“Yes, how did you know?” Gilesasked.
“Well… how often does one come across suchperfection?”
Emily called out from inside the studio? “Whom are you speaking with?” Then she appeared at the door. “Oh, Mark, what a pleasant surprise, were you happeningby?”
“More or less. I was having lunch with my sister, Alice, and we were discussing you. She wants to meet you and suggested a lunch next Wednesday at noon, and since I was already in London, I thought I might stop by to invite the two of you to attend. Is that apossibility?”
“It is for me,” Emily saideagerly.”
“I have a regular student that day at that time, but I can make rearrangements,” Gilesadded.
“Excellent. And might I invite the two of you to tea? However, I do not know the area and cannot suggest where we mightgo?”
Giles looked disappointed. “I am sorry. I have a student in just a few minutes and am notfree.”
“MissEmily?”
“I am not really dressed to go out,” shesaid.
“You look just fine, MissEmily.”
Emily glanced at her plain, practice dress and smoothed down her skirt, hoping there were no rips ortears.
“Yes, I can go and I happen to know of a delightful teashop just nearby.” She turned to Giles and asked, “Do you mind if I leave now? If you have any comments for me about today’s lesson, perhaps you can convey them to metomorrow.”
“Of course. You two run along and have a scone for me,” he saidsmiling.
“You do not mind being left behind?” Emily asked as she gathered up her music portfolio and hershawl.
“Not atall.”
“Miss Emily,” Mark said, offering her his arm and then they headed down thestairs.
Emily directed Mark to the teashop where she and Linton had had their tea. She found it to be comforting and cozy. But, of course, coming here again reminded her of Linton, and she smiled inwardly at the thought of the handsome and polite young man. But it did not divert her attention from the equally handsome and charming Duke of Edgerton. She could not help but dream for a brief moment about how delightful it would be to have such a man as a husband. But she immediately dismissed such thinking as fantasy. It could never be. He was a Duke and she but a middle-classmusician.
They sat at a table by a window overlooking the street with its passing vehicle and pedestriantraffic.
“Lovely teashop,” Mark said as he studied themenu.
“Yes, I only just discovered it. Another of Giles’s piano students introduced it to me. He raved about it. And we had the most delicious cream tea, which I highlyrecommend.”
“Then that is what we shall have. And might I suggest a sherry to accompany thetea?”
Emily looked up from her menu. “Not for me. I must still do some practicing when I gethome.”
Emily noticed Mark looked disappointed, but she was not sure if it was because she would not have the sherry or if he might not like the idea of her having had tea with another man. But she realized that was a presumptive thought. Why would he care who she had tea with? Even though she might like to think of Mark as a possible suitor, she knew he was already attached to that handsome MissSophie.
Then Mark became distracted by the waitress when she came to take theorder.
“Cream tea for two and a sherry for me, youngMiss.”
“Yes, sir,” the waitress said with a bigsmile.
Mark turned to Emily and, clasping his hands together on top of the table, asked, “I have to say, I am a little surprised I have not heard back from you about my offer of a European tour. I thought I made it clear time was of theessence.”
Emily looked down, slightly embarrassed. “I am sorry, Mark. It has not been an easy decision. When Mr. Skeffington came to visit my family, he agreed to help find bookings for the trio. I thought he must have conferred with you, and I thought you had decided against working for a Europeantour.”
“Silas came to seeyou?”
