“I didn’t.”He strode over to the harpsichord and took Sophia’s hand, helping her rise from the bench.“At least, not by myself.Miss Walden was instrumental in helping me.”
With her free hand, Sophia poked him in the ribs at his horrible pun.Still smiling, she shifted her gaze from him to Gert.“I merely suggested a few revisions.He already had a solid foundation in the melody.”
“So you write music as well as shorthand?”Xavier took out the sheets they’d copied from the Rossini score.
“When my circumstances permit, yes, I enjoy composing.”
Xavier gestured for Matthew to join him by the cabinet.“I would like us to try the Rossini overture.Matthew will be uninterested in playing it once he returns with the license.”
Matthew kissed Miss Ebrington’s hand before joining Xavier by the pianoforte.“Likely true.”
“Well?”Xavier held a copy of the music out to Vincent, who finally realized he was still holding Sophia’s hand.“Which instrument would you prefer to play?”
He hadn’t been gazing at Sophia like a besotted fool, the way Matthew gazed at his betrothed, but Vincent found himself just as reluctant to let go of her.
She resolved the matter by breaking contact first.As she settled in his former spot on the sofa, she cast him an expectant smile.
He wanted to see that radiant look on her face.Often.Preferably up close.In his bed.
With great effort, he cleared the thought from his mind before his imagination became inappropriate for the room full of people in which he found himself.“I’ll let you two choose and then take what’s left.”
Xavier sat at the pianoforte.
Matthew headed for the harpsichord.“Speaking of writing,” he said as he sat on the bench.He busied himself ordering the music sheets.
Vincent took out the violin that was strung so he could bow with his left hand and checked its tuning.
“Young man, you forgot to complete your thought,” Gert admonished.
“What?”Matthew looked up.“Oh.Yes.I was just wondering if the three of you—” his glance took in Wallace, Xavier, and Vincent “—had noticed you all share an unusual trait with your father.”
Vincent looked at each of his brothers.He and they couldn’t be more different than if they had indeed come from different parents.
Matthew waved a page in the air before setting it back in the music holder.“Not only are all three of you ambidextrous, which is annoying enough, but you can all write with both hands at the same time.”
Vincent dropped his hands to his side, almost letting go of the bow and violin.He and Xavier could do so, but he’d never noticed if Wallace could.
“No, I don’t,” Wallace said.
“I’ve seen you draw with both hands,” Sophia said.“You held a different kind of pencil in each hand.”
“Oh.”He cast his confused look at Agnes.“Doesn’t everyone draw that way?”
Agnes chuckled.“No, my dear boy, they do not.”
The three brothers stared at each other.
“Mother was right-handed,” Vincent offered.As difficult as it was for him to recall clear memories of her, it had to be even harder for Wallace, who had only been seven when she died.Xavier had barely turned four.
“Well.”Wallace cleared his throat.“Are you lot going to regale us with Rossini or not?”
The advantage of performing music his audience had never heard was that none of them knew what the overture sounded like with a full orchestra, so they had no idea what they were missing.All he, Xavier, and Matthew had to do was play their parts well.And trust that they had correctly transcribed the notes, to do Rossini justice.
Vincent set up his music stand halfway between the pianoforte and harpsichord so that he, Matthew, and Xavier could all see each other, and started them off.
There were a few missed notes, a late entrance or two.Nothing additional rehearsal wouldn’t resolve.Still, Vincent was able to set that aside and lose himself in the pleasure of the music, the brilliance of Rossini’s composition.In his head he heard the full orchestra at the opera house in Rome playing the overture toTheBarber of Seville.
When they finished, Vincent blinked a few times before he brought himself back to his surroundings.Matthew and Xavier bowed, reminding Vincent to do the same, as their audience applauded their approval.
