Giles had received a note from Silas Skeffington requesting Giles visit him at his home, and Giles had replied in the affirmative. Giles assumed it was to be a solution for the trio that would free Emily up to pursue her solo career.

Giles was ushered into Silas’s music room at the back of the house. He was surprised to see a young man seated at a piano, and it was none other than his own student, Linton Hawthorn.

“Linton…!” he exclaimed.

“Maestro,” Linton said rising. “I did not know it was to be you I would be meeting.”

Giles turned to Silas, expecting an explanation. “Mr. Skeffington, good morning. Thank you for your note, but it is a great surprise to see one of my own students here. Are you interested in arranging performances for him?”

Silas came over and took Giles by the arm. “Indirectly. Of course, I knew Mr. Hawthorn was one of your students but I wanted to keep his identity a secret until I had all of my arrangements in place.”

Linton sat back down and played a few phrases of Handel’s The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba. “Welcome, Maestro, and let the proceedings ensue.”

Silas ushered Giles and Linton to sit with him in a corner of the music room, where he had chairs arranged in a small circle so they could face each other as they held their discussion.

After the two guests were comfortably seated, Silas remained standing and began. “Mr. Carter—maestro—I believe I may have found the solution to your dilemma regarding Miss Emily.”

“Please, I long to hear your suggestion.”

“It seems the crux of the problem centers around the father’s refusal to let Emily leave the trio to pursue her own career. Is that not so?”

“It is,” Giles replied.

“Then what I propose is that we replace Miss Emily with Mr. Hawthorn and I shall present Mr. Dunn with a fait accompli—the trio complete with Linton on piano and with a series of bookings throughout the British Isles. How can he possibly refuse such an offer?

“But what about rehearsals?” Linton asked. “One does not just insert oneself into a musical group without extensive study of their music portfolio and an extended period of rehearsing.”

“He is right,” Giles said. “Not to mention how the other two musicians might feel about these changes. Have you discussed that with them?”

“That is what I was hoping you might do. After all, you have been training and managing them for several years now, is that not so?”

“It is. But this is all rather sudden.” He then turned to Linton. “And how do you feel about this? As my student, I am not certain you are ready for public performance, except at the student recital level.”

Linton shifted nervously in his chair. “Maestro, I do feel ready. This is not solo work—I shall be within a group.”

“And all the more reason. Up to now you have only worked on the piano as a student. You have no experience working in an ensemble. It is a very different experience.”

Now Linton stood and confronted Giles. “But I must start at some point. You have been very supportive and encouraging of my work up to now. You have even compared me to other professional pianists. I see this as the logical extension of my growth.”

“Perhaps. But you have not met the other members of the trio yet, have you?”

“Not yet. But Mr. Skeffington has offered to let us rehearse here until we are ready to present his proposal to Mr. Dunn.”

“That will not be necessary. You can rehearse quite comfortably at my studio where the sisters are used to rehearsing.” Giles turned to Silas, “And have you already made the tour bookings?”

“I am almost complete.”

“And when would the tour start?”

“In the autumn. We are looking at three months, from the beginning of October until just before Christmas.”

Giles turned away and gazed out the window at Silas’s back garden. Then he turned back to Silas. “If this will free up Emily for her solo career, then I am all for this. Have you spoken to the Duke about this? I know he wanted to set up a continental tour and said the time was short for him to accomplish his task.”

“Not yet. I wanted to gauge you and the trio’s reactions before speaking to him. But if this is acceptable, we might have the Duke begin his negotiations for the European tour before we meet with Mr. Dunn.”

“Is that wise? What if Mr. Dunn refuses to allow Emily to leave the trio?”

“But Miss Emily is an adult and certainly can chart her own course now, is that not so?”

“Yes, she may, but you are forgetting her loyalty to her sisters.”

“Ah, but that is now taken care of. The sisters can continue the trio with Mr. Hawthorn, freeing up Emily to tour. Is that not what this whole exercise is all about?”

Giles rubbed his forehead. “I certainly hope so.” He turned to Linton. “And you feel certain you are ready for this new responsibility?”

“I most certainly am, Maestro.”

“Very well. Then let us move forward with this new venture.”

* * *

Mark burst into his uncle’s study where Silas was examining a small painting with a magnifying glass.

“Uncle, how dare you go behind my back without consulting me!” Mark shouted out.

Silas looked up calmly, put down the painting and the magnifying glass, and smiled. “You seem upset, Nephew. And what might be troubling you this afternoon?”

“You have ignored my notes, letters, and messengers. I expressly said it was urgent we speak but not a word from you.”

“Ah, well… I have been particularly busy helping you with your problem.”

“Problem?”

“Yes, you want to free Miss Emily from the trio so she can tour and I have done just that,” he said standing up from his desk and coming around to offer Mark his hand.

Mark was confused and taken off balance by his uncle’s words. “I do not understand. In my letters I expressly asked you why you went behind my back and offered to organize a tour for the trio when you knew I was trying to arrange a European tour for Miss Emily.”

“Yes, but that was beside the point. All you really wanted was to free up your protégé, no?”

Mark began to pace. “I do not understand. Please explain to me what you are talking about. I understand none of what you are saying.”

Silas carefully laid out his plan to substitute a new pianist for Emily in the trio and to then present Mr. Dunn with a complete trio and a complete season’s booking. How could he possibly refuse such an offer, he argued? And then Miss Emily would be free to tour as a solo artist.

“But you should have consulted me on this. You left me hanging with no idea of what was going on. I met with Miss Emily and she thought I was no longer interested in booking her tour,” Mark insisted.

“Ah, a fine point of protocol is all that is troubling you. I assure you, it is nothing.”

“And have you consulted with Miss Emily about these plans? Or her father? Or the other members of the trio?”

“I have met with Giles Carter and he and I will inform them, once everything is in place and the trio’s tour is finalized.”

Mark was conflicted. On the one hand, he was joyous that he could now arrange Emily’s tour, but he was also upset that Silas had not informed him of his plans and worked with him to accomplish these goals. He turned from Silas and went to his globe, spinning it several times to relieve his anger.

“In my estimation, Uncle, you should have worked with me on this,” Mark stressed as he tapped his gentleman’s walking stick in his hand to make his point.

Silas smiled and walked over to a bookshelf, took down a book, and blew the dust off the top before returning to his desk and opening it up. He placed it on his desk, picked up the magnifying glass again, and compared a drawing in the book with the painting he was examining.

“My dear Nephew, I hear your concerns, but I should like to remind you that, between the two of us, I am the seasoned musical professional, while you are a worthy, however relatively inexperienced, musical enthusiast. I believe I was acting in everyone’s best interest in moving forward with these latest developments.”

Mark could not help but recognize the truth in Silas’s statement, but he still seethed at the way Silas had treated both himself and Emily by making these arrangements without consulting them.

Silas continued, “And let me say quite openly, that I have my eye set on Miss Emily. She is a very fine young lass and I have it in mind to court her once this business is concluded.”

This shocked Mark. He had no idea that Silas was interested in Emily.

“I do not see how that can be appropriate, Uncle. You are far older than she is, and would it not be a conflict of interest to have a relationship with a client?”

Silas shrugged. “She is not my client. I am simply facilitating your request to free Miss Emily up from her obligations to the trio. Was that not your wish and your instructions?”

“But…”

“And as for being older, does that not also imply wiser? After all, I am just a few years her senior. I think we will make a delightful couple. Do you not think so?”

Feeling a stab in his stomach, Mark suddenly realized he was jealous. Even though it had flickered across his mind several times, he had not seriously considered pursuing Miss Emily for himself—that is until he discussed such a possibility with Alice. And that was more an intellectual exercise than a serious goal. But his uncle’s comments seemed to light the fire of passion within him and he had to admit she meant more to him than he had realized.

“And let me remind you, Mark, that you are soon to be engaged to Miss Sophie. Is that not the family’s plan? I know both your father and grandmother have been moving you in that direction.”

“It has been discussed, but there are no firm plans. And I have to say, that even though we have been friends since childhood, there is no concrete understanding between us—at least not on my part.”

Silas gave a wry smile. “You might want to discuss that further with your father and grandmother. I think they may believe otherwise.”

“That is my business, Uncle. And I would appreciate it if you stayed out of it. I am quite capable of managing my own affairs.”

Silas took the magnifying glass and put it up to his eye like a monocle to examine Mark. “As you wish. And equally, I would ask that you stay out of my business with Miss Emily.”

Mark refused to get drawn any further into this discussion and he answered by saying, “Then, as you assure me, Miss Emily will be relieved of her duties with the trio, I shall then move forward on her behalf for the European tour.”

“What an excellent idea,” Silas said, picking up the painting and taking it to the window to study it in the daylight.

“And I should like to meet with Miss Emily as soon as possible to discuss the arrangements for her tour.”

“Then why not attend the meeting with the trio and the father—when he is to be introduced to the new pianist. You can discuss your plans with her at that time.”

“Very well. Only this time keep me apprised of the meeting. No more secrets.”

“Of course, Mark. How could you think otherwise?”

* * *

Emily’s first impression of Spencer Trilby was that he was an earnest-looking young man. He dressed soberly—as would befit an accountant—dark suit, a slightly too tight collar, but he burst forth in exuberant self-expression with a polka dot, navy blue and white cravat. He parted his dark hair down the middle which made him look more like a schoolboy than a serious professional. And it did not help that his round baby face sprouted freckles.

Ruth rushed over and embraced her young beau and turned back to Emily.

“This is my dear Spencer. I am so happy you are finally meeting.”

Emily smiled and went over to shake Spencer’s hand.

“Mr. Trilby,” she said.

“Such a pleasure,” he said, “But you may call me Spence as my Ruthie does. And she tells me how very talented you are, but she did not say you were so enchanting as well.”

“Thank you.”

Ruth had brought Emily to meet Spencer in his cramped, modest rooms in Holborn near the London School of Accountancy and Finance where he was studying. Ruth had decided it was best for Emily to meet him there as Teresa might become suspicious if they were to meet Spencer after a rehearsal.

“I am afraid I do not have any way to make tea in my room, but I could ask the landlady…”

“Please, do not trouble yourself. It is enough of a treat just to meet you.”

It looked as though Spencer actually blushed, and he busied his hands by arranging the pencils and pens on his desk.

Ruth stepped over to Spencer and put her arm through his, as she said, “Come sit with us, Spence. I should like you and Emily to get to know one another. We are going to need a strong ally when we go to meet Mother and Papa.”

They went over to the only place in the room to sit—a square table with four chairs. After sitting, there was an awkward silence as neither Ruth nor Spencer seemed to know how to move forward with the conversation.

Finally, Emily spoke up. “Are you officially engaged?”

The couple glanced at each other, and then Spencer said, “Not officially. But we have made plans. I have not yet broken the news to my parents. And, of course, Ruth has been reluctant to speak to hers.”

“And what are these plans you have made?”

Ruth reached over and placed her hand on Spencer’s on the tabletop. “He wishes for us to return to Bristol after his graduation and then we want to be married in his local church.”

“And when do you graduate?” Emily asked.

“At the end of the summer,” he answered.

“And you plan to go with him at that time?” Emily asked Ruth.

She nodded. “We are just so happy and want to be together as soon as possible.”

“And you are set on giving up your musical ambitions?” she asked Ruth.

“Papa’s ambitions, you mean.”

Emily had to smile. “Yes…” She addressed the young man, “And will you be living with your family when you return home?”

“For the time being. But I have my eye on a small cottage overlooking the Bristol gorge. It has a garden and even a stable. But we won’t be able to move in until the first months of next year.”

“I see. Then might I make a suggestion?”

“Of course, I would greatly value your opinion,” Spencer said.

She addressed her sister, “Then let me propose that you not return to Bristol with him at the end of the summer, but wait to marry until he has secured the accommodation. That will give you time to work on Papa. Introduce him to Spencer before he returns home and let the pot boil, so to speak. Continue with the trio for a while longer and perhaps work on finding a replacement for yourself so that it will be easier for him to let you go when you marry and move to the West Country.”

Ruth and Spencer looked at each other. “What do you think about that?” Ruth asked.

“It sounds reasonable to me,” he answered.

But Ruth’s face registered disapproval. “Well, I do not think it is reasonable,” she said pawing at his sleeve. “How will I exist without you?”

It was clear to Emily that Spencer had the clearer head when he answered, “Because we do not want to alienate your parents, I believe a little patience will go a long way in establishing a happy family life.”

Ruth appeared to pout, but finally nodded, and turned to Emily. “And you will help with Papa? You have such a way with him.”

“I will do my very best.”