“You have ignored my notes, letters, and messengers. I expressly said it was urgent we speak but not a word fromyou.”
“Ah, well… I have been particularly busy helping you with yourproblem.”
“Problem?”
“Yes, you want to free Miss Emily from the trio so she can tour and I have done just that,” he said standing up from his desk and coming around to offer Mark hishand.
Mark was confused and taken off balance by his uncle’s words. “I do not understand. In my letters I expressly asked you why you went behind my back and offered to organize a tour for the trio when you knew I was trying to arrange a European tour for MissEmily.”
“Yes, but that was beside the point. All you really wanted was to free up your protégé,no?”
Mark began to pace. “I do not understand. Please explain to me what you are talking about. I understand none of what you aresaying.”
Silas carefully laid out his plan to substitute a new pianist for Emily in the trio and to then present Mr. Dunn with a complete trioanda complete season’s booking. How could he possibly refuse such an offer, he argued? And then Miss Emily would be free to tour as a soloartist.
“But you should have consulted me on this. You left me hanging with no idea of what was going on. I met with Miss Emily and she thought I was no longer interested in booking her tour,” Markinsisted.
“Ah, a fine point of protocol is all that is troubling you. I assure you, it isnothing.”
“And have you consulted with Miss Emily about these plans? Or her father? Or the other members of thetrio?”
“I have met with Giles Carter and he and I will inform them, once everything is in place and the trio’s tour isfinalized.”
Mark was conflicted. On the one hand, he was joyous that he could now arrange Emily’s tour, but he was also upset that Silas had not informed him of his plans and worked with him to accomplish these goals. He turned from Silas and went to his globe, spinning it several times to relieve hisanger.
“In my estimation, Uncle, you should have worked withmeon this,” Mark stressed as he tapped his gentleman’s walking stick in his hand to make hispoint.
Silas smiled and walked over to a bookshelf, took down a book, and blew the dust off the top before returning to his desk and opening it up. He placed it on his desk, picked up the magnifying glass again, and compared a drawing in the book with the painting he wasexamining.
“My dear Nephew, I hear your concerns, but I should like to remind you that, between the two of us, I am the seasoned musical professional, while you are a worthy, however relatively inexperienced, musical enthusiast. I believe I was acting in everyone’s best interest in moving forward with these latestdevelopments.”
Mark could not help but recognize the truth in Silas’s statement, but he still seethed at the way Silas had treated both himself and Emily by making these arrangements without consultingthem.
Silas continued, “And let me say quite openly, that I have my eye set on Miss Emily. She is a very fine young lass and I have it in mind to court her once this business isconcluded.”
This shocked Mark. He had no idea that Silas was interested inEmily.
“I do not see how that can be appropriate, Uncle. You are far older than she is, and would it not be a conflict of interest to have a relationship with aclient?”
Silas shrugged. “She is not my client. I am simply facilitating your request to free Miss Emily up from her obligations to the trio. Was that not your wish and yourinstructions?”
“But…”
“And as for being older, does that not also imply wiser? After all, I am just a few years her senior. I think we will make a delightful couple. Do you not thinkso?”
Feeling a stab in his stomach, Mark suddenly realized he was jealous. Even though it had flickered across his mind several times, he had not seriously considered pursuing Miss Emily for himself—that is until he discussed such a possibility with Alice. And that was more an intellectual exercise than a serious goal. But his uncle’s comments seemed to light the fire of passion within him and he had to admit she meant more to him than he hadrealized.
“And let me remind you, Mark, that you are soon to be engaged to Miss Sophie. Is that not the family’s plan? I know both your father and grandmother have been moving you in thatdirection.”
“It has been discussed, but there are no firm plans. And I have to say, that even though we have been friends since childhood, there is no concrete understanding between us—at least not on mypart.”
Silas gave a wry smile. “You might want to discuss that further with your father and grandmother. I think they may believeotherwise.”
“That is my business, Uncle. And I would appreciate it if you stayed out of it. I am quite capable of managing my ownaffairs.”
Silas took the magnifying glass and put it up to his eye like a monocle to examine Mark. “As you wish. And equally, I would ask that you stay out of my business with MissEmily.”
Mark refused to get drawn any further into this discussion and he answered by saying, “Then, as you assure me, Miss Emily will be relieved of her duties with the trio, I shall then move forward on her behalf for the Europeantour.”
