Page 35 of A Snowfall of Silver

“Yes, that sounds good.”

“What’s tomorrow?” Viola asks. Trust her to notice.

“Freya is finally letting me take her out to dinner.” Russ leans back in his chair, looking pleased with himself.

“How nice,” Viola says drily, at the same time as Alma’s doubtful, “Really?” rings out.

“Don’t fall for it, darling.” Dan leans across the table towards me, a cigarette clasped between his elegant fingers. “You’re the first wardrobe assistant yet to resist his charms. He’s only looking to cross you off his bingo card.”

“Oh, for god’s sake,” Russ splutters indignantly.

“Perhaps,” I say, “I am looking to cross him off mine.”

Dan smiles at that. “In that case, good luck.”

“I think I’ll grab some water,” Kit says abruptly.

“I’ll come to the bar with you.” Viola jumps up, and the two of them walk off together.

“What is going on with those two these days?” Russ asks, leaning forward so that Dan can light a cigarette for him.

“Well.” Dan lights Russ’s cigarette with a flourish. “You didn’t hear it from me, but apparently Viola told Daphne before we left London that she was going to win Kit back over the course of the tour by fair means or foul.”

“I still can’t really believe they were together,” Alma says, her eyes lingering curiously on the two of them.

“Oh, yes, love’s young dream for a while,” Dan says.

“Until she chucked him over for a producer who could do more for her career,” Russ snorts into his glass.

“No!” Alma exclaims.

Russ nods. “David Spelling – he’s pretty small fry, actually, but I think he made her a lot of promises. After things didn’t work out the way Viola hoped she went back to Kit. I think she expected he’d welcome her with open arms.” He pauses. “She was wrong.”

“Oh.” Alma’s mouth softens. “She broke Kit’s heart.”

It has become clear over the last few weeks that Alma has a soft spot for Kit. After Nora spoke about Kit’s appeal I started to notice the way girls look at him. She’s right; there’s more than one girl in the company who’d be happy to step in to Viola’s shoes should she fail in her quest.

I look over at them now, standing at the bar. She’s talking animatedly, her eyes smiling up at him. He laughs. They look good together, I admit.

“Did she?” I ask quietly. “Break Kit’s heart?”

Dan purses his lips. “Not sure,” he admits. “It’s hard to tell with Kit. He doesn’t give much away.”

I feel a sharp pain in my stomach then, at the thought of Kit being hurt.

“And now I hear she’s seeing Marco.” Dan’s eyes narrow thoughtfully. “I wonder why she’s still got an eye on Kit?”

“Perhaps she’s still in love with him,” Alma says.

“Perhaps she likes the challenge.” Russ is far less generous.

“Let’s change the subject,” I say, feeling suddenly uncomfortable. “It’s not good, all this gossip.”

“Darling,” Dan drawls, “if you’re going to work in the theatre, you’re going to have to get used to it. It’s a small world and it absolutely runs on the stuff.”

“Speaking of which,” Russ murmurs, glancing surreptitiously around, “did you hear about a particular leading man and his problems with – shall we say – certain recreational substances?”

“No!” Dan leans forward, delighted. “Do tell.”