The Storm Sister (The Seven Sisters #2) (46 page)

She opened the door, but felt his hand clutch hers and pull her back into the room.

‘Please, whatever the circumstances, let’s not waste this first precious moment we have ever had alone together.’ He took a step closer to her and gently cupped her face in his
hands. ‘I love you, Anna. And I cannot say it enough. I love you.’

For the first time then, she truly believed he did. They were so close now she could feel the heat radiating from him.

‘Perhaps it’s also important for your decision to admit to yourself, and to me, why you
did
come here,’ he said. ‘Admit it, Anna: you love me, you love me . .
.’

Before she had a chance to stop him, he was kissing her. And within a split second, Anna found her own lips responding, completely without her permission. She knew how wrong this was, but it was
already too late, because the feeling was so glorious and so longed for that there wasn’t a single reason to end it.

‘Now will you tell me?’ he begged her as she prepared to leave.

She turned towards him. ‘Yes, Jens Halvorsen. I love you.’

An hour later, Anna used her key to open the door to Herr Bayer’s apartment. Like the actress she was learning to be, she was prepared when Frøken Olsdatter
waylaid her halfway to her bedroom.

‘How was the rehearsal, Anna?’

‘It went well, thank you.’

‘What time would you like supper?’

‘Perhaps I could take it on a tray in my room tonight, if that isn’t too much trouble? I feel quite exhausted from the performance last night and the rehearsal today.’

‘Of course. Why don’t I fill you a bath?’

‘That would be wonderful, thank you,’ Anna replied as she walked into her room and shut the door in relief. Throwing herself onto the bed and hugging herself in ecstasy at the memory
of Jens’ lips upon hers, she knew that, whatever the result, she must refuse Herr Bayer’s proposal.

A new whisper of gossip began to circulate around the theatre the next evening.

‘I’ve heard he’s coming.’

‘No, he missed his train from Bergen.’

‘Well, Herr Josephson was overheard talking to Herr Hennum and the orchestra were called in early this afternoon . . .’

Anna knew there was only one person who could confirm the rumours she’d heard, so she sent for him. Rude arrived in her dressing room a few minutes later.

‘You wanted to see me, Frøken Anna?’

‘Yes. Is it true? The story that’s flying around the theatre tonight?’

‘About Herr Grieg attending the performance?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well.’ Rude crossed his arms around his thin body. ‘That depends on who you listen to.’

Sighing, Anna put a coin in his palm and he gave her a wide grin. ‘I can confirm that Herr Grieg is sitting with Herr Hennum and Herr Josephson in the office upstairs. Whether he will
attend the performance, I couldn’t tell you. But as he is in the theatre, it is likely.’

‘Thank you for the information, Rude,’ she said as he walked towards the door.

‘My pleasure, Frøken Anna. Good luck tonight.’

When ‘Beginners’ were called and the cast took their places in the wings, the tumultuous round of applause from the other side of the curtain confirmed that, indeed, a very important
person had just arrived in the auditorium. Luckily, Anna had little time to think of the consequences, because the orchestra struck up the Prelude and the performance began.

Just before she made her first entrance, she felt a hand tugging at her arm. She turned round and saw Rude lurking beside her. He put his hands up around his mouth to whisper to her and she
leant down. ‘Just remember, Frøken Anna, as my mother always tells me, even the King has to take a piss.’

This sent Anna into a spasm of giggles, the hints of it still visible on her features when she walked onstage. With Jens’ loving presence below in the orchestra pit, Anna relaxed and gave
of her best. As the curtain fell three hours later, the entire theatre erupted into near hysteria as Grieg himself took a bow from his box. Anna smiled down at Jens as she stood on the stage
accepting bouquet after bouquet.

‘I love you,’ he mouthed to her.

When the curtain fell, the cast were asked to wait onstage and the orchestra filed up from the pit to join them. Anna caught Jens’ eye and he blew a kiss.

Eventually, a slender man, barely taller than herself, was escorted onto the stage by Herr Josephson. The cast applauded him ecstatically and as Anna studied him she realised that Edvard Grieg
was far younger than she’d imagined him. He had wavy blond hair swept back from his face and a moustache that rivalled Herr Bayer’s. To Anna’s complete surprise, he came straight
towards her, bowed to her, then took her hand and kissed it.

‘Frøken Landvik, your voice was all I could have hoped for when I was composing Solveig’s laments.’

Then he turned and spoke to Henrik Klausen, the actor again playing Peer, as well as the other lead members of the cast.

‘I feel I must beg an apology from all you actors and musicians for my absence so far from this theatre. There have been . . .’ He paused, seeming to need to gather strength from
somewhere before continuing. ‘There have been circumstances that have kept me away. All I can do is to give my heartfelt thanks to both Herr Josephson and Herr Hennum for creating a
production that I am proud to have been a part of. May I congratulate the orchestra for transforming my humble compositions into something magical, and the actors and singers for bringing the
characters to life. I thank you all.’

Edvard Grieg’s gaze fell on Anna again, as the cast and musicians began to file off the stage. He walked back to her and took her hand once more, then beckoned Ludvig Josephson and Johan
Hennum to join them.

‘Gentlemen, now I have seen the performance, we will speak tomorrow about some minor alterations, but I thank you for such a fine production under what I know were straitened
circumstances. Herr Hennum, the orchestra was far better than I could have dreamt. You have performed a miracle. And as for this young lady,’ he said, his expressive blue eyes boring into
Anna’s, ‘whoever cast her as Solveig is a genius.’

‘Thank you, Herr Grieg,’ said Hennum. ‘Anna is indeed a great new talent.’

Herr Grieg then leant in close to whisper in Anna’s ear. ‘We must talk further, my dear, for I can help your star to rise.’ Then, with a smile, he released her hand and turned
away to speak to Herr Josephson. Walking off the stage, Anna was again awed at the turn her life had taken. The most famous composer in Norway had publicly praised her talents here tonight. As she
changed out of her costume and removed her make-up, it was difficult to believe she was the same country girl who had been singing the cows home just over a year ago.

Except, of course, she wasn’t the same.

‘Whatever I am now, I am,’ she murmured to herself as the steady clip-clop of the horse pulling the carriage lulled her towards Herr Bayer’s apartment.

Unusually, Hennum had joined the rest of the orchestra in Engebret after the night’s performance.

‘Herr Grieg apologises for his absence from the bar, but as you know, he is still grieving for his dead parents. But he has given me enough money to keep you all in high spirits for at
least a month,’ Herr Hennum declared to rowdy cheers.

All the musicians were on a high, partly fuelled by endless rounds of port and aquavit, but also by the knowledge that the meagre existence they all eked out of their salary, with little or no
thanks for their efforts, had been elevated tonight by the sincere thanks and praise of the composer himself.

‘Herr Halvorsen.’ Hennum beckoned him over. ‘Come and speak with me for a moment.’

Jens did as his conductor bid.

‘I thought you might wish to know I told Herr Grieg you were a budding composer and that I’d heard some of your compositions. Simen has already told me that you spent the summer
working on others.’

‘Do you think that Herr Grieg could be persuaded to take a look at what I have written so far?’

‘I can’t guarantee it, but I do know that he is a great advocate for home-grown Norwegian talent, so it is possible. Give me what music you have, and I’ll present your
compositions to him tomorrow morning when he comes in to see me.’

‘I will, sir, and I cannot thank you enough.’

‘I have also heard from Simen that you made a difficult decision in the summer. A musician who is prepared to sacrifice all for his art deserves any assistance I can offer. Now, I must
take my leave. Goodnight, Herr Halvorsen.’

Johan Hennum gave Jens a nod and walked out of the bar. Finding Simen, Jens enveloped him in a hug.

‘What is this? Have you run out of women and are now turning to men?’ asked his startled friend.

‘Perhaps,’ Jens jested. ‘But I thank you, Simen. Truly, I thank you.’

At mid-morning the following day, a letter for Anna was hand-delivered to the apartment.

‘Who do you think it might be from?’ asked Frøken Olsdatter as Anna studied the writing.

‘I have no idea,’ she replied as she opened it and began to read.

A few seconds later, Anna looked up in wonder.

‘It is from Herr Grieg, the composer. He wishes to visit me at the apartment this afternoon.’

‘Dear Lord!’ Frøken Olsdatter looked anxiously at the unpolished silver on the dresser, then at the clock on the wall. ‘At what time does he wish to arrive?’

‘At four.’

‘What an honour! If only Herr Bayer was here to meet him too. You know what a supporter he is of Herr Grieg’s music. Excuse me, Anna, but if we are to have such an illustrious guest
in our house, I must prepare for him.’

‘Of course,’ Anna said as the housekeeper almost ran out of the room.

Anna finished her lunch, nerves beginning to gather in her stomach. As she went to change into something more acceptable to wear for tea with a famous composer, she stared at her vast new
collection of clothing. Discarding various blouses for being too frumpy, too revealing, too grand, or too plain, she settled on her dusky-rose silk gown.

The doorbell rang at the appointed hour, and Frøken Olsdatter led their guest into the drawing room. Since lunchtime, flowers had been procured, cakes hastily baked; Frøken
Olsdatter had been concerned that he may well arrive with an entourage, but as it was, Anna rose to greet Edvard Grieg alone.