“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 feeling good.”

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 anyone else up before, but if Charles is even remotely curious about Jane, this song will seal the deal.