Suddenly Emily sat up on the bed and threw her legs over the side. She rubbed her eyes and sought the time. There was a clock on the fireplace mantel that read five past ten. She gasped and stood up, checked herself in the mirror, clasped her summer shawl around her shoulders and ran toward Mark’s study where she bust in and stopped—seeing no one but a household maiddusting.
“Oh…” she exclaimed. “Where is themeeting?”
The maid answered. “It was moved to the library,ma’am.”
“Thankyou.”
Emily rushed to the library and opened the door gently, so as not to disturb if the meeting was already in progress, and slippedinside.
Mark looked up at her entrance. “Emily. Did no one tell you about the change invenue?”
“I am afraid I took a nap and was running late. A chambermaid told me you werehere.”
“Come join us, Miss Dunn,” one of the gentlemen said, as all of the gentlemen stood at herentrance.
Emily went over to the circle where they had been sitting around a low table. One comfortable chair had been reserved forher.
“Miss Emily, these gentlemen and I have been discussing what we might be able to offer you regarding the advancement of your career,” Mark said, from where he was sitting in the chair next toher.
Emily sat down and took several deep breaths to calm herself after her hurry to find themeeting.
“I believe you have met all of these gentlemen,” Markstarted.
Mr. Butler, the partner in Butler, Goodwin, and Winter, was seated across from her and she nodded to him in greeting. Next to him was Bernard Smith, the Dean of Music at London University. She nodded to him as well. But she had not been introduced to the third gentleman. And when she turned to him he introducedhimself.
“We have not met. Miss Dunn, allow me to introduce myself—Heinrich Darmstadt, formerly of the Heidelberg Conservatory of Music, at your service.” He gave a sharpnod.
“Now then, Miss Emily, each of these gentlemen has a proposal for you,” Mark said. Then he held his hand out to theprofessor.
The professor placed his spectacles, which were on a cord around his neck, on the bridge of his nose and looked atEmily.
“Miss Dunn, our school is limited as to what we can offer a talented young lady, such as yourself. If you were a student, I am certain I could arrange a scholarship for you. But, by the evidence of last evening, you are now ready for the professional musical world. The most I could offer would be to book a few recitals—paid, of course—at our concert hall during the next school year. I know that is not a great deal, and not what you are looking for, but if that interests you, I will be happy to arrangeit.”
Emily responded, “Thank you, Professor Smith. I am open to every opportunity to play professionally in the upcomingyear.”
Mark then indicated Mr.Butler.
Mr. Butler consulted several papers on the table in front of him. He then looked up at Emily and, wagging his finger, said, “We at Butler, Goodwin, and Winter would be most pleased to offer you representation as your agents. However, we are not well connected on the continent and could only offer to help negotiate on your behalf with UK bookings. They might be sporadic, but we would work to build your reputation throughout Great Britain. Is that something you might be interestedin?”
“Most certainly,” Emily said with greatenthusiasm.
“Excellent. Then, when I return to London, I shall confer with my partners and we will contact you so that you might come in and discuss a representation agreement. Then we can getstarted.”
“Might I be able to bring my current manager and teacher, Giles Carter, with me to themeeting?”
Mr. Butler seemed taken aback. “Oh, you have currentrepresentation?”
“Oh, no. He is the manager of the trio, of which I was previously amember.”
“Isee.”
Mr. Butler seemed to be considering and Emily was apprehensive that she might lose hisinterest.
“Then he does not currently representyou?”
“No.”
“Very well, then he is welcome to come as an advisor, but we cannot allow him any further representation of yourcareer.”
