Emily extended her hand to the first gentleman. “EmilyDunn.”
“Professor Henry Wilton-Barrington,” he said as hestood.
“Mr. Gerald Billings,” the other said, alsostanding.
Both gentlemen looked somewhat disheveled and one had ink-stained fingers and the other had tobacco stained hands. Both were balding and had red noses and vein streaked cheeks. Emily amused herself thinking of them as a variation on Tweedledum andTweedledee.
“It is a great pleasure to meet such distinguished gentlemen,” she said, and then turned her attention to Mark and the Duchess after smiling at Giles, and then walking over and nodding to Grandmother and shaking hands withMark.
“How lovely you look today, my dear,” the Duchess said. “Mark says you are not to play for us this afternoon. What ashame.”
Mark turned to her and admonished. “Grandmamma, she is a guest not a performertoday.”
“Might I fetch you a glass of wine?” Alice asked. “We are having Cook’s signature fish prepared with shallots and cream, so we are serving a delightfulRülander.”
“That would be lovely,” Emilysaid.
The maid had returned and, at Alice’s nod, she came over with a glass of wine forEmily.
The two gentlemen guests came over and pulled Emily aside and engaged her in conversation before lunch was served. She cast a quick glance over toward Mark who was engaged in conversation with Alice and his grandmother so she turned her attention fully on the twomen.
Before long, Alice said that lunch was ready and to please follow her to the dining room. The table was beautifully set with fine china, silver, and several low flower arrangements that did not obstruct the view of the guests chatting with eachother.
Emily was happy to see that she was seated on Mark’s left, as he was to sit at one end of the table, while she faced the Duchess opposite. Alice was at the head of the table with the two critics on either side of her, with Giles to the right of theDuchess.
The Duchess caught Emily’s attention as the soup was being served and asked, “When is your nextperformance?”
“Next week. The trio is performing in Whitehall—an afternoon concert for a charityfunction.”
“How charming. However, I shall be back at Linfield Hall. My constitution does not allow me long stays in London. I am only here today for my hairdresser and this lunch. And it is so lovely to see Alice every now and then. She does not get to Linfield very often because of thetwins.”
Emily nodded. “Shall I tell you a littlesecret?
“Oh, I love secrets,” the Duchesssaid.
“Although Mark does not know, I am planning a little recital after luncheon to entertain the guests—and most especially,you.”
“Now that sounds delightful,” the Duchess added, as she added a great deal of white pepper to hersoup.
After Emily was served, she turned to Mark and asked, “Have you spoken to Mr. Skeffington about the matter we discussed at tea the otherday?”
Mark leaned toward her and said softly, “I have not been able to get hold of him. I am most disappointed and so sorry for the confusion. I hope to get the matter cleared upshortly.”
Mr. Billings, who was seated to Emily’s left turned to her and asked, “Before you arrived, the Duke was telling us of your fine concert the other evening and hinted that you might be touring the continent on a concert series. I should love to know the details when they arefinalized.”
This surprised Emily and she replied, “Oh, that is by no means a certainty. I am still part of the trio and there are no immediate plans for a solotour.”
“I am indeed sorry to hear that. I should avail myself of a trip to Paris if you were to perform there. You see, I have a penchant for the lovely city and will make any excuse to visit. And if it was to be graced by one of your performances I should book my travel and hotelimmediately.”
“You are tookind.”
Emily was not placed where she could carry on a convenient conversation with Alice, whom she found to be very engaging and she longed to speak with her and hoped that they might have a chat later afterlunch.
The fish was quite delicious and it was a great treat to have the first fresh strawberries of the season at the end of themeal.
As the meal was finishing, Emily stood and tapped her wine glass with a knife to catch everyone’sattention.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if you are so inclined, I should like to offer a brief recital as the after-luncheonentertainment.”
