“I am truly sorry to hear about your loss,” she said. “But you are so talented I am certain more opportunities will open up for you. Has Giles been able to help in anyway?”
“He is not charging me for my lessons until I get employment, but he has not been able to secure me any newwork.”
Emily carefully withdrew her hand and turned to him moredirectly.
But before she could speak, he said, “I was hoping we might choose some music for our evening at the café. The owner keeps asking me aboutyou.”
“Linton, about that…” Emily hesitated, finding it very difficult to tell him about herengagement.
But before she could speak he pushed forward, “And, by the way, how is your new career going? Do you have your European bookingsyet?”
She reached over and placed her finger gently on his mouth to stop him speaking further. “Linton, please, I have something important I need to tellyou.”
Seeming so surprised by her action, he said nothing more and sat upstraighter.
She reluctantly began, “There have been a lot of changes in my life these past few weeks and I will not be able to go to the café or play music withyou.”
He seemed to be puzzled and asked, “Why not? Are you to start your touralready?”
“No. Linton, that is not theissue.”
“Oh, what is it,then?”
“I am engaged to be married inOctober.”
Linton’s expression fell and he scooted away from her on thebench.
“I am to marry the Duke of Edgerton. I know it is a shock and a surprise. But it is to me, too. I had no idea this would come about while you and I were seeing each other. And I had no intention of leading you on. Please believe me aboutthat.”
He stood and looked down at her. “It is difficult for me to believe that you had no idea that the Duke was interested in you enough to ask you to marry him while we were having our lovely times together. It makes me feel like a completefool.”
Now Emily was shocked. “I am sorry you feel that way, Linton. But, truly, other than working together and enjoying his company while we were working on my career, I had no idea he would propose. After all, I am not of the aristocracy and I fully expected him to be engaged to his longtime friend, and the choice of his family—Miss SophieCrauford.”
“And do you love him? Or is this an opportunity you cannot pass up—to be aduchess?”
Now Emily was offended and angry and she stood. “How dare you accuse me of such an unseemly act. I had hoped you and I might remain friends and colleagues, but I can see you may not be capable offriendship.”
“Friends? You and me? It seems unlikely that aduchesswould have any interest in being friends with a poor, strolling musician such asme.”
She suddenly felt very sad. “Oh,Linton…”
“Good day Miss Emily. I hope you have a splendid aristocraticlife.”
And with that, he dashed across the garden and left by way of thehouse.
Emily sat down, shaken and even sadder. But she realized that this may have been a blessing. What would have happened if they had continued seeing each other and she discovered this unpleasant side of Linton after it was too late? She sighed, closed her eyes, and brought the smiling face of her fiancé to hermind.
Chapter 34
Emily threw herself into rehearsing. She was focused on the music for the Great Britain tour, as the European tour was not to be until next year. She had never worked so hard before, and she maintained her lessons with Giles, while making sure to avoid crossing paths with Linton. Although, Giles told her that Linton was similarly making an effort to avoidher.
She received a note from the Duchess in the early post one morning. She was requesting a meeting with her and Alice at Linfield Hall to continue planning the wedding. And in the same post was a letter from Alice, confirming the Duchess’s request and offering to take her to Linfield in her carriage. Emily replied in the affirmative to bothletters.
Emily was not certain if this was to be a day trip or an overnight stay, so she packed a few night things in case she needed toremain.
When Alice called for her on the morning of the trip, she seemed most excited as they settled into hercarriage.
“Guess what I have?” Alice said, enthusiastically, as she placed her hand on a large box in the seat besideher.
