The audience had been even more appreciative than usual and Bella had taken curtain call after curtain call. She could still hear the cheering and applause echoing in her head as she slapped cold cream on her face, scrubbing at the thick coating of greasepaint with a flannel. ‘You look like a circus clown,’ Maria said, staring critically at Bella’s reflection in the mirror. ‘I hope you’re not going to get all temperamental now that you’re top of the bill, my girl.’ Bella snorted with laughter. ‘Not much chance of that with you around, Mother dear.’ ‘When you call me Mother, I know you’ve really got the hump.’ Maria pursed her lips. ‘What’s up?’ ‘You haven’t heard the news then?’ ‘Mafeking and Ladysmith have been relieved. No, that was last year. Um, let me guess … I know, the King has sent you a personal invitation to his Coronation next year along with Lillie Langtry and the rest.’ ‘Very funny, Mother. I might die laughing.’ ‘Then what is it?
