CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
February 2, 1777
New York
Silas Connor beamed as the audience broke into a storm of applause for the seventeenth night in a row. His actors took their places for their bows amidst shouts and whistles. At the center, his relatively unknown Juliet stood on the brink of becoming a phenomenon. He’ d never seen an actress take to her role so flawlessly. In only three days of rehearsals she’d bypassed all of his usual stable of actresses and taken her place in the lead. As if recognizing his casting choice, the audiences swooned as one for Diana Dunaway, his new sensation. She smiled and curtsied to the crowd again and again. The Loyalist crowd and bevy of British officers cheered her every move. The ovation threatened to go on forever, but his cast took their cues and moved backward through the curtain, leaving the beautiful Diana alone for a moment to bask in a resounding crescendo of applause that was both louder and more prolonged than the other.
Working his way through the crowded passages in the backstage area, Silas catered to the officers, many of whom asked to privately meet the young actress. Silas begged them away, as he had for many nights, saying that she needed her rest. More gifts of wine and perfumes showed up at the backstage door with poetic noted from would-be suitors. All of them would be collected and sold to benefit the company, as was his policy. He inspected the collection and saw that a handful of general officers had sent their admirations. It was to be expected. The British army was in winter quarters and bored. As such, the generals wanted to play at new distractions, and the age-old game of who could bed the newest darling of the New York theater scene would serve to fill his audiences and bolster the coffers of his troupe. For a week, the theater had been standing-room only with more than a few wealthy officer and Loyalists offering fifty pounds or more per seat.
Life was good and getting better every day for the New York Theater Company.
Tonight, though, there was more reason to push the crowd away and for smiled reassurances that their desires would be met.
He moved backstage, through the invigorated company of actors. Two weeks before, they’d been only slightly competent. When Diana entered the picture, everything changed. Brought by a weary coach from the snowy battlefields of New Jersey, she was a measure of determination and grit in a captivating package. She coached the troupe through their rehearsals and test performances with intent and purpose. Now, their every movement crackled with authenticity. Their lines flowed like conversation and a depth of emotion Silas hadn’t imagined possible. His long-suffering troupe warmed quickly to the tasks and performed beautifully, taking their cues from Diana. Her perfection was enthusiasm for the others and they excelled together.
Silas patted the reassuring fold of paper inside his vest. He’d make an announcement to the whole cast momentarily, but he wanted her to know first. She’d changed the very prospect of his theater company and she deserved the news.
He found her being hugged by the cast and passed from one quick embrace to the next. The crowd dispersing, she sat at a table and let down her long, curled black hair. Her eyes were down, studying a folded newspaper on her table with keen interest. Her hands found her brush without a glance and she brushed out her hair and read. She’d taken every interest in the papers, he believed, to find news of her family in the aftermath of the rebel victory at Trenton.
Silas frowned at what Diana had called a headline. There were obviously no ghosts in the service of the rebel army and yet, the change of Washington’s tactics gave the news credence. After his attacks on Trenton and Princeton, Washington and the bulk of his army had disappeared. Some said they’d gone into the wilderness of northern New Jersey, while the fervent rumors of the townspeople said Washington had made a deal with the devil and his ghosts were summoned back to hell to rest and recuperate.
The British leadership, stunned at the losses of Trenton and Princeton as well as the decimation of their New York garrison under the command of the late General Cornwallis, sent a request to His Majesty for additional troops. Content to let the war effort rest until spring, they waited in banquet halls and theater performances to revel in the distraction from fear. They didn’t know where Washington was and instead of trying to find him in the fierce winter showering down upon them, the generals and admirals did nothing.
On the front page of the paper, there was a small article that said colonial forces were growing by leaps and bounds over the previous months. Having heard of the victories and spurred by the promise of freedom, colonials and freedmen reportedly poured into Washington’s ranks. Undoubtedly, she would write her family of the news as she’d done every other day for the last two weeks. A loving sister and her brother missed her, but their encouragements of her career in the handful of letters she’d received had steeled her heart in these troubled times.
Silas looked back up to Diana’s face and saw a faint smile on her lips. Done with her read, she studied herself in a mirror for a moment, and her eyes flitted to meet Silas’. He walked forward and withdrew the paper from his vest.
“Flawless, love,” he said and placed a hand on her shoulder. “You have quite a crowd of suitors outside those doors and twice as many gifts as last night or the night before.”
She blushed. “Silas, please. You know the only performance I want to give is on your stage. They can fawn over me all they want, but this company is my home. No gifts or handsome suitors will ever take me away.”
“Love, I’m so glad you walked into our lives. Had Charles not found you cold and alone, making your way here, I do not know what would have become of us.”
“You flatter me, love,” she said. They’d shared a bed for the last two weeks and while he couldn’t see it lasting, because she was too perfect, he enjoyed their time. Being the director had certain advantages. “It was divine intervention, if nothing else.”
“Indeed,” Silas replied. “Three weeks ago, I was ready to close down the company. Our accounts were in arrears and my debts insurmountable. Today, I was summoned by Lord General Howe for lunch and conversation. He watched your performance three nights ago and said he could hardly blink without seeing your elegance.”
Diana blushed. “So very touching.”
“Our favor with his command has grown. So much that today, I received this.” He unfolded the paper. “We have been summoned by General Grant to perform at his garrison for three evenings. I believe we may even have the honor of performing for Lord General Howe and his entire staff, as well.”
Diana beamed. “How splendid.”
Silas nodded at her. “I would imagine, love, that you might find favor with Lord Admiral Howe. He has expressed a desire to make your acquaintance and be dazzled by your performance as you’ve won over his military commanders despite the dreadful turn of events with the rebels.”
Diana looked up at him for a moment. “Do you believe the stories of Washington’s ghosts? Figures dressed in white? Unseen and deadly in the snow?”
Silas shrugged. “I’m not a military man, love. I know not what to believe.”
“Do you think His Majesty’s forces will win?”
“Of course I do.” Silas smiled. “Ghosts or not, Washington and his army will fail. Come spring, the full might of the army, under Lord General Howe I might add, will succeed where so many others have failed.”
Diana grinned up at him. “It fills my heart to hear you say that, love. Performing for the brothers Howe is an honor that we cannot afford to miss. In their garrison, no less? What a splendid location for a performance.”
Silas smiled. “I believe Lord General Howe might even ask you for a more intimate performance. I fear that given a chance you will accept his offers and affections.”
Diana smiled at him and turned to the mirror. Everything about her was beautiful. In her smile was an innocence that died in her uncommonly solemn eyes. Silas believed it to be her actress’s perfection, the challenge of the role, coming through. Her determination to make a good impression, in his mind, shrouded all other possibilities. Her silence he attributed to nervousness.
“Are you quite all right?” he asked.
She smiled up at him in the mirror. “Of course, love. As you said, ours is a business relationship and what better way to expand our company than through the favors of a smitten general and his men? So, yes, I gladly would accept his advances to further this company, love. If he truly is smitten with me and asks for an intimate performance?” she replied in her slightly curious accent. “I can think of nothing I’d like more.”