The stage, with its old musty smell of smoke and sweat and long red velvet curtains that come to close ominously at the end of every show.

If you listen, you could almost upon the edge of hearing hear the roar of the crowd, do you hear them? They call for you.

Standing centre stage now, with the blinding lights cast upon you so you blink down at the rows of empty chairs.

You where born to be on the stage, made for it even.

It was always your destiny to be a star.

Chapter One: Violet

Her name wasn’t really Violet, but it sounded good; People liked to hear stories about pretty girls with pretty names who sang pretty songs.

Violet knew them all, the sad ones about men who went off to sea and the sweet ones about young lovers.

Violet’s real name was Jane…plain Jane, but she wasn’t plain in anyway.

She had striking features, and long sooty eyelashes which framed big grey eyes, her hair was black and hung about her shoulders like a cloak of night.

She danced, graceful and fast to all the jaunty jigs, she couldn’t abide slow music, and she sang like a bird people said all pure and natural.

She had come to the stage as a young girl and now a fully grown woman enjoyed all the privileges of someone who had learnt her craft long and well.

She was a star; people came flocking to see Violet, but not enough…never enough.

Mr. Edgeson who owned the theatre and, by contract, all its performers was angry.

He was angry because variety acts just didn’t sell tickets anymore; everyone was flocking to see plays.

This meant he would have to get rid of the juggling twin sisters from Kent, and the mind reader from York but he was sure he could keep places for his other little stars.

He was going to put on a play he had decided, and it would be the most magical, enchanting, profit-bringing in spectacular ever!

It was a very simple story line, boy meets girl, boy loses girl to richer man, a sparkling dance and song number fallowed, boy and girl are reunited.

But it was going to cost him and the way things where going the money wasn’t going to come out of his own pocket.

Curiously he knocked upon Violet’s door.

“its open!” came back the voice, he opened it quickly and slipped inside to find his star languishing upon her bed, cigarette in hand, she took a drag and smiled at him, blowing smoke into his face.

“what did you want?”

“our investor will be coming by this evening, I want him to be dazzled” Mr. Edgeson could feel beads of sweat beginning to roll down the neck of his shirt.

“and you’d like me to dazzle him?” Violet asked, she laughed a real laugh and Mr. Edgeson felt secure, his little starlet had always been prone to temper if things did not go properly to her arrangements...but it seemed Violet had already anticipated this.

She stood up, silk dressing gown falling open slightly and revealing cream coloured skin.

“Send in Tabitha then” she said, seating her self at her dressing table and stubbing out her cigarette “I shall need her to help me dress”

she watched him in the mirror as he left and the shy, plain dressed Tabitha came into her room and bobbed a curtsy at her.

“Come here darling” Violet instructed, Tabitha came.

Her short curly hair was falling out from it’s neat clips and her drab dress with its flower paten was stained with make up from nights performances.

She leant down and kissed Violet who put her arms about around her neck and held her tightly until she pulled away.

“I heard him” Tabitha whispered, and her hands sort out Violet’s belt to pull it free so the silk fell all about them and Violet was naked and beautiful just sitting in her chair looking at Tabitha with mild amusement.

“Tabby, dearest” she smoothed the girls forever unruly hair as the youngster made short work of her kisses and leant down to take one rosy nipple between her lips, Violet’s breath hitched in her throat. “Tabby…” she had to make her listen.

“Just once” she whispered “and then I’ll be an actress and you’ll be my dresser and I’ll be paid handsomely and we’ll go away together”

“This one investor” Tabitha agreed as her lips hungrily sort lower, and Violet found herself unable to speak at all.

Elizabeth Jackson enjoyed trips to the theatre, she loved the atmosphere. This little project had been right up her street, take a crumbling music hall and turn it into a play house anyone of high society would flock to.

The lights upon the stage dimmed until there was only one spot light, and it light up the most beautiful woman Elizabeth had ever seen.

She didn’t even wait for the girl to open her mouth, if she was to be the star Elizabeth wanted to finance this show.

And more importantly she wanted that girl.

“when can I meet her?” she asked turning to the nervous looking Mr. Edgeson.

“Um, in a few minuets” he squeaked “in her dressing room”

“If she proves pleasant company I will consider financing your show” Elizabeth said, and then hurriedly got up

Mr. Edgeson took out his handkerchief and wiped his brow, if Elizabeth had been a man he would have been sure her intentions with Violet where less then honourable.

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