The guests entered the large entrance hallway and waited to be directed to where the meeting was to beheld.
Mark turned to the butler and said, “Wesley, I think tea in the blue sitting-room would be lovely.” He turned to Giles. “Unless you would prefer a whiskey orsherry?”
“Tea would be perfect,” Gilesreplied.
“Come,” Mark said, leading them down the hallway to a splendid room overlooking the estate park, with its vistas of the gardens and the lake in the distance. Silas was standing at the far end of the room helping himself to awhiskey.
“Please make yourselves comfortable. It is almost warm enough to have the doors open, but there is a bit of a chilly breeze off the lake today, so I think not,” Marksaid.
“Good morning,” Silas said as he walked toward the guests and offered his hand to Emily, and when she took it, Silas raised her hand and kissed it. Then he turned to Giles and said, “You must be the professor ofmusic.”
“Giles Carter,” Giles said, bowingslightly.
“Silas Skeffington, Mark’s… His Grace’suncle.”
“Good day to you,sir.”
Emily began to wander the room admiring the artwork. She stopped in front of a painting. “What a splendid portrait by Gainsborough. Is it of arelative?”
“My maternal grandmother. But alas, she is no longer with us. However, she was a beautiful lady and, yes, it is a splendid portrait, is itnot?”
“I should like to see more of the artwork after our meeting,” Emilysaid.
“I shall give you a tour of the house. We have many fine pieces. And please beseated.”
Giles and Emily sat, but Sophie stood beside Mark taking hisarm.
It was clear to Emily that Miss Sophie was threatened by her presence and was making it perfectly clear that she had claims on the Duke. Emily assumed the two were courting. But she dismissed the thought, as she was much more interested in the business with HisGrace.
Wesley came in with the tea on a trolley. He rolled it to a side table and began toserve.
Mark remained standing but removed Sophie’s arm from his as he accepted his tea fromWesley.
“Now, then…” he began. “I have been giving a great deal of thought to your stunning talent, Miss Emily, and I would like to make a proposition toyou.”
Giles answered for her. “We would love to hear what you have to say,” he said as he sipped histea.
“Very well. I have a number of contacts on the continent that organize and broker concert series. And I have written to a number of them proposing a concert tour within the next six months to a year. I feel it is time for a breakthrough, and an extended tour of Europe would be just the thing to put you on the map. Followed up by a triumphant return to Great Britain for another tour. What would you say tothat?”
Emily was momentarily speechless but managed to answer. “Oh, Mark, that is beyond my wildest hope. I cannot wait to tell my sisters of youroffer.”
Mark’s expression changed from a wide grin to concern. “Oh, Miss Emily, I think you misunderstand me. The offer is not for the trio, but for you as a solo performer. I know you will set Europe afire with your marvelous playing and enchanting presence. You will become a sensation overnight. But as a solo artist, not as atrio.”
Emily looked at Giles, who sputtered, but finally said, “Your Grace, I think it is you who misunderstand. Emily is part of a group that cannot be divided. They are committed to working as a trio, and I know for certain that Mr. Dunn absolutely forbids the breakup of the group. I am most dreadfully sorry, but Emily is not available as a soloartist.”
“I see,” Mark said darkly. He turned away and gazed out a window across the park, but turning back said, “And I am dreadfully sorry to say that, while I admire your fidelity to your sisters, I am certain you must realize they are not of the same musical excellence as yourself. And even if they were of equal quality, it is very difficult to obtain international bookings for a trio. But as a soloist, there is not only the opportunity to give solo concerts, but the whole world of solo performing with orchestras and chamber groups opens up for you. Surely you can see that, can younot?”
Emily was terribly upset and her temper flared. “But Mark, I cannot just abandon my sisters. We have worked together all our lives. It is the very basis of ourfamily.”
“But my dear Miss Emily, you may need to consider that your father is blinded by his regard for all of his children, regardless of the quality of their work. Are you sincerely ready to hold yourself back by accepting your father’swill?”
Giles turned to Emily. “He may be right, my child. As much as I appreciate your father’s desire to make the trio be a successful musical enterprise, I have to agree with His Grace. They are not up to professional standards—while you have the potential to become an international musical starperformer.”
Emily was extremely agitated and stood, went to the window, and gazed outside, twisting her handkerchief, and snapped back, “The proposal puts me in an untenableposition!”
Mark went over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Will you, at least, please consider my offer? But realize this is time sensitive and, if we are to move forward for the next concert season, we must act within the next fewweeks.”
Mark’s hand on her shoulder calmed Emily slightly and she turned to him. “Yes, I will think about it. I can see what you say is true about my sisters. Their playing is mediocre and I know they lack the discipline and will to become truly successful. But my father… We will just have to wait andsee.”
