Cole Hole, Pub and Tavern
Evening, days before opening night

---

The chaos of the loud noisy pub exuded a rhythm almost like the driving, frenetic overture of an opening night. The Cole Hole was merry and bright with the regulars, troupers from various plays on the Strand, and of course Simon's troubadours.

Nola, was swept into a group of friends laughing and talking as they belied the exhaustion of rehearsals hitting a fever pitch by ordering more drink and dinner and laughing loudly at each other's antics. Opening night was not yet upon them but it was well nigh.

"Ah there is sweet Penelope, gypsy princess, joining us commoners for a bit of bite." John's florid bow was the picture of grace as he winked rakishly at his friend. Slapping at his arm, the ingénue-to-be, sighed exasperatingly.

"Have I truly been abandoning you? I was sure Adalena was keeping you busy, running lines, and other things by you, each night." Nola grinned wolfishly back at her friend. The two friends settled in a corner of a large table of the actors near the back of the Cole Hole where the din was dimmed only a little.

"Nola, you are becoming sensitive in your ascent to stardom, soon we will have to call you a prima donna, in reality, not in jest. I just miss my best girl, chorus girl to laugh and make jokes with. So tell me, I barely see you outside of rehearsal, this has been the first night you have come out with us in ages. What has been going on? You know all the lines of Penelope by heart and the songs and blocking, you do not need more private rehearsal do you? I even see you mouthing half of our lines while you sit and wait for entrances. Don't tell me all of your free time is with him." John stabbed his fork into the unidentifiable meat and sauce that was just brought to him. Nola noticed the stabbing a slight bit vicious upon the word him.

"Well, yes I have been spending a lot of time with Simon, but he has a new project. He needs my help with it." Nola's whine sounded tinny even to her ears. She knew it was no real excuse to have lost balance in her life. There seemed to be no balance when Simon was around. Nola caught her breath for a moment. She supposed this was what being in love was like. No sense of balance.

"A new project? This close to opening night? What is he crazy working on a new play with this one not even a float?"

"No, no. Nothing like that it is not a new play. It is a private project, tutoring." Nola stopped. She did not know how much she could or should say. She wanted John to understand, but Admiral Montverre was a powerful patron and his business should not, could not be bandied about. With that thought crossing her mind she clamped her mouth shut like a vise on a workman's table. Nola looked down and began to pick at her hardly touched plate, her beer warming to the temperature of the room. She wanted to share the joy she was having helping Miss Alice blossom from a maid to a maiden and mistress, nay lady, of a house. Nola had found a kindred spirit in Alice and wanted to nurture her like a baby wren fallen out of her nest into the wide, wide world. John would not understand, Nola needed someone, a woman in between, like herself to be around. Simon had given her an unknowing gift when he asked for her help. Alice did not realize it yet either, spending most of her day memorizing and other half of her time terrified she would never measure up to expectations. Alice did not realize that she was about to have made her first true friend of the heart in Nola, though Nola suspected and ached for it. Whom else could she truly share what feelings she was feeling for Simon. They were both women in between. In between strata of society, and in between solid roles in life.

"Nola! I have been calling you. Where is your head? Still on cloud nine?" John's voice broke her revere. Daydreaming, head in the clouds it has been happening way too much. All well, when reality and dreams intersect Nola supposed she was a allowed a little leeway.

“I’m here John. Sorry. Just a bit of quiet in my mind before we run headlong into opening night.” And I into a new life as leading lady, friend to a mistress of the peerage, and lover of Mr Niall, celebrated director on the Strand. She thought to herself. If my ma in County Cork could see me now, what would she think?