Giles was all smiles when the trio of sisters arrived at his studio for their rehearsal.

“Linton…” Emily said as she was surprised to see the young man seated on the piano bench. “Are you finishing up your lesson?”

“Are you glad to see me?” he asked, as he stood, smiling, and went over to give her a hug, which she shied away from, thinking it inappropriate in this situation.

“Of course,” she answered, “But I hope we are not cutting short your lesson time with Giles.”

“Not at all. And I have not been having a lesson. I am here for another reason entirely. And I shall let Giles explain.”

After the sisters settled in and were preparing to rehearse, Giles put on a gracious smile and told the trio about the plan of replacing Emily with Linton and the pending autumn tour throughout southern England.

At first there was a stunned silence. Emily beamed but the other sisters looked at each other in confusion.

Ruth and Teresa turned to Emily.

“But why are you being replaced?” Teresa asked. “You are the best of us?”

“And that is why,” Giles spoke up. “It is by no means arranged yet, but there is an opportunity for Emily to tour Europe as a solo performer. It is a stunning achievement and she wants to take advantage of this great honor.

“However, my dears, the other bit of news should please you, as well,” he said addressing Ruth and Teresa. “Just think, you are to have a three-month tour of your very own.”

The sisters then turned to Linton. “And who are you?”

Linton bowed and said, “I am your new pianist. I have been studying with Giles and am happy to make myself available to be at your service in this new adventure.”

Teresa smiled broadly. “Oh, I like that idea,” appearing to be taken with the handsome young man.

Ruth, however, scowled. “You said nothing to me about this,” she said accusingly to Emily.

“But I am only just learning of this myself. Of course, I knew about the possibility of touring the continent, but I had no idea Linton had been engaged to replace me.”

Linton bowed again to Emily. “And I promise not to let any of you down.”

Emily turned to her sisters. “I happen to know that Mr. Hawthorn is an excellent musician and I am sure you will miss me not one jot.”

Of course, Emily knew about Ruth’s concerns with her pending engagement and wanted to reassure her. “And Ruth, you need not fear that I shall be abandoning either of you with my support for all of your endeavors.”

Ruth appeared to understand her meaning and smiled.

Then Giles stepped up. “Then shall we begin the rehearsal? I have given Mr. Hawthorn all of your music and he has been studying it. If you are all now in agreement, then I suggest we begin to rehearse.”

“But what about Papa? What is he going to say about this?” Teresa, very sensibly, asked.

Giles answered, “Mr. Skeffington, who has been setting up the tour, wishes to meet with your father quite soon to discuss this new proposal. We will introduce Mr. Hawthorn to him at that time and I might suggest the three of you practice a piece this afternoon to present to him so that he might see how accomplished the trio shall be on the tour.”

“And how long is this tour to be?” Ruth asked, obviously concerned about the timing of her marriage.

“It is to be concluded by Christmas. We do not want you ladies… and gentleman missing Christmas with your families.”

This seemed to satisfy Ruth who nodded and began tuning her cello.

While this was welcome news, Emily was ruminating on the implications of this new development. She went over to Giles, pulling him aside, and asked, “What does this mean for me and the European tour? How is this to be arranged?”

“Mr. Skeffington has apprised me that the Duke plans to attend the meeting with your father and will discuss the next steps with you regarding the arrangements for your tour.” He smiled as she stroked her arm. “Are you pleased with this solution?”

Emily needed to consider that for a moment. “I am certainly surprised. How pleased… I am not sure just yet. I think it will somewhat depend on Papa’s reaction to these developments.”

“When His Grace has the opportunity to discuss it with you, I am sure you will be excited.”

“Apprehensive and excited. This is going to take me some time to assimilate. It is just that Mark—The Duke—promised to consult with me before he approached Papa. But I can see plans have moved forward rapidly and perhaps he was not able to inform me.”

“That is because Mr. Skeffington took the lead on arranging the tour for the trio and His Grace did not know of these developments until recently.”

“Ah. I see.”

Linton came over and asked Emily, “Will you sit with me at the piano? I would value your comments as we work on the selections we will be rehearsing for the tour.”

She turned to Giles with a questioning look. He nodded his agreement.

She said, “I would be happy to help however I can.”

Giles went to the sisters who were seated and ready to start the rehearsal. He stood looking at them for a moment before asking, “Are you dear ladies excited about the prospect of an extended tour of the trio?”

Teresa gave a big smile and said, “I think it is marvelous. It is nice to have a gentleman be part of our group. It might stop some of the criticism we have been getting about being an all-female group.”

“Excellent observation. And you, Ruth? Are you pleased by the new prospect?”

Ruth shifted in her chair as she tuned a cello string. “I have to say, I am somewhat skeptical. I will just have to wait and see. And remember we still have the obstacle of our father. I am not certain he will be as easily assuaged as you are.”

“I will give that my consideration? And now shall we begin the first piece—the Haydn.”

He turned to Linton who was already seated at the piano with Emily who was prepared to turn pages for him.

“And now…” He raised his baton and on the downbeat the trio began to play.

After the rehearsal was over, the two sisters came to where Linton and Emily were seated at the piano.

Teresa said to Linton, “Oh, my, that was thrilling. You played every bit as well as Emily.”

“Oh, I am not certain about that,” he said, taking a quick glance at Emily.

She put her hand on his arm. “You did splendidly. I have a few comments but they are minor, and I am sure Giles will have some comments for you as well.”

“Might you come out to tea with us?” Teresa asked. “It would be lovely if we got to know each other better?”

Ruth spoke up. “Count me out this afternoon. I must get home. I have some pressing correspondence.”

Teresa looked at her with grave disappointment.

“Perhaps another time,” Linton said, “I would like to spend some time now with Giles to get his comments while everything is fresh in my mind.”

“Happy to help,” Giles said.

Ruth put her cello in the case and turned to Teresa, “You coming or are you going to moon over our new pianist?”

Teresa’s cheeks blushed and she turned and left the studio with tears forming.

Emily got up from the bench and went to Ruth, and snapped, “That was cruel. You should not have said that. And you of all people should know better. Have a little sympathy for your sister. Especially since you have your own young man.”

Ruth’s lips tightened and she said softly, “I am sorry.”

“Do not tell me, tell your sister,” Emily scowled and turned from her sister.

Ruth left the studio without saying another word.

Linton came over and stood close to Emily. “I think the rehearsal went well. And your sisters are sweet. I think we will get along well once they get used to the new arrangement.”

“I certainly hope so.” She gazed at the door where her sisters had just left. “It may take a little getting used to.”

“Tell me about them. The more I know the more able I shall be to help them.”

“That is very thoughtful of you to ask. Ruth is the better musician of the two, but she can be acerbic and impatient. Teresa is the youngest and not very outgoing. Until today, that is. It seems she has taken an interest in you.”

“I could not help but notice. However, I have my sight set on another sister.”

This was no surprise to Emily and she smiled shyly. “It has not escaped my attention.”

“Then might I invite you to tea again at our little shop nearby?”

“Not today. You need to spend some time with Giles and I need to attend to some urgent family business.”

Linton looked disappointed as he ran his hand down her arm. “Another time, perhaps.”

“I would like that,” she said as she took a step back and let her hand slip gently through his.

* * *

Emily had received a lovely note from Alice inviting her to go shopping with her this morning. Emily needed some gloves and was considering a new hat. There were also thoughts about what more she might need if she was to tour the capitals of Europe. But it was far too early to make any such purchases, as there was nothing concrete set up yet. Emily was also hoping Alice might have some news from Mark about his plans for setting up her tour.

Emily was smartly dressed for a day on the town as she arrived at the Savoy family front door. It was answered by a harried-looking young maid.

“Miss Emily Dunn for Mrs. Savoy,” she said.

“This way please,” the young girl said.

Emily was expecting to be taken to the sitting room but was, instead, led upstairs, down a hallway, and to a room at the back of the house.

“The nursery, ma’am,” the maid said as she ushered Emily inside.

The nursery was cluttered with toys, books, and discarded children’s clothing.

Alice was sprawled out on the floor with the twins, and obviously not dressed for going out. She looked up as Emily stood at the door.

“Oh, Emily. Look at me. I am so sorry there is no way I can go shopping this morning. Nanny left in a huff over a squabble and I am left to tend to these two tyrants.”

Emily could not help but laugh. “Oh, Alice, how might I help?”

Alice looked bereft, but said, “Other than dumping them down a well, I have no idea.” Alice laughed. “Oh, that was terrible, terrible. Of course, I do not mean that. They are as adorable as puppies, but I am just about at my wits end with them.”

It was then the two boys bounced up from the floor, where they had been playing, and began to race around the room in ever increasing larger circles. As they passed by Emily, she caught them in her arms, and twirled them around to loud appreciative squeals. The boys threw their arms around her neck and demanded more spins.

Alice got up from the floor and went over and disengaged the two from Emily.

“Enough, you two. Miss Emily is a guest not a rocking horse. Time for you two to calm down for a spell.”

“How about if I read to you?” Emily asked.

“Miss Emily read,” they shouted over and over.

“Would you mind?” Alice asked.

“Not at all,” she said as she went over to a bookcase filled with children’s books. “How about this? Mr. Midshipman Easy,” she asked.

“Yes, yes,” they chanted as they came and sat next to her where she sat by the window.

As Emily read to the boys, Alice went about the room putting toys away, folding clothes, and generally creating order out of chaos.

Before too long, the boys had settled down and were asleep. Emily put the book down and asked, “Might you be able to take a break now?”

“Help me carry them to their room and then we can chat.”

They took the sleeping boys down the hallway to their room. They laid them in their beds and, after pulling up the covers, the two left the room. As they headed toward the sitting room, Alice tidied up her hair which was hanging loose and falling in strands around her face. Finally, they reached the sitting room and Alice collapsed back into a comfortable chair and stared at Emily.

“What a godsend you are. Thank you for helping out. I had no intention of inviting you here to put you to work.”

“As the eldest sister, I am used to handling younger siblings.”

“I am sorry about the shopping, but another time perhaps?”

“Certainly.”

“It is nearly noon, might I offer you some lunch? Nothing fancy, but Cook always has something good on hand.”

“I would love that.”

Emily rang for the servant girl, and when lunch was finally ready, Alice looked much better, more rested, and became her charming self again.

After some polite, innocuous conversation Emily asked humorously, “So tell me, how are you related to Reginald Blake?”

Alice laughed, “You might say he and I are mysteriously related.”

“I see. And might I one day have the honor of meeting this very talented relative of yours?”

Alice raised her eyebrows. “He is quite the recluse, and I am his spokesman. But one day he may make an appearance, and I shall surely introduce you then.”

“Well, I am a great admirer of this fine composer and would love to have a new work of his to take with me on my European tour. Perhaps you might pass that request along to him.”

“I certainly shall, and I can say with some certainty that he is working on a piece at this very moment, which you might find useful for your tour.”

“I look forward to playing it when it becomes available.”

They both laughed softly at the open ruse.

They then got into a conversation about Emily’s hopes for the European tour—when it might happen and what she hoped to accomplish by it.

Emily knew few details about the tour, as it had not been arranged, and was dependent on Mark’s active participation in organizing the tour.

Alice asked quite casually, “And what are your impressions of my brother?”

Emily considered her words carefully. “He is most charming, intelligent, and seems very capable.”

“And that is all? That description would fit almost any ordinary gentleman. Certainly, you must have more clearly defined impressions of him by now.”

“He is very handsome, that goes without saying. And I am impressed that he has taken such an interest in my concert playing. I would be greatly in his debt if he were able to successfully arrange my tour.

“Then you find him attractive?”

Emily hesitated, but said, “Very much so, but that means little as he and Miss Sophie are intended for each other by the family. Is that not the understanding?”

“It is. But that arrangement hangs by a most tenuous thread.”

Emily felt her pulse race and thought she might be blushing. “Is that a fact? By all impressions, Miss Sophie exhibited a most definite interest in His Grace.”

“I am certain she does, but I have reason to believe it is not reciprocated.”

The maid came into the dining room at that point, cleared the dishes and asked, “Will you be having a sweet, Madam?”

“We have a delightful cream cake left over from last night. Might you like a taste?”

“But only just a taste. The lunch was delicious but filling.”

“Two please,” she instructed the girl.

Alice seemed to be done with her questioning of Emily about Mark, and she asked, “How would you feel about a four-hand piano duet after lunch? I should love to play with you.”

“That sounds lovely. Do you have a piece in mind?”

“The Schubert four-hand Fantasia.”

“Delightful. I should enjoy that. But what about the boys? They will not sleep long will they?”

“I have instructed one of the servant girls to keep watch over them if they wake. I fully intend for us to have an enjoyable afternoon playing, singing, and creating our own havoc.”

Emily hesitated, “I do not know about singing. I have been told I have the voice of a toad.”

“But they are beautiful singers,” Alice laughed.

After lunch they headed to the sitting room and sat at the piano. Emily was having a wonderful time. Alice was so much lighter and more fun than either of Emily’s sisters, who were always more intense or distracted. They played music for nearly an hour before Alice called for a stop.

“Oh, my, you quite outdo me. I am nowhere nearly accomplished as you are and I am afraid I am already fatigued.”

“You should have told me. We can stop.”

Alice turned on the bench to face Emily. “You know, my dear new friend, there are any number of people I should like to introduce you to. Many in the music business and other related arts. I must have a dinner or a party or an outing soon. Perhaps even a weekend at Linfield Hall. I know Mark would love to host such an event, as he knows so many of the lovely folks I want you to meet.”

“That sounds delightful.”

“We need to start grooming you for, not only success, but for the society that you will inhabit once you are the talk of London.”

Emily looked at her questioningly, “Why are you being so kind and gracious to me?”

“Because I already adore you, dear friend. And I want to help however I can. Just as others have helped me,” she leaned in and knocked her shoulder against Emily’s, “and my dear friend Reginald Blake.”

That sent them both laughing.

“You shall become my protégé and I shall tout you as the sensation of the London musical world.”