The Ram Rebellion(65)

As the last notes died, I started forward to talk to the dancers. There were a few things I had noticed that needed work and I had forgotten about my guests. Seeing that the dance was over they started to applaud. The girls fortunately knew how to respond. They turned to face their audience and sank into deep, thank you audience curtsies. The men, all of them down-timers, seemed to have adopted the ballet style, and just bowed their heads, keeping an arm out to support their partner.





I hung back with Mary as the down-time ladies surged forward to talk to the dancers. I was feeling a bit smug. Not only had the dance gone well, but the look on the faces of the male dancers filled me with hope. This evening was becoming a very good retention tool. Dance with the Grantville Ballet Company and meet important people. There were going to be a few families who were going to be really impressed by the names that their menfolk dropped when they got home. Maybe, just maybe, I wouldn't have to replace any of this group of down-time dancers. It had been a bit of a pain over the months with the level of turnover I had been suffering among the male dancers. I just about turned around and hugged Mary there and then.





Eventually the ladies returned. They had other places to go. Other places to be. As I walked them to the door Mary asked if I had recordings of any of the company's performances they could borrow. "Especially anything concerning Brillo," commented a smiling Kunigunde. "The princess has been told that she can see Bad, Bad Brillo and the continuing adventures of Brillo on `video.'"





"Yes," said Mary, "Mrs. Richards said you had copies of all your performances. If we could borrow them for the princess, especially any of the Brillo performances, you would have our hearty thanks." That last was greeted by sounds of agreement from the ladies. Apparently this princess of theirs really liked Brillo. Well, Flo would be happy about that.





As I shut the door on my departing guests a thought struck me. Princess? What princess? I called out to the dancers, asking if any of them knew who the princess was. There were some stunned looks shot my way. "The princess Kristina Vasa," the men chorused.





At my bewildered look they tried again. "King Gustavus Adolphus' daughter and heir," a couple of the men said. I started nodding my head at that. I knew who Gustavus Adolphus was, of course. I'd even seen him when he passed through Grantville last year. It was nice to know his last name, though.





"Elisabeth Matowski to see the princess. I come bearing gifts." I repeated to the strange woman who answered the door. The first time had been for the large down-timer that I assumed was a servant or something. I showed the contents of my basket to her. She touched the boxed videos.





"You are the maîtresse de ballet?" At my nod she continued, pointing to the videos. "These are the `videos' of the Brillo ballets?" Again I nodded. She burst into a smile, her face lighting up. Reaching out she guided me in. "The princess, she will be very happy to see you. Please, I am Lady Ulrike, come in, come in, follow me."





After shooing off the servant, Lady Ulrike led me to a large room set up as a television room. Elisabeth Sofie and her cousin Countess Emelie were already seated there chatting with a much younger girl. They all turned round when Lady Ulrike knocked on the open door. All three jumped to their feet. Elisabeth Sofie and Countess Emelie smiled at me and all three dipped their heads in token bows.





The little girl looked at me. Elisabeth Sofie whispered something in her ear. She tilted her head to one side as she continued to look at me with a growing smile lighting up her face. Lady Ulrike started the introductions "Your Highness, Elizabeth Matowski, the maîtresse de ballet. Frau Elizabeth, Her Highness, Princess Kristina. Kristina, Frau Matowski has brought you some `videos.' What do you say?"





The princess gave me a sweet curtsey before approaching. She was wearing one of Flo's finest quality sweaters. It was one of the special Brillo pattern range, with the horned head of Brillo blazoned prominently across the front. There were also other signs of the Brillo merchandising machine in the house, the ceramic cup, the branded back pack, the branded cap.





There were even some of the new ceramic figurines being produced by Melba Sue Freeman and her collection of artists. Not just Brillo, but also some of the new range of ballet dancers. I smiled at that. There was a good chance the school might be getting yet another student, or at least a new patron.





"They are Brillo videos? Oh, thank you, Frau Matowski!" It was all she could do not to clap her hands in joy, she seemed so happy.