Page 8 of A Certain Appeal
I swallow hard and nod at the decks on the table. “Four of Clubs.”
CHAPTER
3
I get to the dressing room in time to drop off my tray and head right back for the Twins’ second act. It’s a well-established routine, and I don’t have to track any errant undergarments, which is good, because I’m still reeling from my interaction with Darcy. It wasn’t simply the good face. And he didn’t say anything particularly compelling. So why...?
I flash back to the last few seconds beside their table: his attention on my thigh, the way he clung to his wallet like it was the only thing keeping him from reaching for me.
I wrinkle my nose.Or he thought I was going to swipe it.
Later, Jane joins me to watch Ming, and I distract myself by giving him the lowdown on Charles: “Charming, good sense of humor, and unless my senses are completely off, I’d put him down as a definite potential. I give you leave to like him.”
Jane keeps his eyes on Ming, but he makes a thoughtful “hmm” sound.
“Jane.” My voice is hard, making him look at me. “You know what you have to do.”
“No,” he says with a hint of annoyance. “Absolutely not. It’s too forward.”
“Jane, it’s a new dawn. It’s a new day. It’s a new life.” I break up the lyrics like I’m trying to make a point with each line. “You’re feelinggood.”
He narrows his eyes. “You’re a terrible influence, you know that?”
“Well, this terrible influence told ya boy’s friend about the Four of Clubs.”
Jane’s glare goes wide-eyed, and I stand straighter, compensating for a sudden burst of self-consciousness. “Elizabeth Bennet, you don’t do that.” The use of my real name makes his statement of fact even more resonant. I shrug.
Jane watches me for another beat, and my stomach gives a guilty pitch. I don’t want to badger him. If he’s not feeling it—
“I’ll do it.”
“Really?”
Jane rolls his shoulders and smiles. “You’re stepping it up. I can be brave, too.”
The excitement ricochets in my chest. “I’ll spread the word.”
Jane waves me off, and I skip to the top stair. Johnny has already started toward the stage when I intercept and update him. Ming takes her bow and I cross the room the long way, past the far end of the stage, to address the band. Arthur nods as I approach, eyebrows high as he continues playing the piano.
“Jane has a wild hair,” I tell him. “You and the guys up for Miss Simone?”
“Seriously?” His playing speeds up, the others catching on within a few notes. “Is he trying to get everyone in the place laid, or just himself?”
“Consider it a good deed for all,” I offer, and scoot to the stage for Ming’s costume.
In the dressing room, the Twins stand in front of a fan, still in their pasties and G-strings from their earlier number. Ming’s dabbing more glitter onto her lipstick, clad in the bra and shimmy belt she’ll wear when we take our final bows.
I place the pile of clothing on the filing cabinet. “Jane’s singing ‘Feeling Good’!”
A beat of silence follows my announcement, then the room erupts in movement. Robes are donned in a flurry of silk and marabou, and I lead the charge upstairs with the trio at my heels. We stop halfway up, letting Jane stand alone for his intro. When he glances our way, the four of us titter excitedly, and he beams.
He’d never admit it, but he loves singing this song. It’s his one vanity, and if he’s ever feeling down about a bad audition or a gig he missed out on, it’s his go-to pick-me-up. Granted, he’s never used the song to intentionally pick anyoneelseup before, but if Charles is even remotely curious about Jane, this song will seal the deal.
“Folks,” says Johnny, “you’re about to be treated to a very special performance. So get cozy with the nearest sexy body and give it up for Meryton’s own sweet Sweet Jane!”
The spotlight illuminates Jane, who looks away, striking a pose of bewitching distraction. The audience responds with polite applause.
Ming squeezes my arm. “They have noidea,” she whispers.
