviously.

Agatha nodded. "He asked me yesterday. Of course, I said yes."

"I don't blame you. He's handsome, rich, a prince."

Lowering her eyes modestly, Agatha said smugly, "It's just a date."

"It could be the beginning of something wonderful. His friend, Alexei, asked me."

Metty put her shoes on and placed Charlotte's shoes in a marked box, but she found herself listening. Alexei was so easy to be with. She took her jacket off the hanger.

"Yeah, he's a good guy."

"I told him no. Jessica turned him down, too. I heard her."

"Why? He's a nice guy. He's Marco's cousin."

Lois's eyes widened. She gasped. "I had no idea. I wish I'd known. I thought he was just some sort of companion type of friend. I didn't know he was a prince, too."

"He's not a prince." Agatha shrugged. "His mother is Princess Sancha, Prince Sebastian's daughter. His father is a baron, so he's going to be a baron. I think his father's family is quite rich."

"I'll flirt with him next rehearsal. Tell him I wished I'd said yes," said Lois.

*

The next rehearsal included the final scene of the weddings of Jane and Elizabeth to Bingley and Darcy, requiring most of the cast.

Metty changed in the women's dressing room. Charlotte, now married to the well-off Mr. Collins, would wear her fine green dress.

Tonya fixed Metty's hair in curls that suited her oval face remarkably well. Metty put the green dress on. Tonya zipped up the back. "Zippers aren't 1810," Tonya said, "but all those buttons had to go. Your hair looks great. You should consider cutting it more like that."

Metty nodded. She picked up the hat and set it on her head. She tried to fasten the green ribbons, but the bow sagged.

"Let me." Tonya fluffed the lace trim, settled the hat precisely on Metty, and retied the ribbons. She stood back, rearranged a few of Metty's curls and nodded, satisfied. "Memo was right about this color being good for you. You look great. You might steal the show from Jessica and Madison. Put on the pelisse."

"Nobody steals my show," said Madison. She looked Metty up and down, scowling. "Those ruffles make you look fat."

"We should all look so fat," said Agatha, as she adjusted the bonnet. "Ignore her, Metty. That looks good on you."

Metty smiled at her. "Thanks." She looked at Madison. "If this dress makes me look fat, you don't have anything to worry about, you stick insect."

"Don't complain about your costumes. I'll report you to Dr. Wilson," said Memo. "Madison, he's not happy about the way you carry on and on about your clothes. He warned you once already he would replace you with the understudy."

Madison turned her back and examined her truly beautiful wedding gown in the mirror. Memo outdid himself with this one. She was satisfied. She changed quickly and left, walking past the others and out the door.

Metty put the short cape over her shoulders. She looked at her reflection in the three-way mirror, turning around. She did look good.

"If only I looked this good in today's clothes," she said.

"Pick the right colors, the right style and fit," said Tonya. "Your coloring is good. OK figure."

"I'm large."

"What are you, about a 14?"

Metty nodded. "Mostly. Depends on the cut."

"Yeah, that's not fat nowadays. People will troll anything. So just dress your best."

There was a knock on the door.

"Yeah?" Tonya called.

A stagehand poked his head in. "Wilson's ready. On stage in five minutes."

"Go." Tonya and Martha shooed the girls out.

Metty walked down the hall to the stage. Alexei came out of the men's dressing room just in front of her. He turned to look at her as he walked to the steps for Stage Left. The green dress and bonnet gave her a glow. He was enchanted.

"You look lovely, Metty.

"Thank you."

They reached the steps and Alexei started up. She followed, lifting her skirt so she wouldn't trip on the hem. She stumbled on the second step. Alexei turned and held out his hand. She placed her hand in his. He helped her up the steps and they walked hand-in-hand to the location for their entrance.

Alexei felt as though Metty's hand belonged in his; no other hand ever fit so comfortably. They held hands as they waited for their cue. When it came, Alexei released her hand reluctantly and offered Metty his arm. She slipped her arm around his, settling her hand on his wrist, and smiled at him. They walked onstage together and took their places.

That night Marco and Alexei got back to the Reynolds's late. They went quietly to their bedroom and changed for bed.

"I'm exhausted," said Marco as he got under the covers. Alexei yawned. Marco yawned in sympathy. "You too?"

"I'm going to brush my teeth and go right to sleep. I've got Journalism with Metty tomorrow."

"You like Metty?" Marco, said, teasing.

Alexei smiled slightly, remembering the girl in her green dress. "Very much. Tonight, I began to fall love with her."

Marco bolted upright. "Alexei! Can you be sure so soon?"

Alexei looked at Marco. "Yes. No. This may just be a crush. Rebound from Jessica. I never felt this comfortable with Jessica. So right. If this is like, and not the start of love, I like it."

"Take your time."

"I will. I don't want to hurt her."

"For her sake, as well as yours, and our family, remember you are a Leonardo, lord and gentleman of Almurias."

"As Popi would say," said Alexei, laughing. "As he would do." Alexei threw a pillow at his cousin. "Yes, Marco, I will remember Popi's teachings.