"Roberts, Nora - Stanislaski 08 - Dance of Dreams" - читать интересную книгу автора (Roberts Nora)

were cramping, but she lacked the energy to massage them. When someone draped a
towel around her neck, she glanced up.
"Francie." Ruth managed a grateful smile.
"You look bushed."
"I am," Ruth returned. She used the towel to wipe perspiration from her face.
Francie Myers was a soloist, a talented, dedicated dancer and one of the first
friends Ruth had made in the company. She was small and lean with soft,
fawn-colored hair and sharp, black eyes. She was constantly acquiring and losing
lovers with perpetual cheerfulness. Ruth admired her unabashed honesty and
optimism.
"Are you sick?" Francie asked, slipping a piece of gum into her mouth.
Ruth rested her head against the wall. Someone was idling at the piano. The room
was abuzz with conversation and music. "I was at a miserably crowded party until
three o'clock this morning."
"Sounds like fun." Francie stretched her leg up to touch the wall behind her,
then back. She glanced at Ruth's shadowed eyes. "But I don't think your timing
was too terrific."
Ruth shook her head on a sigh. "And I didn't even want to be there."
"Then what were you doing there?"
"Being perverse," Ruth muttered, shooting a quick glance at Nick.
"That takes the fun out of it." Francie's eyes darted across the room and landed
on an elegant blond in a pale blue leotard. "Leah's had a few comments about
your style today."
Ruth followed Francie's gaze. Leah's golden hair was pulled back from a
beautifully sculptured ivory-skinned face. She was talking to Nick now,
gesturing with her long, graceful hands.
"I'm sure she did."
"You know how badly she wanted the lead in this ballet," Francie went on. "Even
dancing Aurora hasn't pacified her. Nick isn't dancing in Sleeping Beauty."
"Competition keeps the company alive," Ruth said absently, watching Nick smile
and shake his head at Leah.
"And jealousy," Francie added.
Ruth turned her head again, meeting the dark, sharp eyes. "Yes," she agreed
after a moment. "And jealousy."
The piano switched to a romantic ballad, and someone began to sing.
"Nothing's wrong with a little jealousy." Francie rhythmically circled her
ankles one at a time. "It's healthy. But LeahЕ" Her small, piquant face was
abruptly serious. "She's poison. If she wasn't such a beautiful dancer, I'd wish
her in another company. Watch her," she added as she rose. "She'll do anything
to get what she wants. She wants to be the prima ballerina of this company, and
you're in her way."
Thoughtfully, Ruth stood as Francie moved away. The attractive dancer rarely
spoke ill of anyone. Perhaps she was overreacting to something Leah had said.
Ruth had felt Leah's jealousy. There was always jealousy in the company, as
there was in any family. It was a fact of life. Ruth also knew how badly Leah
had wanted the part of Carlotta in Nick's new ballet.
They had competed for a great number of roles since their days in the corps.
Each had won, and each had lost. Their styles were diverse, so that the roles
each created were uniquely individual. Ruth was an athletic, passionate dancer.
Leah was an elegant dancerЧclassic, refined, cool. She had a polished grace that