“But I thought you liked her,” Peggy said softly. She had decided she might as well find out how things stood between Chris and Alison.
“I do,” Chris answered, slightly surprised, “I like her a lot. She’s a very good actress.”
Thoughtfully, Peggy wondered if Chris judged people by their acting ability—if that was the basis of his sudden pronounced interest in her. Peggy was very conscious of his presence beside her as they finished dinner together.
Charley’s Aunt was riotously received by the Lake Manor audience. The actors had to be unusually alert to restrict their movements sufficiently to work on the smaller stage. There were several times when Peggy, almost bumping into another player, came close to breaking up and laughing out loud. And when an angry bee somehow found his way on stage and got lost in the tea things, all the cast had a difficult time controlling themselves. Microphones were suspended overhead to overcome the poor acoustics in the hall, and the buzz of the bee came loud and clear over the actors’ voices. The audience loved it! They roared and applauded when the bee finally made a grand exit over their heads and out the rear door.
Weak with laughter, Peggy made her way back toward the tiny, dark dressing room that was stacked with boxes of costumes and props. The hall was usually reserved for the individual comedy acts that the Manor booked for its guests.
“I’m sure they think we’re just another variation on the same theme!” Peggy giggled. “That silly bee! He sounded like a dive bomber!”
“They loved it!” Chris cried exuberantly, whirling Peggy around in the small hall. Chris was always like this after a show, Peggy noticed. Excited and gay and ready to go on for the rest of the night.
“Miss Lane?” one of the stagehands called to her. “There’s someone outside to see you.”
“Aha!” Chris intoned dramatically. “An admirer, no doubt. Come along, Peggy—take me to your stage-door Johnny and I’ll protect you!” Laughing, they stepped out of the door into the courtyard of the building.
“Peggy!” A tall, lanky, redheaded boy grinned down at her, stretching out both hands in greeting.