Eve walked to the stage manager’s desk at stage right and tried to concentrate on the rehearsal. The actors were in full costume and makeup. She couldn’t see a flaw. The big red urn she’d commissioned Pete to buy stood out like the beacon she’d imagined. The upholstery on the sofa was faded. The doilies were bright and stiffly starched.

It was perfect. She had organized it, and it was perfect. She wished she could find the pleasure in it that she’d always felt before.

“It looks great.”

The whisper at her ear had her jolting. “Ben.” She pressed her clipboard against her heart. “What are you doing here? This is supposed to be a closed rehearsal.”

“Of course that didn’t include me. I explained that to the doorman. Tell me, do you call him ‘Pops’ like in the American movies?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” She glanced behind him and saw his guards hovering at a safe and discreet distance. “Shouldn’t you be out doing something official?”

“Don’t lecture. I’ve been slaving away for weeks. I stole a couple of hours.” The two precious hours he would have spent with his horses. “I just thought I’d stop by and see how things were going.”

“If you’re looking for Doreen,” Eve began dryly, “she’s upstairs in Rehearsal Hall B. We do have three other plays to deal with, you know.”

“Okay, I can take a hint. I won’t distract Doreen while she’s rehearsing.” The truth was, he hadn’t given her a thought. He scanned the stage as the play unfolded. “Most of your people have been with you quite a while, I suppose.”

“Some have, some haven’t. Look, let’s move down to the audience. I haven’t had a chance to watch from that angle today.”

Bennett went with her, settling in the center aisle, mid-theater. The guards moved in three rows behind. Eve didn’t notice there were two more. They had been assigned to her.

“It looks good,” she murmured. “I’ve sat all the way up in the back balcony and it still looks good. The acoustics in this place are simply incredible.”

“I guess you get to know your people pretty well,” Bennett ventured. “Socially, I mean, not just on a professional level.”

“When you take a play on tour you usually do. But, then, actors and theater people are just like everyone else.” She smiled as she looked at him. “Some are more sociable than others. Thinking of joining up?”

“Can I get an audition?”

“You might do better applying for a job as a stagehand. They have more opportunity to flirt with the ladies.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Just how many people work for you?”

“It varies with the production.”

“How about now?”

Brows drawn together, she turned to him again. “Why?”

“Just curious.”