“And here is another…Bold but tender. The Mozart Fantasia was a revelation of musical magic…How about that? My.My.”
“The Duke was most charming, Papa. But there is a lot we need to discuss when Giles arrives shortly. Will you be able to meet with us?” Emilyasked.
Papa took out his pocket watch and checked it. “I need to open the shop, but Arnold is in early today, so he can mind the shop for a brief time. I should very much like to hear what the Duke has to offer once we contact him.” He put his watch back in his waistcoat pocket, and then asked Emily, “And how do you feel the concertwent?”
Emily was becoming greatly conflicted about her sisters’ performances. It was clear that both Silas and the Duke were focusing on her performance and were dismissing the sistersplaying.
“It went very well. The audience was mostenthusiastic.”
“It must have been a most satisfying concert to catch the Duke’s attention,” their fatherreplied.
Ruth spoke up. “They were most gracious to us at the interval. The Duke, in particular, gushed about the performance. And he does a great deal in the world of music. Of course, he is not a professional, but I understand his family is very well connected and have supported the arts forgenerations.”
Teresa looked up from her book, took off her eyeglasses, and wiped them with her napkin, adding, “I had the roast leg of lamb at Simpsons. It was quite marvelous, and it was served with the most delightful little white potatoes with butter andparsley.”
Emily was lost in thought momentarily. She had always been a loyal supporter of her sisters and felt a great affection for them, but it was becoming increasingly clear that they were not as dedicated as she was, and the poorer quality of their work was beginning to show. This had been brought most forcefully to her attention when it was strongly suggested by the Duke and Mr. Skeffington that she perform solorecitals.
But she decided to keep these thoughts to herself for the time being. Perhaps when she and Giles would meet with the Duke later on, she might bring up the subject of solowork.
* * *
Emily and the sisters were in the parlor with their father and Giles. Teresa was knitting yet another scarf for the poor and Ruth was replacing a string on her cello. Emily and Papa were giving Giles their fullattention.
“This is a most exciting opportunity,” Giles said. “Did His Grace give any indication of what sort of support he mightoffer?”
“He did not. He just said he would like to help advance our careers,” Emilysaid.
“Might he be willing to offer monetary help, do you think?” Giles asked, clasping his hands behind his back as he paced theroom.
“That was not discussed,” Emily said. But she hesitated before saying, “However, at one point, the subject of solo recitals was broughtup.”
“What does that mean?” Papaasked.
“They were asking if I ever gave solo recitals. I said I had not, as we were atrio.”
“And rightly so,” Papa said, indignant that there should be such a suggestion. “My girls will always perform together. It is how we started out and it is how we shallremain.”
Emily locked eyes with Giles. She could see he was troubled by her father’s statement, as he had often pressed her to perform solo. But she shook her head, indicating she did not want him to bring up that subject at thistime.
“How exactly did the Duke suggest we move forward?” Papaasked.
“He proposed that we meet with him at Linfield Hall to discuss the possibilities further,” Emilysaid.
Father seemed perturbed. “I would not be able to get away from the shop for such ameeting.”
“That should not be a problem. I can direct the enquiry and report everything back to you after,” Gilesinsisted.
“I have to say it sounds intriguing, but I do have reservations,” Papa said. “Up until now, we have been able to control every aspect of their careers ourselves. I am afraid, if the Duke becomes involved, we might lose some of that control. He might want to take us in directions we may not want togo.”
“There will be no decisions made without your consent,” Emily said, going over to where her father was seated and put her hand on hisshoulder.
“Hmm.” He turned to Giles. “Promise me there will be no agreements reached at this meeting. I want to hear about everything he proposes, and then we can discuss it and decide. Do you promise methat?”
Giles nodded, but he did not seem happy aboutit.
Papa turned to Ruth and Teresa. “Are you going to thismeeting?”
Teresa shook her head, but Ruth said, “I see no reason to. Giles and Emily can report everything back to us. Why waste a day traveling to Linfield and back?” She looked up with a dreamy expression. “However, it would be nice to see the Duke again.” Then she shook her head. “But I thinknot.”
