Blake nodded at him, their eyes meeting for a moment. Blake’s smile widened and their gaze held just a fraction longer than Niall would have expected before Blake glanced down at the keys. A few pretty chords sounded, then Blake launched into the lilting strains of a popular ballad.
His voice was magical—a clear, melodious tenor. Even John sat up straighter as the song went on. Blake sang with emotion and vitality. His playing was just as good, far better than David’s had been. The intensity of feeling that the song demanded shone through in Blake’s face. Niall was absolutely captivated. His heart seemed to expand and squeeze in his chest simultaneously. His blood pumped faster, sending heat through him in the most inconvenient way. He should have been alarmed that his cock responded to the sound of Blake’s voice, but he was too mesmerized to care.
Before Blake finished the song, Niall had already cast him as Siegfried. But there was a theatrical protocol to observe, even though it suddenly felt like a waste of time.
“Thank you, that was wonderful,” he said, doing a poor job of keeping the excitement out of his voice as Blake finished and stood from the piano. “If you’d like to have a seat, we’ll do a few readings.”
“Down, boy,” John whispered to Niall as he followed Blake with his eyes all the way to the back of the room.
“Ssh.” Niall swatted John to get him to behave, then cleared his throat and fussed with the papers in front of him to calm his overwhelmed nerves. “Right, let’s start with Mr. Archibald and Mr. Foreman reading scene three.”
It took every last ounce of patience Niall had to grind his way through the hour it took to give everyone who had auditioned a chance to read scenes. He would have leapt at the chance to get up and read with Blake himself, but after his initial reaction to the man, he didn’t trust himself not to act like a complete idiot around him. Then again, since there was no way on earth that he wasn’t going to cast Blake to play opposite him, he would have to drag himself back out of the clouds to at least be able to talk to him, and soon.
“Thank you, one and all. I’ve seen everything I need to see,” Niall announced as Blake and Ian finished reading a scene together. “I’ll post the cast list on the community board tomorrow morning.”
“Brilliant,” Ian said, bringing his script back to the table as the room erupted into noise and scraping chairs as everyone got up to leave. “That will give me plenty of time to share the good news with Annamarie Cannon and her father before supper tomorrow. We’ve all been invited to dine with Lord Masterton at Brickley House, you know.”
“How very lovely,” Niall said, no idea who Lord Masterton was or what the significance of Brickley House could be. Then again, he wasn’t entirely sure where London was or what the significance of Buckingham Palace was as his gaze settled on Blake’s bright smile.
“You know the Cannons?” Blake asked Ian, his dark brows shooting up.
“They’ve been staying with us this summer,” Ian answered with an arrogant tilt of his chin.
“I’m impressed,” Blake said.
Niall suddenly wanted to murder Ian. No, that wasn’t right. Blake was just being kind. That had to be it. Everything about Blake Williamson radiated kindness and good nature. The way he smiled at Ian was simply polite. Although it could be argued that the way he smiled at Niall was merely polite too. Niall prayed it was more than that. He prayed Blake felt the same instant kinship that he did.
“I know who you are,” Niall blurted once Ian walked away to fetch his things.
Blake’s smile widened for a moment. “I’m sure everyone knows who I am, thanks to my father,” he said, his expression settling into a familiar smile.
“No, I mean I heard you play that concert at Christmas,” Niall went on, losing his battle to remain calm and mature. “Your playing, that is. And your singing. I’m, er, familiar with your work.”
“You’re just saying that.” Blake tilted his head down slightly, bashfully.
Niall’s heart came close to exploding in his chest. “No, I mean it. I loved that concert. You’re incredibly talented.”
“Yes, well, talent in a future duke isn’t considered much of an asset,” Blake said. “I have a feeling Father isn’t going to allow me to indulge in the arts for much longer after I graduate. That’s why I was sincerely hoping to land a part in your play. It would be a last hurrah, so to speak.”
“You have the part,” Niall blurted before Blake was completely finished. “The part of Siegfried is yours.”
As soon as the words were out, Niall felt like he might be sick. Or that he’d already been sick all over Blake’s shoes. The effect was the same. At least the rest of the men who had come to audition had already left the room, and John and David were too busy flirting over by the piano to have heard his nonsense.
Blake blinked in surprise, then burst into a smile. “Are you certain? You want to offer me the part?”
Niall forced himself to unclench and stop behaving like a moon-eyed schoolgirl. “You were far and away the best singer who came out today,” he said in a more conversational tone. “Trust me. You didn’t see what I had to work with earlier.”
“I did have the impression that not everyone was up to scratch,” Blake said with a look that made Niall feel as though it were the two of them against the world.
“You’re the only person in the world who I can see playing Siegfried,” Niall said, relaxing even more. Blake was human. He had to remind himself of that. He wasn’t some god sent down from the heavens to bless Earth with his presence. Although Niall wouldn’t have been at all surprised to find out he was. “I want you,” he said, then made a wordless sound of embarrassment and went on with, “I mean, I want you for the part. You’re perfect for the part. You’re the only one who could do it any justice.”
“Then I happily accept.” Blake’s smile was warm and forgiving. He moved past Niall to fetch his satchel and coat. “Who do you have playing Greta?”
“Um, me?” Niall followed him, trying not to think of himself as a puppy. “I hope you don’t mind,” he rushed to add.
“Not at all,” Blake said with a gracious laugh, straightening from where he’d picked up his satchel. “I think it would be amazing to play opposite the man who wrote the play.”
Niall’s mouth hung open, but he couldn’t think of a thing to say to a compliment like that. Best of all, Blake didn’t seem at all uncomfortable with playing opposite another man. Though he still didn’t think that Blake was an invert like him.
“Rehearsals start tomorrow afternoon,” Niall said at last, no idea what else to say. He was highly aware that John and David had stopped flirting with each other and were now watching him and Blake with a little too much interest.
“Fantastic,” Blake said, putting on his coat and looping his satchel over his shoulder. He paused, an idea lighting his face. “You know, I have a spare ticket to that concert at McQueen Hall tonight. Do you want to come?”
Niall nearly choked on his tongue. “That’s the most exclusive concert the university has seen all year,” he said.
“I know.” Blake’s eyes lit with mischief. “I bought two tickets, but I haven’t been able to find anyone to go with me. Are you interested?”