Mark held the card, and overcome with a welling up of affection for this lovely woman, handed it to her. With his card in her hand, she lowered her eyes and carefully put the card in herbag.
Silas made a point of offering to pour another glass of champagne forEmily.
“Drink up. The evening is young and it is time to celebrate,” he said, spilling wine as he reached over with the champagne bottle to pour her another glass, but she put her hand over the glass and shook herhead.
“No thank you. I have had quite enough for one evening. And I think we should be returning home, as our father always waits up for us after a concert where he is not inattendance.”
Mark placed his hand on Silas’s arm, attempting to restrain him. “Then we shall settle the bill and accompany you home in thecarriage.”
Releasing an appreciative sigh, Emily slowly rose from her chair and said, “No thank you. I think it best if we take a cab. You have been so gracious and kind to us this evening. I do not wish to impose on your hospitality any further.” She looked at Teresa and Ruth and asked, “Sisters, are you ready toleave?”
Seeing Silas was too drunk to stand, Mark stood and said, “Then let me fetch a cab for you and retrieve the oboe and the cello from our carriage.” He turned and whispered quietly to his grandmother, “I will return shortly. And see if you can sober Silas up, even a little. He has disgraced himself thisevening.”
Grandmother heaved a sigh. “I will do what I can, but do not expectmiracles.”
As they headed for the exit, Ruth lingered behind her sisters and cozied up toMark.
“Thank you for the lovely supper. It was such a pleasure meeting you and your family this evening,” she said as she ran her hand down Mark’s arm before taking his arm for him to escorther.
Emily had gone ahead to the carriage, where it was standing in front of the restaurant, opened the door and was retrieving the oboe case and the cello when the other threearrived.
Mark disengaged himself from Ruth and went into the street to hail a hansomcab.
“Ladies, your carriage awaits,” he saidjokingly.
Teresa was the first in, followed reluctantly by Ruth. Emily held back and said, “Thank you for a wonderful evening. And I shall have Giles contact you as soon as we meet and discuss a plan. I hope you do not mind if I accompany him to the meeting.” She said this very coolly with no hint offlirting.
“Not at all. I truly look forward to our next and, I hope, successfulmeeting.”
As Emily entered the carriage, Ruth leaned out, extending her hand, and said, “Charmed, Your Grace. I look forward to a rich and meaningful futurerelationship.”
Mark smiled, nodded and firmly closed the cabdoor.
Chapter 4
Aside from the piano, Emily loved to read. She practiced and studied the piano throughout the day, almost every day. But when she had free time, she liked to curl up in the window seat in the parlor that overlooked the back garden and read. However, this morning she was having a difficult time concentrating on her book beforebreakfast.
Last evening had been a wakeup call for Emily. She had slept little last night and was the first of the family to arrive downstairs for breakfast—even before her mother. And now, as she tried to focus on her book, her thoughts drifted to the Duke of Edgerton.What a gentle and solicitous man. And so very handsome,she thought.It had been a long time since she found a man not only attractive but also caring and solid. He appeared to be a man who was both thoughtful and responsible. Not at all like the many young men who flocked to her because of her talent and novelty. She had become inured to almost all of these feckless fellows and barely noticed them anymore—which made her realize, all the more, what a profound effect Mark had had onher.
But she shook off her thoughts of Mark and began to consider his proposal. This was all too much to absorb by herself. There would definitely need to be a family discussion about all of this along with Giles when he arrived this morning for the post-concertevaluation.
Emily tried to go back to her book, but it was of no use. She was too flooded with thoughts and concerns about the immediate future to concentrate on the book anyfurther.
She got up from the window seat and sought out her family in the diningroom.
“Good morning,” she greeted, ruffling her father’s hair—which always annoyed him, and sitting at the table and pouring herself a second cup oftea.
Ruth and Teresa looked a little hung over. They were not accustomed to the amounts of champagne that Silas had pressed upon them lastevening.
“Your sisters were telling me all about your dinner and visit with the Duke of Edgerton. That must have been a pleasant surprise,” their father said. “And have you seen the morningreviews?”
He scooted several newspapers over towardEmily.
“I usually pay little attention to reviews, Papa, as you know,” she said moving the papers back tohim.
“Here’s one quote,” he said, picking up one of the papers to read from it.Virtuoso playing, once again, by freshest musical sensation to grace the keys of a piano… He looked over his glasses at his other daughters. “He means you two, as well, ofcourse.”
“Yes, Papa,” Ruth saidtestily.
