Masks and Shadows by Stephanie Burgis Read Free Book Online Page A

. . .” She paused and looked sidelong at young Herr Pichler. “. . . Our leading lovers, in all pieces?”
    â€œI saw an impulsive older gentleman darting out as I walked in,” Carlo said. “Does he play that role in your troupe?”
    The singers stiffened and exchanged glances in a moment of awkward silence. Carlo thought young Herr Pichler had changed color; even more intriguingly, Madame Zelinowsky kept her own eyes fixed on the young man’s face, while a slight smile played across her full lips.
    The kapellmeister coughed. “Impulsive indeed. The description you give, signor, matches that of the theatrical director of the company, Monsieur Delacroix, who does indeed play the roles of old men in both comedies and tragedies.”
    â€œAnd in real life . . . ?” Madame Zelinowsky murmured.
    â€œWe are all rather disordered at the moment, I fear,” the kapellmeister said. His smile looked strained. “It will all come out well in the end, though, I am certain. Come, let me show you around our opera house. It’s only through this door.”
    Once they had exited the ballroom, Haydn slumped and came to a halt, taking out a large handkerchief to mop his brow. “My apologies, signor. We have had a rather . . . unfortunate incident this morning.”
    â€œI believe I heard something of it mentioned at dinner. An elopement among the singers?”
    â€œIndeed. Our leading lady, Madame Delacroix, is perhaps eighteen years old against her husband’s white-haired age and his”—he paused—“not inconsiderable temper. Meantime, she and our leading tenor, Herr Antonicek, have of course been much thrown together . . .”
    â€œNot entirely incomprehensible, then,” Carlo said drily.
    Haydn sighed. “Not at all, but disastrous nonetheless. His Serene Highness is . . . most strict, in his views upon the behavior of his servants. Had they only waited a year, until their contract had run out . . .” He shrugged his shoulders unhappily. “I would have certainly advised His Highness not to renew it—Monsieur Delacroix’s management is atrocious, if I may confide that to you, signor—but then, I suppose they could not have known that they’d be free so soon.”
    â€œI see. And the punishment they’ll receive?”
    â€œHeaven knows. For Herr Antonicek—a severe whipping with the bastinado and imprisonment, I am certain. Beyond that, I would anticipate his banishment from all Esterházy lands while Madame Delacroix remains in residence.”
    â€œAnd for the lady?”
    Herr Haydn’s expression was bleak. “Her apology to the Prince, I expect, and forced return to her husband. Which, considering the public humiliation he has felt, and the extent of his current thirst for blood, will be more than punishment enough, I am quite certain.” He sighed and replaced the handkerchief in the embroidered outer pocket of his frock coat. “Ah, it makes my head hurt. And all of it so needless . . .” He began to walk forward, shaking his head.
    Carlo paced beside him thoughtfully. “And you, sir? Do you wish your own contract renewed?”
    Haydn blinked. “I? Why, my contract was only recently renegotiated, signor, and under far more favorable terms than ever before. If you can believe it, I may even offer my own works for publication at last, to share them with the world in the form that I choose—and to make a pretty penny from them, too!” He gave Carlo a mischievous grin. “I cannot tell you, signor, how it once burned to save all my copies for my prince’s sole use while scoundrels sold unauthorized versions abroad—but now that that’s finally sorted, I’ve been approached by a publisher in Vienna, who has promised to design beautiful editions of my music to sell throughout the empire. What more joy could a humble kapellmeister ask for?”
    Carlo reached