However, Mark could see that his grandmother was becoming restless and wanted to leave. When the final applause ended, Mark said to Silas, “Might you fetch the ladies while I escort Grandmamma to the carriage?”
“Happy to,” Silas said flashing a large grin.
“Did you enjoy the concert?” Mark asked as he led his grandmother out of the hall.
“It was passing fair,” she said. “I must say, the idea of female performers does upend convention, and I am not at all sure I like the idea.”
“I thought the pianist was brilliant and I have taken to the idea of seeing if I might be able to help her career,” Mark said.
“And the other two ladies?” Grandmother asked as Mark helped her into the carriage.
“That is the problem. They are nowhere as talented as Miss Emily. I do not feel inclined to see much of a future for them. But I do not know how Miss Emily might react to such an idea.”
“Then why are they dining with us?” she groused.
“Because I do see a possible bright future for Miss Emily, and it would be rude not to include the sisters after their joint concert.”
“I am getting too old for all this nonsense.”
“Then may we drop you off at the house on our way to the restaurant?”
“Which restaurant?”
“Simpsons-in-the-Strand.”
Grandmother thought about that. “No, I am hungry and quite enjoy the Simpsons’ beef. I shall endure the evening as best I can.”
“But you will be pleasant to all the young ladies, will you not?”
“Of course, Mark, what do you take me for? A heathen?”
Silas opened the carriage door. “I have three ladies and a fairly good-sized cello. Will we all fit comfortably inside?”
Grandmother scooted over to the far side of the carriage. “Come. Come. We shall manage. Simpsons is not that far.”
The three additional guests and one cello squeezed inside. Teresa carried her oboe case in her lap. And with the carriage full, it was snug.
As they arrived at Simpsons-in-the-Strand, Mark announced, “The instruments will be safe here. No need to bring them into the restaurant.”
The party filed out of the carriage and into the entryway of the restaurant, and, once they were settled at their table, Silas ordered champagne and told the waiter to keep it coming.
Grandmother focused most of her attention on the roast beef and Yorkshire pudding and very little on the conversation, except for the occasional grunt or reply to a direct question.
Silas exclusively focused his attention on Emily while Mark struggled to include the other sisters in the conversation.
Silas was consuming far too much champagne, and at one point, Mark needed to lean in and try to moderate Silas’s consumption—but to little effect.
Finally, Mark took control of the conversation and said, “This has been a lovely evening, but I should like to ask you ladies, how might we be able to further your careers?” He turned to Emily and set his gaze upon her. “It is clear there is a lot of talent, and I would imagine that as young ladies you must find it difficult to find your way in the gentleman’s world of music.”
Ruth immediately spoke up. “That is exactly the case. I cannot tell you how many times we have been denied a venue or cancelled for a concert when it was learned that we were young ladies and not young gentlemen.”
Silas then asked Emily, “And do you ever do solo recitals?”
Emily looked briefly at her sisters, turned toward Silas, and said, “I have been asked, but our father insists that we remain a trio. We have been together from the beginning and he wishes us to remain so.”
“I see,” Silas said, obviously disappointed.
But Mark pursued. “Whatever your plans are for the future, I should like to see how I… we… might be able to assist you.”
“That is very generous,” Emily said, looking directly at Mark. “What exactly did you have in mind, and how do you foresee helping us?”
“Giles Carter is our teacher and manager. I think we should set up a meeting whereby he might meet you,” Ruth said. “He is the one to speak to as he is the one who manages all of our bookings.”
“Of course, I shall be happy to meet with all of you at any time.”
Teresa who had been mostly silent during the conversation spoke up, “But why do you need us? Certainly, you could meet with Giles and accomplish all you need without us being in attendance.”
“That suits me,” Ruth said. “I care nothing for the business side of what we do. I find it to be quite a bore.”
Emily seemed to disagree when she said, “I should like to attend. I feel at least one of us should be there with him, as I am sure you and he might have questions only we can answer.”
Mark took a calling card out of his inside coat pocket. “Then, please have your manager contact me with a proposed time to meet and I shall be pleased to host the meeting at Linfield Hall at your convenience.”
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 her bag.
Silas made a point of offering to pour another glass of champagne for Emily.
“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 her head.
“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 in attendance.”
Mark placed his hand on Silas’s arm, attempting to restrain him. “Then we shall settle the bill and accompany you home in the carriage.”
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 to leave?”
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 this evening.”
Grandmother heaved a sigh. “I will do what I can, but do not expect miracles.”
As they headed for the exit, Ruth lingered behind her sisters and cozied up to Mark.
“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 escort her.
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 three arrived.
Mark disengaged himself from Ruth and went into the street to hail a hansom cab.
“Ladies, your carriage awaits,” he said jokingly.
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 of flirting.
“Not at all. I truly look forward to our next and, I hope, successful meeting.”
As Emily entered the carriage, Ruth leaned out, extending her hand, and said, “Charmed, Your Grace. I look forward to a rich and meaningful future relationship.”
Mark smiled, nodded and firmly closed the cab door.
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 before breakfast.
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 on her.
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-concert evaluation.
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 any further.
She got up from the window seat and sought out her family in the dining room.
“Good morning,” she greeted, ruffling her father’s hair—which always annoyed him, and sitting at the table and pouring herself a second cup of tea.
Ruth and Teresa looked a little hung over. They were not accustomed to the amounts of champagne that Silas had pressed upon them last evening.
“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 morning reviews?”
He scooted several newspapers over toward Emily.
“I usually pay little attention to reviews, Papa, as you know,” she said moving the papers back to him.
“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, of course.”
“Yes, Papa,” Ruth said testily.
“And here is another… Bold but tender. The Mozart Fantasia was a revelation of musical magic… How about that? My. My.”
“The Duke was most charming, Papa. But there is a lot we need to discuss when Giles arrives shortly. Will you be able to meet with us?” Emily asked.
Papa took out his pocket watch and checked it. “I need to open the shop, but Arnold is in early today, so he can mind the shop for a brief time. I should very much like to hear what the Duke has to offer once we contact him.” He put his watch back in his waistcoat pocket, and then asked Emily, “And how do you feel the concert went?”
Emily was becoming greatly conflicted about her sisters’ performances. It was clear that both Silas and the Duke were focusing on her performance and were dismissing the sisters playing.
“It went very well. The audience was most enthusiastic.”
“It must have been a most satisfying concert to catch the Duke’s attention,” their father replied.
Ruth spoke up. “They were most gracious to us at the interval. The Duke, in particular, gushed about the performance. And he does a great deal in the world of music. Of course, he is not a professional, but I understand his family is very well connected and have supported the arts for generations.”
Teresa looked up from her book, took off her eyeglasses, and wiped them with her napkin, adding, “I had the roast leg of lamb at Simpsons. It was quite marvelous, and it was served with the most delightful little white potatoes with butter and parsley.”
Emily was lost in thought momentarily. She had always been a loyal supporter of her sisters and felt a great affection for them, but it was becoming increasingly clear that they were not as dedicated as she was, and the poorer quality of their work was beginning to show. This had been brought most forcefully to her attention when it was strongly suggested by the Duke and Mr. Skeffington that she perform solo recitals.
But she decided to keep these thoughts to herself for the time being. Perhaps when she and Giles would meet with the Duke later on, she might bring up the subject of solo work.
Emily and the sisters were in the parlor with their father and Giles. Teresa was knitting yet another scarf for the poor and Ruth was replacing a string on her cello. Emily and Papa were giving Giles their full attention.
“This is a most exciting opportunity,” Giles said. “Did His Grace give any indication of what sort of support he might offer?”
“He did not. He just said he would like to help advance our careers,” Emily said.
“Might he be willing to offer monetary help, do you think?” Giles asked, clasping his hands behind his back as he paced the room.
“That was not discussed,” Emily said. But she hesitated before saying, “However, at one point, the subject of solo recitals was brought up.”
“What does that mean?” Papa asked.
“They were asking if I ever gave solo recitals. I said I had not, as we were a trio.”
“And rightly so,” Papa said, indignant that there should be such a suggestion. “My girls will always perform together. It is how we started out and it is how we shall remain.”
Emily locked eyes with Giles. She could see he was troubled by her father’s statement, as he had often pressed her to perform solo. But she shook her head, indicating she did not want him to bring up that subject at this time.
“How exactly did the Duke suggest we move forward?” Papa asked.
“He proposed that we meet with him at Linfield Hall to discuss the possibilities further,” Emily said.
Father seemed perturbed. “I would not be able to get away from the shop for such a meeting.”
“That should not be a problem. I can direct the enquiry and report everything back to you after,” Giles insisted.
“I have to say it sounds intriguing, but I do have reservations,” Papa said. “Up until now, we have been able to control every aspect of their careers ourselves. I am afraid, if the Duke becomes involved, we might lose some of that control. He might want to take us in directions we may not want to go.”
“There will be no decisions made without your consent,” Emily said, going over to where her father was seated and put her hand on his shoulder.
“Hmm.” He turned to Giles. “Promise me there will be no agreements reached at this meeting. I want to hear about everything he proposes, and then we can discuss it and decide. Do you promise me that?”
Giles nodded, but he did not seem happy about it.
Papa turned to Ruth and Teresa. “Are you going to this meeting?”
Teresa shook her head, but Ruth said, “I see no reason to. Giles and Emily can report everything back to us. Why waste a day traveling to Linfield and back?” She looked up with a dreamy expression. “However, it would be nice to see the Duke again.” Then she shook her head. “But I think not.”
Papa seemed irritated, “Ruth, you can truly be such a lazy young woman. I would think it would interest you to hear what the Duke has to say. It would give you the opportunity to ask questions and respond to what he offers. Do you have so little interest in your own career?”
Ruth sighed. “All this talk bores me. Giles is our manager. He has our best interests at heart. He can do the management and we can do the performing. That is quite sufficient for me.”
Papa stood up. “Ruth, Teresa, sometimes you truly anger me. I have always had your best interests in mind, but if you care so little about your own lives, I really do not know what is going to happen to you.”
Teresa looked up from her knitting. “Oh, Papa, what difference does it make? We are just going to get married someday soon, and our careers will be over in any case.”
Papa was visibly upset. “Teresa, is that what you truly believe?”
“I certainly h
ope so. A career is no substitute for a husband,” she insisted.
“But a career in music is certainly greater than ordinary comforts of domesticity. Can you not see that?”
Teresa just stared at him like he had just grown a third eye.
Emily stepped in and said, “Papa, Teresa is expressing her wish to have a family. There need not be a conflict with having a musical career as well. I am certain with Giles’s skills and expertise he can manage both for her, or any of us, can he not?”
He seemed to be placated by her suggestion. “You may be right.”
Giles now stepped forward and asked, “How is this meeting to be arranged?”
A Dashing Duke for Emily Page 3
