The Storm Sister (The Seven Sisters #2) (35 page)

Anna experienced another wave of dizziness as Jens Halvorsen the Bad strode across the room to greet her.

‘Frøken Landvik, I am indeed honoured to be part of your soirée tonight.’

‘Thank you,’ she managed, seeing the amusement dancing in his eyes. As her heart continued to bang against her rib-cage, she herself found nothing remotely funny about the
situation.

‘So, we will start with the Verdi,’ Herr Bayer suggested as the two musicians gathered close to him at the piano. ‘Anna, are you paying attention?’

‘Yes, Herr Bayer.’

‘Then we begin.’

Anna knew she did not give of her best during the rehearsal and could sense Herr Bayer’s irritation as she forgot all she had been taught and even became breathless at the end of the
vibrato notes.
And it was all Jens Halvorsen the Bad’s doing
, she thought furiously.

‘That will have to suffice for now, gentlemen. Let us hope we are all more in harmony tonight. You are to be here punctually at six thirty for the start of the soirée at
seven.’

Jens and his companion nodded politely, then bowed briefly to Anna. As he left the room, Jens’ hazel eyes shot a meaningful parting glance in her direction.

‘Anna, what is wrong with you?’ Herr Bayer asked her. ‘Surely it cannot be the accompaniment putting you off. You became perfectly used to singing with a full orchestra during
Peer Gynt
.’

‘Forgive me, Herr Bayer, I have a slight headache.’

‘And I think you are having a very understandable attack of nerves, my dear young lady.’ His face softened and he patted her on the shoulder. ‘You will eat a light lunch, then
take a rest. And before the performance this evening, we will drink a small glass of wine together to calm your nerves. I have no doubt that tonight will be a huge success, and by tomorrow you will
be the toast of Christiania.’

At five o’clock that evening, Frøken Olsdatter arrived in Anna’s bedroom with a cup of water and the ubiquitous honey.

‘I’ve filled a bath for you, my dear. While you take that, I’ll lay out your clothes for tonight. Herr Bayer would like you to wear your midnight-blue gown and his wife’s
sapphires. He also suggests you wear your hair up. I will help you to dress it when you return.’

‘Thank you.’

Anna lay in the bathtub with a flannel over her face trying to still her heartbeat, which had not stopped banging since she’d set eyes on Jens Halvorsen earlier today. Just the very sight
of him had caused an extreme physical reaction in her knees, her throat and her heart. ‘Lord, please give me strength and courage tonight,’ she prayed as she dried herself. ‘And
forgive me if I wish that he could have a bilious attack about now and be too sick to come back and play.’

After she had dressed and her hair had been arranged by Frøken Olsdatter, Anna walked along the corridor to the drawing room. Thirty gilt and red-velvet chairs had been arranged in
semi-circular rows facing the piano in the bay window of the room. Jens Halvorsen and the cellist were already chatting to Herr Bayer, whose face lit up as he saw her.

‘You look quite perfect, my dear young lady,’ he said approvingly, handing her a glass of wine. ‘Now, let us all toast to this evening before the hubbub begins.’

As she took a sip, she could feel Jens’ eyes rest briefly upon her décolletage; whether he was staring at the sparkling jewels or the expanse of bare white flesh beneath them, she
didn’t know, but she felt herself blushing.

‘To you, Anna,’ Herr Bayer toasted her.

‘Yes, to Frøken Landvik,’ said Jens, raising his glass to her.

‘Now, you will go and sit in the kitchen with Frøken Olsdatter until I come for you.’

‘Yes, Herr Bayer.’

‘Good luck, my love,’ Jens whispered under his breath as Anna walked to the door and left the room.

Whether it was the wine, or Jens Halvorsen the Bad accompanying her so empathetically on his fiddle that night, when the last note rang out in the hushed room, even Anna knew she had given of
her best.

After an enthusiastic round of applause, the guests, who included Johan Hennum, crowded around her, congratulating her and suggesting public performances at the Freemasons’ Hall and the
Assembly Rooms. Herr Bayer stood beside her, beaming down at her proprietorially, as Jens hovered in the background. When Herr Bayer eventually left her side, Jens took his chance to speak to
her.

‘Frøken Landvik, permit me to add my congratulations on your performance tonight.’

‘Thank you, Herr Halvorsen.’

‘And please, Anna, I beg you,’ he added in an undertone, ‘I have been a man in torment since I last saw you. I cannot stop thinking about you, dreaming of you . . . don’t
you see that fate has conspired again to bring us together?’

The sound of her Christian name on his tongue was so intimate that Anna gazed blankly over his shoulder, knowing that if she met his eyes, she would be lost. For his words mirrored her own
feelings exactly.

‘Please may we meet? Anywhere, anytime . . . I—’

‘Herr Halvorsen,’ Anna said, finding her voice, ‘I am returning home to Heddal very shortly for my brother’s wedding.’

‘Then permit me to see you when you return to Christiania. Anna, I . . .’ Then, as he saw Herr Bayer approaching them, Jens bowed formally to her. ‘This evening has been a
pleasure, Frøken Landvik.’ He lifted his eyes to hers and she saw a brief flicker of desperation in them.

‘Wasn’t she wonderful?’ Herr Bayer slapped Jens on the shoulder. ‘Those smooth rises into the middle and upper range and her magnificent vibrato . . . It is the best
I’ve heard her perform!’

‘Indeed, Frøken Landvik sang beautifully tonight. And now, I must take my leave,’ said Jens. He looked at Herr Bayer expectantly.

‘Of course, of course. Excuse me, my dear Anna, but I must settle my account with our young fiddle player.’

When she eventually retired to her room an hour later, Anna felt light-headed and giddy. Perhaps it was the euphoria of the evening’s performance, or maybe the second glass of wine
she’d unwisely accepted, but as Frøken Olsdatter helped her undress, she knew deep down it was because of Jens Halvorsen. It was intoxicating to think that he was still enamoured with
her. As, she admitted reluctantly, she was with him . . .

Having read the letter, Anna lay back on her pillows feeling as though she was no better a person than Jens Halvorsen the Bad. Every moment since she’d seen him again at
the soirée, she’d thought of nothing else. And even when Herr Bayer had told her delightedly of the further recitals that he’d arranged for her, she could not rouse herself to
display the expected excitement.

He had asked last night for her presence in the drawing room today at eleven. Duly dressed, she walked disconsolately along the corridor. Entering the room, she could see her mentor was already
in a state of high excitement.

‘Anna! Do come in and hear our wonderful news. This morning, I met with Johan Hennum and Ludvig Josephson. You may remember that Herr Hennum attended your soirée and he told me that
due to the popularity of
Peer Gynt
, they wish to include the play in their autumn season. They have suggested that you reprise your role as Solveig.’

Anna looked at him with a mixture of astonishment and despair. ‘You mean stand on the side of the stage again and sing the songs whilst Madame Hansson pretends my voice is hers?’

‘Anna, really! Do you even think that I would suggest that as a possibility? No, my dear young lady, they wish you to play the role in its entirety. Madame Hansson is currently
unavailable, and having just been revealed as the talented owner of the ghost voice in Christiania’s musical circles, they are keen to have you perform. To make the situation even better,
Herr Grieg has announced he will finally come to Christiania to see the production. Both Johan and Ludvig feel your rendition of his songs cannot be improved upon. So, they wish you to attend an
audition this coming Thursday, where they will decide if you have sufficient talent as an actress. Do you recollect any of the lines Solveig speaks in the play?’

‘Yes, Herr Bayer. On many occasions I have mouthed them alongside Madame Hansson,’ Anna replied, a small tingle of excitement creeping up her spine. Could it really be that they
would want her as the star? And would Jens Halvorsen the Not So Bad Any Longer be playing in the orchestra . . . ?

‘Excellent! Then today, we will forget your scales and the new aria I had planned for you to learn, and I will read all the other parts from
Peer Gynt
whilst you run through
Solveig’s lines.’ He picked up a copy of the play from his desk and opened it. ‘Please feel free to sit down. As you know, it is a long piece, but we will do the best we can.
Ready?’ he asked her.

‘Yes, Herr Bayer,’ said Anna as she recalled the words as best she could.

‘Well, well!’ Herr Bayer said an hour later as he looked at her in admiration. ‘It seems that we not only have a voice, but a talent for portraying a
character too.’ He took her hand in his and kissed it. ‘My dear young lady, may I say that you continue to astound me.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Have no fear for the audition, Anna. Perform exactly as you have today and the part is yours. Now, come, we will take luncheon together.’

On Thursday afternoon at two promptly, Anna met Herr Josephson on the stage at the theatre, and they sat down together to read through the script. She heard a slight tremor in
her voice during the first few lines, but as she continued to read, she grew more confident. She read through both the scene where Solveig first meets Peer at a wedding, and then the final scene,
when he returns to her after his travels around the world and Solveig forgives him.

‘Excellent, Frøken Landvik!’ Herr Josephson said with approval, as Anna looked up at him. ‘I really don’t feel I need to hear any more. I must admit I was not in
favour of this idea when Herr Hennum suggested it to me, but you acquitted yourself very well indeed for a first read-through. We will have work to do to improve the strength of your voice and the
expression in it, but I think I can agree that you should take the role of Solveig in the forthcoming season.’

‘Anna! Isn’t that wonderful news?’ Herr Bayer, who had been sitting in the auditorium watching and listening intently, made his way up onto the stage.