Page 19 of The Songbird of Wychwood

Brimming with excitement that I couldn’t share with anyone except Eloise, I rushed back to my dressing room. I shut myself in and locked the door. My head was swimming like I was drunk. I need to shave for my next act. Dixie was a cowgirl character who sang about her cowboy shooting blanks. I shrugged my braces off my shoulders and pulled off my white vest, then stepped out of the regimental navy trousers, folded them and put them on the hanger with the rest of Captain Rimmer’s costume. I stepped into a pair of long-Johns and cowboy boots.

Eloise knocked just after I’d soaped up my jaw. I put the soap brush down and unlocked the door.

“Don’t you look a sight for sore eyes,” she laughed at my get-up.

“How’d it go?”

“They was throwing money on stage again tonight, some buggers hit me with a sovereign!” Her head dress was off and the cap was filled with coins.

“Payday for the boys is pay day for the girl!” I chuckled. Then I went back to the sink, picked up my cut throat razor, and taking a breath to calm my excitement, I slowly drew it up my cheek, against the grain to get a good close shave. I had to concentrate and do this right, so I didn’t say anything to Eloise and she knew not to talk to me when I was shaving. I saw in the mirror how she poured the contents of her cap onto the chaise and began to count the coins. I made swift work of shaving, and then rubbed the remaining soap off my face with a towel.

“How much is it then?” I asked, turning to face her.

“Two pounds, three shillings and sixpence.”

“Bloody ‘ell girl! You’ll be dining out with all the la-de-dahs on that!” I joked.

“Oh no. I ain’t spending this! I’m going to America as soon as I’ve saved enough.” Eloise had been talking about going to America for the five years I’d known her. And as far as I knew she’d never even looked up the cost of passage on a ship to New York! I suppose it was nice to dream.

“So, why are you grinning like the cat that got the cream?” Eloise asked.

I grabbed the folded note from the dressing table and sat beside her on the chaise.

“He’s here,” I said, trying to control the bubble of excitement in my chest.

“Who’s here?”

“The gentleman…the one I waltzed with!”

“Oh… OHHH. How did he find you?”

“I dunno, Doris was asked to give this note to me. She pointed him out in the auditorium. It’s definitely him.”

“Well, what does it say?” Eloise sounded as excited as I was. I gave her the note, she read it and her eyes grew wide.

“Oh, my heart! This is the most romantic thing I’ve ever read.” I snatched it back and supposed I would prize it forever.

“Isn’t it.”

“So, are you gonna meet him?”

“Is rain wet? Course I am. But Dixie’s closing the show. I’ve got to get ready.” I looked up to the clock on the wall. “I’m back on in twenty minutes. Help me into my dress, will ya?”

****