An Unexpected Suitor by Anna Schmidt Page A

behind her. She gathered the remaining cups and plates on a tray and pushed the swinging door to the kitchen open with one foot then paused.
    “…so then what happened?” Jasper March asked as hestood at the sink, shirtsleeves rolled back and forearms buried in sudsy water.
    “They left,” Olga reported. “But people like that, they will be back. They will bring trouble,” she added ominously.
    “Well, I don’t see how they could cause any trouble,” Mimi Kowalski replied. “Everyone was so impressed. Why, they’ll be talking to all their friends and neighbors about this place. You mark my words.”
    “They loved the music, Ellie,” her twin sister Deedee added. “That gave the whole place such class. It was like one of those elegant tearooms in New York.”
    “And just what would you know about such a place?” Billy teased.
    “My gentleman friend took me to one once,” Deedee countered.
    “You mean that old guy who came to see you at the Majestic five nights in a row?” Billy asked and everyone laughed.
    But as soon as Nola entered the room, they all sobered and focused on their work. The two men gave their attention to washing and drying the china while Deedee and Mimi put the dishes in their assigned cupboards. Olga sat half reclining on a kitchen chair, a cup of tea without a saucer at hand while Ellie sat across from her, folding napkins.
    “Where’s Mrs. Lang?” Nola asked as if she had not overheard any of their discussion.
    “We told her we would clean up,” Jasper replied. “Hope that was all right?”
    “Yes. Thank you. It was a busy day, especially for this time of year.”
    “Curiosity seekers,” Ellie said with a smile. “Don’t worry. In our business you get used to people wanting a look.”
    “Yes, well, it was good practice for you all. Next weekwhen the season begins in earnest we are likely to see this kind of business daily—especially if the weather turns damp.”
    “Speaking of practice,” Billy said. “Mrs. Lang said that Mr. Starbuck stopped by earlier and dropped off copies of the script. I took a peek and it looks to me like he’s making the play into a musical and I’ve got the opening number. Ellie, he said to tell you to have me try it to the tune of Clare and the loon?”
    “‘Clair de Lune,’” Ellie corrected. “I know it.”
    “So, could you give me a hand with it? I could come by your room later and…”
    “Absolutely not,” Nola interrupted and all six actors turned to her. “There will be no visiting between rooms,” she said. “At least not between those who are residing on the third floor and those on the second.”
    “Between men and women,” Ellie translated when the others looked a bit mystified.
    “But we have to learn our parts—and now there’s music as well,” Billy protested.
    “How about if we use the piano in the tearoom, Miss Nola?” Jasper suggested.
    Nola hadn’t even considered that the actors might expect to make use of her home for rehearsing during their off time. She had simply assumed that they would gather at the cabaret. Of course, that building was still under construction.
    As usual her first thought was how holding rehearsals on the premises in addition to the transgressions she had already committed might set with Rose and her group. On the other hand, it was a sight better than the idea of working together in their bedrooms. And really, where was the harm? The tearoom was closed at six with clean-up usually taking another hour. It was now seven and if the actors were rehearsing at least she knew where they were. They wouldn’t be out getting into trouble. “I suppose we could see how that goes.”
    “You’re sure?” Ellie asked. “Maybe we should just wait until tomorrow and see if Harry has found another rehearsal space.”
    Nola was tempted to reconsider as she itemized the events of the day. There had been the arrival of the actors, followed by her encounter with Starbuck, and the confrontation