Then Spencer stood and took Ruth’s arm and threaded it throughhis.
“Mr. Dunn that is an excellent idea. In any case, Miss Ruth Dunn and I are to be married. And it would be ever so much more convenient if she were no longer connected with the trio. She and I have our lives to lead in Bristol, and we hope to have your blessing but, I believe I speak for Ruth when I say, we are prepared to be married even withoutit.”
Mother looked up, “Well, you have my blessing, dear. Then she nudged her husband. “Owen, giveit.”
Papa stuttered but said. “Very well. You have ourblessing.”
Ruth turned to Spencer and they embraced. Mother cried. And Teresa sighed and said, “Thank God, that is over. Now we can cancel that damnedtour.”
Emily went over and took both of her father’shands.
“Papa, you still have me, and I am going to do my very best for the family name. A whole new chapter is opening up for me and I hope you will be very proud. Perhaps not all of the Dunn children will remain in music, but I shall. Please find your comfort inthat.”
He looked up at her, but she could still see his lingering sorrow. And then it struck her. With the trio disbanded, Silas would no longer have a hold over her. He could no longer threaten her with abandoning the trio, for the trio had abandonedhim.
Chapter 26
The next day, Emily received a note from Alice in the morning post, urging her to come for dinner that evening. Mark was to be in town and requested she beinvited.
Emily immediately replied in the affirmative and went to drop her note in the nearest post box so that it could be delivered by the afternoonpost.
The mood at home was, to say the least, mixed. With the trio now defunct, Mr. Skeffington needed to be notified to cancel the tour, and Linton would have to be informed he was required to seek new employment. Ruth took it upon herself to take charge of the trio’s dissolution, much to Emily’s relief, as she wished to have no more dealings withSilas.
Ruth stood up, decisively, from her place at the table and announced. “I shall inform Mr. Skeffington this very morning of our decision to disband the trio. There is not a moment to waste. It is time to moveon.”
It appeared that Ruth, now freed from the trio and with her engagement now out in the open, had found the will to assert herself and show that she could be a successful future wife andmother.
Father still moped about the house when not at the shop, but Mother began talking about wedding plans and appeared to have a renewed energy in her rather sedatelife.
And even though the trio had become suddenly defunct, and Teresa could no longer obsess over Linton, Emily decided she still wanted to go through with her plan for Teresa’s romantic life. And she would start this veryafternoon.
As it was a bank holiday, Emily knew both Fanny and Trent would be at home, and decided to invite them to tea with Teresa present. She began by writing a brief invitation to her two friends and hand delivered it to the Allen househerself.
Then she roused the still sleeping Teresa, oversaw her morning toilette, and told her that she was expected to be at tea that afternoon with Fanny andTrent.
Teresa looked askance at her and asked, “But they areyourfriends. Why do you need me there? I would much rather read or take a walk in thepark.”
“No. Believe me, it is for your benefit,” Emilyinsisted.
“My benefit? Whatever are you talkingabout?”
“Just wait and see.AndI want you to look your verybest.”
Teresa had her new eyeglasses and she did, indeed, look much handsomer. After Teresa was dressed under Emily’s direction, Emily stood back and inspected herhandiwork.
“Very nice. You look quite lovely.” She took Teresa by the shoulders and turned her toward the standing mirror. They stood side by side gazing at themselves, and both had a faint smile. After all her effort, it was amazing to see how much they resembled eachother.
Then Emily admonished her. “And do not go and mess yourself up during the day. You are to look quite presentable at tea time. Is thatunderstood?”
“Yes, Emily,” Teresa said, with less enthusiasm than Emily had hopedfor.
“And put on a fresh coat of lip rouge just before theyarrive.”
Teresa flopped down on the edge of her bed. “Oh, Emily, you can be such atyrant.”
“Good. And remember that all day in case you feel yourself becominglax.”
“Oh, Idowish it was I who was becoming married. How I long to get out of this house and away from all of you. Not that I do not love you all, butreallythis is becoming such achore.”
