As Eve watched the rehearsal of one of the scenes that didn't involve her, she had to admit that the performance of "The Innkeeper of Abbeville" next Saturday was turning out better than she had expected. The play called for a few extra actors and she been able to persuade a couple of friends who were performing in Helena to come up and help. Miss Bowen had even gotten a couple of townsfolk to play minor roles.
Ben had told her that most of the tickets had been sold in advance. He was confident that the few tickets left would be gone by Friday at the latest. It seemed like performances like this would bring out the well healed part of town. Even though their usual shows weren't exactly what you call intellectual, they were entertaining for the general population and she didn't mind that all. However, putting the time and effort in something like this once a month would bring in more money. In fact, Ben had said as much the other day as he contemplated on how the slightly higher ticket they were charging for this performance (under the guise of it being for charity, which helped a lot) was not a hinderance to those who wanted to see more highbrow entertainment.
When the scene had finished, Eve declared to those present that it was time for a fifteen-minute break. It was almost four o'clock and they had been rehearsing for most of the afternoon and would do so till about seven. As she picked up the script to go over her notes, she could see Katherine Bowen making her way into the theatre from the lobby. She could also see Ben making a beeline for the school teacher, which caused her to frown a little. In the last week or so, Ben had been spending a lot of time talking to the teacher...or at least trying to. Some days she was reciprocal and some days she wasn't. It looked today she was and this caused Eve to frown even more but not out of jealousy but out of genuine concern. Ben was a handsome and nice, but he was also a rake, which was not a good recipe for someone in Katherine Bowen's position.
Their association for the moment would be seen as tolerable in the eyes of so-called decent society, since they were working on a charitable cause. However, after Saturday night it would be a different story. Eve hoped that both Ben and Katherine would both have the sense to not to pursue their acquaintance any further.
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Little Miss Mudd had been remarkably well-behaved since the beginning of this production. Perhaps it was the presence of the professionals from out of town or even the local amateur volunteers in their ranks, but the diminutive mischief-maker had transformed herself overnight into the most professionally behaved member of the troupe: airily reproving Mr Darling for fluffing a line and telling off Mr Astin for turning up for rehearsal with a hangover.
When Evie called a break, the blue eyes of the Virginian girl followed those of her boss.
She came over and held up a large, gold, cardboard prop coin from the production.
"A penny for your thoughts?" she asked and looked over pointedly at the ill-suited couple.
"Not jealous, I hope?" she asked, not in her usual bantering style, but rather softly because... and it was not something that was too apparent to the casual observer... she really was fond of the older actress.
"Not, no jealous...just concerned more than anything else," she replied, which was the truth.
Ben was a friend and Katherine had slowly become one over the last month or so with the preparations for the upcoming performance. As for her own romantic feelings they laid elsewhere. If only he would stop being so serious and cold...no doubt the results of his strict German upbringing. Despite his protests, Eve knew that Kurt had feelings for her and all she had to do was work out a way to break down his icy front.
Looking at Arabella, she smiled warmly, "Now, I know you have a habit of wanting to help others but I think you should stay away from getting involved with those two. Hopefully, this is only one of those things that happens when people work closely with each. Once the performance is over and everything goes back to normal, that should be the end of it."
She was sounding a bit optimistic but it was all she could do for now.
@ [Javia
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
"No, not jealous...just concerned more than anything else," she replied, which was the truth.
"Concerned?" Arabella wondered who for, Mr. Simons or Miss Bowen... or both. "Do you want me to go over and try and break the up? Maybe I could woo Mr Simons away from Miss Bowen with my irresistible charm?" she offered. Not that Evie couldn't have done that herself - and much more effectively.
Looking at Arabella, she smiled warmly, "Now, I know you have a habit of wanting to help others but I think you should stay away from getting involved with those two. Hopefully, this is only one of those things that happens when people work closely with each. Once the performance is over and everything goes back to normal, that should be the end of it."
"So you definitely think something is 'happening', then?" asked Arabella. "Hmmm. I suppose that is bad. Like when actresses like us get involved with respectable men, and then on the wedding day, you're walking up the aisle and some hideous old relative stands up in the church, waving an old theatre program and shouts 'Did you know your fiancé wore tights!'" she grinned at the drama of the scene she'd painted in her head "And then you'd have to run away down the aisle with your face in your hands and put that white dress away in your closet forever!" she finished dramatically, having no idea, of course, that the scenario could apply to Eve and Mr Albrecht at the hotel where they all lodged.
Eve ignored the last statement Arabella had made because she wasn't really sure how Kurt's family would react to him marrying an actress. Maybe that was one of the reasons why he was so reluctant in establishing anything other than a formal relationship. She knew Kurt was attracted to her, but he always retreated whenever things were getting more interesting between them.
"Yes, I think something is happening," Eve said solemnly, "and as I said, this is probably one of those things that happens when two people work closely together. I'm hoping that at least Ben will have the good sense not to pursue this any further. For now, I think we should wait until after the performance and if it continues, then I will have to remind Ben about the consequences and how delicate Katherine's position is in this town. Unfortunately, schoolteachers have to be very scrupulous."
She sighed, "It's a shame that they are both from different sides of town."
@ [Javia
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
"Yes, I think something is happening," Eve said solemnly, "and as I said, this is probably one of those things that happens when two people work closely together. I'm hoping that at least Ben will have the good sense not to pursue this any further."
Arabella gave Miss Hardy a sideways glance. Love, or lust, and 'good sense' hardy ever went together. Also, Evie and and Mr Simons also worked closely together, maybe there was more to this than met the eye.
"... For now, I think we should wait until after the performance and if it continues, then I will have to remind Ben about the consequences and how delicate Katherine's position is in this town. Unfortunately, schoolteachers have to be very scrupulous."
"You're telling me! Remember the telling off she gave me about my 'wanton' behaviour? Scrupulous is the word. I thought it was just because she's a big prude, but I guess you're right, schoolmarms and preachers have to be 'whiter than white'. Pity, if being together would make them happy" Arabella agreed.
She sighed, "It's a shame that they are both from different sides of town."
"It'd also be a shame if someone caught them in the school stock cupboard with their pants down" the prurient minded Miss Mudd added "But, well, they're both grown ups, is it really your place to interfere? And... I got to ask this Miss Hardy... are you sure you're not just a little bit jealous of Miss Bowen?!"