a wandering little tune on the keys with only the tip of her left index finger. “Any minute now, it will occur to Nat that spending time with you is a sure way for me to learn how terrible a career in show business really is. He’ll change his mind about you tutoring me in about two hours.”
Thalia concealed an inward sigh. “Should I stay until then?”
“No need. I’ll tell Rogers to get the car for you.”
Before Nell could leave the piano, the door opened and Ryker rejoined them, looking uncomfortable. He came to stand directly before Thalia. “Miss Cutler.”
“Mr. Ryker.” Thalia looked up at him with distaste. “Don’t you know it is rude to loom?”
Ryker continued to stand too close. “I owe you an apology. You are my guest. I was wrong to generalize about the role of women in show business, and in particular, I was wrong to insult a guest.”
Thalia waited a moment to reply, enjoying his obvious discomfort. “You were rude about my piano playing too.”
A spark of indignation spoiled Ryker’s gravity. “I have no intention of apologizing for that. I speak to you as an equal. To pretend to accept your mechanical choice of tempo would be patronizing and wrong.”
Thalia remembered several true but unkind remarks she had just made about Nell’s technique and relented. “Fair enough. So long as you show me and my profession your respect, I accept your misshapen and ill-conceived apology.”
Ryker took her hand as if he meant to kiss it, but when Thalia arched an eyebrow at him, he changed course and shook it firmly instead. “Understood. Thank you.”
Nell, who had been practicing with her coins again, stopped to clap her hands approvingly. “That’s more like it. Miss Cutler, what time will you return tomorrow?”
Thalia wondered what progress Nutall had made on finding a pair of passes to see Von Faber’s performance at the Imperial Theater. Unless she somehow grew wings and flew downtown, she would be too late arriving back at the boardinghouse to see it tonight. Tomorrow night? “Perhaps it would be best to begin earlier. Three o’clock? We can work on switches.”
“Perfect.” Nell glowed with anticipation. Ryker merely looked resigned.
“Practice,” Thalia ordered.
“I will!”
“I’ll send my car for you,” said Ryker grudgingly.
* * *
Ryker’s Pierce-Arrow brought Thalia back to Mrs. Morris’s boardinghouse at six o’clock. The driver lingered in the street until Thalia was safely inside; then the car purred off around the corner.
Mrs. Morris, never busy with dinner preparations when there was curiosity to be satisfied, emerged from the kitchen to greet Thalia. “How was it, dear?”
“The Pierce-Arrow was a wonder.” Thalia handed Mrs. Morris Nell’s twenty-dollar gold piece. “Have this on account. Is Nutall here?”
“I don’t know where he’s got to.” Mrs. Morris pocketed the coin and turned back to the kitchen. “I’ll give you a receipt after dinner.”
Thalia had chores of her own to do. She changed into a dress that was less than impressive but easy to clean, put on an apron, and took care of her doves and the snake. Nat and Nell Ryker had provided an admirable distraction, as well as a generous amount of money, but the distraction was, temporarily at least, over. Thalia considered her options as she worked. Leaving Von Faber out of things, what would she like her new act to include? Some might have called it daydreaming. Thalia considered it to be vital planning.
* * *
Thalia was at the dinner table when Nutall returned looking flushed and pleased with himself. He pulled up a chair next to Thalia. “Inigo paid for my dinner, but I could never say no to a slice of Mrs. Morris’s excellent pie.”
Thalia passed along the slice Mrs. Morris cut for Nutall. “What about tickets?”
Nutall plied his fork nimbly. When he’d finished chewing, he used his napkin. “Inigo came up trumps. We have two passes to the performance tomorrow night.” When Nutall finished his second bite of pie, he countered, “Are you enthralled with Mr. Ryker yet? He seemed bent on making a good impression. I believe Traders consider it great sport to enthrall comely young Solitaires.”
“You’ve warned me before.” Thalia put her fork down. “I am far from enthralled with Mr. Nathaniel Ryker. If Miss Ryker is enthralled with anything, it is the notion of going onstage. Both of them are generous, I’ll grant them that.” Thalia told Nutall about her afternoon in detail. “I’ve accepted his apology, so I’m going to be polite to him, but the next crack he makes