The House of Eve (20)
“How is this?” William turned to her.
Eleanor looked up at the wide stage. She could almost touch it. She had never sat so close to a performance. In fact, she’d hardly been to any performances at all, outside of the Christmas shows in her church’s basement back home.
“It’s perfect,” she said with a smile. It really was.
Once they were comfortable with soft drinks, the heavy velvet curtains rolled back, and a man dressed in a black suit wearing a top hat crossed the stage. He entertained the audience with his impressions of movie stars and politicians. Once he had the crowd fired up, he paused from his antics and introduced the main event.
“All the way from Newark, New Jersey. She’s been called Sassy, the Divine One, one of the greatest voices in the business, I give you Miss Sarah Vaughan.”
The crowd burst into applause. Eleanor could not believe her eyes as Sarah Vaughan pranced across the stage in a gold, beaded, slim-fitted dress that dazzled under the lights. Then Sarah put her mouth to the microphone, declaring in a tiny voice, “I must apologize in advance. This morning I came down with a cold. So, we will just see what happens.” She shrugged her shoulders and smiled. Then out of her mouth came a voice so voluptuous, it embraced Eleanor with every leap and swoop. Vaughan sang every song that Eleanor had heard over the radio, and then a few more. It wasn’t until she took her final bow and disappeared behind the curtains that Eleanor felt like she could breathe again.
“That was magnificent.” She turned to William, touching her hand to her chest. “The best I’ve ever seen. Thank you.”
His eyes glistened. “It’s my pleasure. You seem as big a fan as I am.”
William reached for Eleanor’s hand to help her from her seat, and she felt warmed by his touch. They poured out of the theater toward the exit sign. Some patrons turned right for the front door, but William guided Eleanor left, and then down another set of stairs that led to a ballroom. A five-piece band was onstage playing a familiar tune.
“Care to dance, baby?”
Eleanor nodded, liking the way baby sounded on his lips. They walked to the center of the room, stopping under a twinkling silver ball. When he reached for her, their bodies collided with a familiarity that both delighted and surprised her. William moved like a man who was comfortable in his skin, and Eleanor swung her hips to match his tempo. Then the music slowed to a soft whine, and William stepped even closer. With her right hand in his, he pulled her to his chest. Eleanor could feel his heart racing against the swell of her breasts, and when she relaxed her forehead against his cheek, she had never felt so complete.
They stayed like that. Her hand tucked inside his, hips sighing against each other’s, until the world went still. Eleanor didn’t even hear the music, only the sound of William’s ragged breath against her ear. When she finally opened her eyes, and caught the clock over his shoulder, the silent spell was broken.
“I need to go. Curfew.”
* * *
William raced down U Street, and they hustled back through the yard.
“I’ll be right out.” Eleanor tossed him her best smile, hoping that he’d be okay with waiting for her.
In the lobby, her dorm matron looked up from her crossword puzzle. “Just in the nick of time.” She tapped her watch.
“May I have a few extra minutes to thank my gentleman caller?”
“Don’t stay too long and appear desperate for his attention.” Her voice was stern.
Outside, William leaned against the metal railing with his hat in his hand. He was so breathtaking in his suit and overcoat that Eleanor could hardly stand to look at him full on.
“My dorm matron runs things like a martinet. That woman is way too serious.” She met him at the bottom of the stairs. “I bet they don’t even pay her well.”
William laughed at her joke. “Well, I’m glad I got the princess back to the castle on time.”
“If only my dorm matron was as sweet as a real queen.” Eleanor batted her eyes and then remembered. “You must want your handkerchief back. I can run and—”
“I’ll get it next time.” William’s eyes locked with hers and blood rushed to her temples. He wanted there to be a next time.
“You up for that?”
“Only if you promise to watch the clock. Otherwise, I’ll be expelled from the kingdom, and we can’t have that.” She giggled, loving the way his face honeyed into a smile.
“Tomorrow then?”
Eleanor bit her bottom lip, for she wanted to say yes, but she was starting her new job at the department store.
“I work a full shift at Ware’s,” she explained.
“So, I can pick you up from work then?”
“Really?”
“After standing on your feet all day, I can’t have you out there waiting on a bus, baby,” he said smiling, and she noticed a dimple on his left cheek.
“Well.” Eleanor gazed up at him. “Until then.”
William leaned his face toward hers, kissing her cheek. His lips marked her skin. What she wouldn’t have given for the nerve to grab his chin and kiss him right.
“Good night.”
Eleanor could feel him watching the curve of her behind as she walked up the stairs, and after months of staring at his back in the library, it made her giddy that it was his turn to take in her backside. When she reached her room, she slid open her top drawer for his handkerchief. It still smelled faintly of bergamot, and she draped it across her pillow.