Once a Thief

Twenty

A thunderous roar of applause shook the theater as the crowd rose to their feet.

Danielle stood in the spotlight, blinking, trembling as she bowed to the audience.

The curtain went down with a whoosh.

Heart pounding, Danielle forced herself to stand there and smile as the other cast members joined her. The curtain rose again and the applause never diminished as the cast took their bows. Then, the curtain fell once more and Danielle leaned against Rhonda as they exited the stage.

“Honey, you were fantastic,” Rhonda gushed.

Surrounded by the joyful cast, Danielle tried to get her bearings. “It was everyone. You know you all did great,” she protested.

Bosley appeared from somewhere. “Congratulations. Great job. All of you.”

Somehow, with Rhonda and Hannah on either side of her, she reached the ladies’ dressing room.

“You’ll be having your own room with a star on the door after this.”

Startled at Hannah’s sudden proclamation, Danielle stared at the actress.

“No, I will not,” she protested. “Stop teasing.”

Laughter filled the room, but several added their assurances that her status had changed.

A knock on the door interrupted the good-natured chatter.

Hannah flung it open to find a delivery boy, his arms filled with several large bouquets. All roses, mostly red, with a few pink interspersed among them.

“These are for Miss Danielle Grayson,” he grinned. “Heard you had a smashing show.”

Danielle got a coin from her purse and handed it to him. “Thank you.”

The door had no more than closed after him when another knock came.

“Oh, my goodness, Danielle. Would you look at this?” Hannah’s voice rang with excitement as more bouquets were presented.

Rhonda stuck her head out and called to one of the stagehands. “Would you stand guard and not let anyone knock so we can get dressed?”

The young man waved and nodded then deposited himself on a chair by the door.

Danielle glanced eagerly through the cards that accompanied the flowers. The Kramers, the Nelsons, several friends of both families were represented. Breathlessly, she continued to look. Then, disappointed, she sighed and went to change. Of course, Blake was included in the roses his family had sent, but she’d hoped. . .

The Kramers, Mrs. Parker, and Jimmy waited for her in the lobby which sparkled with white lights and red roses for the occasion. She’d be riding home with them in the family carriage.

The ladies converged on her with hugs and kisses.

Nearby, Jimmy leaned on his crutch, a look of shining pride on his face.

Danielle hurried over to her brother and hugged him tightly. Soon, perhaps, he could throw the crutch away. Waves of joy washed over her at the thought.

“You were great, Danni. You’re the best. I’ll say you are. Hey, I almost thought you really were that girl, Peg.”

Amid laughter, Danielle glanced around for a glimpse of Blake. She’d thought sure he would be waiting. This was his victory night, too.

With congratulations bombarding her from all sides, she allowed herself to be led from the theater. Their carriage was brought around and they all piled in and headed home.

The house was blazing with light. The servants had everything ready for the guests, and most of them stood in the foyer grinning as Danielle trailed in after the rest of the family.

“Congratulations, Miss Gray.” Sally beamed and took a step forward.

“Miss Gray? Since when have I stopped being Danielle?”

“Since you became a star, miss.”

The news had traveled fast, it seemed.

“Well, I don’t know about that, but I’m still just Danielle, if you please.”

Sally’s shoulders shook with laughter. “If you insist.”

Danielle smiled and headed up the stairs to get changed for the party. Halfway up, she turned around. The servants had scattered, all but Sally, who stood speaking to Mrs. Kramer.

“And Sally. . .by the way, Gray is my stage name, but my real name is Grayson.” With a grin, she whirled around and continued up to her room.

Her new dress lay spread on the bed in all its blue velvet glory. A narrow silver box sat beside it. Surprised, Danielle picked up the box and removed the lid. The lights that sparkled from the diamond necklace took Danielle’s breath away.

She had no doubt it was from Mrs. Parker. Amelia must have told her about the pearl necklace.. This was the sweet lady’s way of assuring her it was all right.

She dressed and redid her hair then went downstairs.

Amelia was greeting a guest in the foyer. She turned and her eyes met Danielle’s. Smiling, she nodded.

“Danielle, my dear girl, what a little actress you are.” Mrs. Carlton, socialite number one in the city, kissed the air on both sides of Danielle’s face then, with nose in the air, pushed on by her. Danielle heard the woman say in stilted tones to Wanda Fullerton, “Don’t you think there’s something a little disreputable about performing on the stage?”

Coldness knifed through Danielle. Was that what everyone thought of her? No wonder Blake had withdrawn any feelings he had for her. That and the fact he thought her a liar and a thief. He was probably sorry he’d told her he loved her.

“Pay her no mind, my dear.” Mrs. Parker had come up behind her. “She’s more than likely jealous. She had hopes that her daughter, Susan, would capture Blake’s affection. Now there are some friends here who would like to see you.”

Danielle turned to find the Nelsons smiling from a few steps away. Mrs. Nelson stepped forward and took her in her arms, giving her a real kiss on the cheek. “You were marvelous, Danielle. You made me want to be on the stage again. But I was never as good as you.”

“I beg to differ there.” Mr. Nelson gave his wife a tender smile. “Why do you think I sat and watched you perform night after night for months if you couldn’t act?”

“Because you were in love with me, of course.” The lady winked at Danielle, and she and her husband joined the crowd in the drawing room.

“Hello, Danielle.” Blake stepped forward, a huge bouquet of deep red roses resting in the curve of his arm. “I tried to get backstage after the show, but the hallway was so full of admirers and delivery boys, I decided to wait.”

“I wondered why I didn’t see you earlier. I wanted to congratulate you on the success of Peg in Dreamland.”

His hand brushed hers as she took the roses, and a thrill ran through her.

“Thank you, Blake,” she whispered. “They’re the most beautiful roses I’ve ever seen.”

“For the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” Blake smiled, but when he spoke again, his tone was serious. “I wonder if I could have a word with you in private a little later.”

He’d called her beautiful. “Yes, of course. Perhaps after everyone settles down a bit.”

The smile he flashed her could only be called adoring.

❧

Blake tapped his foot as he stood in the middle of a group of his friends. He wondered how soon he could excuse himself without seeming rude.

“So this is what you quit law school for.” Donald Wilson shook his head. “I’ll have to admit, legal terminology is quite boring compared to your masterpiece.”

Blake threw his friend a wry smile. “Hardly a masterpiece. But thanks for the very kind words.”

All his friends had been effusive with their congratulations on the success of Peg in Dreamland.

“I was especially impressed with the lovely young thing who played the part of Peg.” Tom Ferrell whistled. “She’s quite a doll. I believe I saw her here a minute ago. How about an introduction, Blake?”

Blake stiffened and glared at his friend. “Miss Grayson is a lady. Don’t get any of your ideas about her, Tom.”

Tom and the others burst out laughing.

“Sorry. We had a bet going to know if you were in love with the young lady and decided this would be the best way to find out. I won the bet. Thank you very much.”

Blake endured the good-natured teasing for a while then excused himself and went in search of Danielle. He’d waited long enough.

After searching the drawing room and library, he stepped out onto the veranda.

She leaned against one of the round white columns, staring up at the few stars that peeked through the dark clouds. When she heard his footstep, she turned. “The stars are beautiful tonight, but clouds are coming in fast. Do you think it might snow?”

Blake stood beside her and looked up. “Maybe. Would you like that?”

“Yes. I don’t usually like snow. The floor was always such a mess at Sutton’s because of the boys tracking the stuff in.” She paused. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bring that up.”

“You don’t have to apologize, Danielle.” Pain stabbed his heart. Had he been that unreasonable that she’d think she couldn’t mention her past? “I want to know every detail about your life. That is, of course, only the details you want to talk about.” He was rambling like an idiot.

She smiled and ignored his clumsiness. “I don’t think I’ll mind the snow this year. It might be nice.”

“Danielle. . .” He whispered her name and she looked into his eyes, questioning. “I love you.” There. Please, God. Don’t let her run away again.

“You do?” Awe filled her voice. “Even now that you know I lied to you?”

“That was partly my fault. How could you know you could trust me?”

“Sutton made threats against you.”

He inhaled sharply. Sutton had wanted her for himself.

“I was afraid. Afraid he’d hurt you or your family if I told.”

“I know, sweetheart. Pop figured that one out.”

“I finally told Amelia a little, but I even regretted that. I was afraid if Sutton found out he’d hurt her, too.”

“It’s all right. Nothing is going to hurt you again. Not if I can help it.” He looked at her with longing. “Could you possibly love me, too?”

A look of surprise crossed her face. “I do love you. I thought you knew that.”

Joy washed over Blake, and he drew her into his arms. “Sweetheart, you need to know I’m returning to law school.”

Her eyes widened, and she leaned back in his arms and looked up at him. “You mean you’re not going to write music anymore?”

He grinned. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop writing music. But it’ll have to be a secondary career. Do you think you could stand being married to a stodgy attorney?”

“You could never be stodgy.” She started to smile. Then a frown appeared between her eyes. “But, Blake, I have to take care of Jimmy.”

“Of course. But it’s we that will take care of Jimmy. I always wanted a little brother.”

Happiness filled her eyes. “Are you sure, Blake, absolutely sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. So. . .will you marry me?”

A glint of mischief sparkled in her eyes. “Can I still be an actress?”

“Do you want to be?”

“Only for a little while. I’d hate to stop being Peg just now.”

He laughed. “Okay. That’s settled. When Peg in Dreamland closes, you quit the theater and we get married.”

“What if it goes on forever?”

“In that case, Bosley will have to find someone else.”

“Look, Blake. It’s snowing.” Sure enough, big flakes were falling all around them. One landed on Danielle’s nose. She giggled and brushed it away as Blake threw his head back and laughed.

“Hmm.” She threw him a coy smile. “I wonder how it feels to be kissed in the snow.”

Blake pulled her closer. “Let’s find out.”



About the Author


FRANCES DEVINE spent most of her childhood, teen, and young adult years in Dallas, Texas, but lived for five years in a little country community called Brushy Creek among the beautiful pinewoods of East Texas. There, she wrote her first story at the age of nine. She moved to Southwest Missouri more than twenty years ago and fell in love with the hills, the fall colors, and Silver Dollar City. Frances considers herself blessed to have the opportunity to write for Barbour. She is the mother of seven adult children and has sixteen wonderful grandchildren. Frances is happy to hear from her fans. E-mail her at [email protected].