Dancing On Air Read Online Free PDF

milling about. One man with an elaborate and oversized bouquet sneered at Evander and the single rose he was holding.
    ‘Miss Florentia won’t look at that twice,’ he said.
    Evander was about to respond when the door was thrown open and revealed the stunning Florentia. She was small with a heart-shaped face. Her dark hair was arranged in long, loose curls that framed her face and gave her a more youthful glow. She was delicate and yet there was a vivaciousness about her. She paused on the highest step and let the men push a little closer. With a smile fixed on her face, she addressed the group.
    ‘Why thank you, gentlemen. It is so lovely to see you all. I do hope you all enjoyed tonight’s performance.’ Gracefully she descended the small flight of steps. Two large men flanked her on either side. They allowed the men to present their bouquets but made sure they kept their distance.
    ‘Miss Florentia, please accept this as a token of my love.’
    ‘Miss Florentia, I die at your feet!’
    ‘Miss Florentia... A moment I beg you.’
    Florentia thanked each man for the flowers, but she did not stop. All too soon she was stepping into her carriage and waving to her suitors as if she was a queen. Her two men made sure that the carriage wasn’t swamped and that the horses were not impaired. She blew one last kiss to her fans before the carriage raced down the darkened alley.
    Evander walked up the stairs and through the door.
    ‘Hey, you can’t come in here!’ said the old man sitting behind a small desk. ‘You have missed Miss Florentia. Maybe you should try another night.’
    Evander turned and faced the elderly man. ‘I have not come to see Miss Florentia.’
    ‘Really?’ the old man eyed him with renewed interest. ‘Then just tell me, who have you come to see?’
    ‘Miss Lisette.’
    ‘Lisette!’ Slowly he stood up; it appeared to be a struggle as his arthritic bones rebelled against the movement. ‘Come then, young man. Let us see if we can find her. Now, not a word to any you may meet, let me do the talking.’
    ‘Very well, sir — I follow your lead,’ Evander said as he gave a slight bow. ‘You know Lisette?’
    ‘Since she was a little girl. Now, I seem to recall...’ but his sentence trailed off as a couple appeared in the hallway. He turned and held his finger to his lips and gave Evander a wink. The couple swept past them without a glance, but he waited until they had stepped out into the street before he allowed Evander to move. ‘I hope you took notice of that lady.’
    ‘Yes...but why?’
    ‘She’s Lisette’s aunt and guardian. Madame Devoré is the ballet mistress of the Imperial. She is a formidable woman and would not want you hanging about little Lisette,’ he said as he hobbled down one hall and then abruptly turned down another.
    ‘She objects to Lisette having admirers?’
    ‘Well, I don’t know. It’s never happened before. But I do know that she drives that girl almost to exhaustion. Madame Devoré trains Lisette to be a prima ballerina. And I would imagine that she wouldn’t want her head filled up with romantic notions.’
    ‘Then why would you take me to her?’ They turned another corner and Evander was beginning to wonder how long it would take him to find his way out.
    ‘Because, of everyone in this forsaken theatre, Lisette needs happiness.’ He stopped and rapped hard upon the nearest door. When he received no answer he turned the handle and opened the door. ‘It appears we are too late. Look, the chorus room is empty.’
    ‘So she has already left?’
    The old man shrugged. ‘I did not see her leave...but...’
    ‘Will you tell me where she lives?’
    ‘No, I will not. Maybe Lisette will not wish to see you.’ He pulled the door shut. ‘Perhaps you will have better luck another night, my young friend.’
    ‘Tommy, is everything all right?’
    Evander looked up and saw Lisette standing there. She was dressed in the same thin, grey dress and shawl as he