Everyone was greatly relieved that Mr. Dunn had agreed to the new plan and an air of euphoria swept the room. Mother scurried to the kitchen and had Molly bring out a tray of cakes while she brought out glasses and several bottles of champagne.

Papa was surprised and asked Mother, “How did you know we would be celebrating?”

“I thought it would be nice whatever happened. All these nice people deserve a treat, think you not?”

He looked at the label. “Was it expensive?”

“I took it out of my housekeeping money. Now fret you not.” Then she leaned in and whispered to her husband. “And besides I was pretty certain you would do the right thing.”

“Humph,” he grunted, taking a tea cake and a glass of champagne.

After Emily heard her father’s answer, she was obviously pleased, and stood up and went to her sisters to hug them.

“My dears, I know everything is going to work out for you,” she said.

When Ruth hugged Emily, she whispered, “And what happens when I get married?”

Emily whispered back, “One thing at a time, Ruth. Finish the tour and then see where things lie.”

“But I am going to be married and leave the group—eventually.”

Emily nodded. “I understand. But let poor Papa absorb one shock before we present him with another.”

“And when do you think we should talk to him? He has to meet Spence soon.”

“Please Ruth, just savor the moment. I promise we will deal with your engagement in good time.”

Linton came over to join the sisters.

“Are you all as excited as I am?” he asked as he handed Emily a glass of champagne.

Teresa took Ruth’s arm and said, “How could we not be? You played very beautifully this morning. I just know we are going to be wildly successful.” Then she lit up with a large smile as she beamed at Linton.

But he turned to Emily. “Do you think you might have some time to tutor me some more on the trio’s portfolio? I feel like I could certainly use your help before we launch the tour.”

“Perhaps. But remember, I am going to be having my own tour and I will need to learn new pieces and rehearse a great deal.”

He leaned in close to her and whispered, “I hope you will leave some time to enjoy yourself. I should very much like to take you out to dinner one evening.”

She smiled. “We shall see,” was all she would say.

* * *

Mark had been watching this exchange, and as Emily turned from her sisters, he went over to her at exactly the same time as Silas did.

“Miss Emily…” both men said at the same time.

Emily laughed. “Hello, you two. Thank you both for making my dream become a reality.” She reached over and with her free hand and touched a hand of each man.

Then each man took one of her arms. However, she laughed, disengaged from them, and took a step backward, without spilling a drop of her champagne.

“Gentlemen, one at a time, please.”

Mark laughed, Silas did not.

“I cede the honor of your conversation to my Uncle Silas. Age always takes precedence,” he said with a wink. “All I ask is a word with you when you are free to discuss the tour.”

Emily nodded as Mark withdrew and went to speak to Giles. But as he headed for Mr. Carter, he kept his eye on Emily and Silas.

“Miss Emily,” Silas began, as he took Emily’s free hand and kissed it. “Free at last.”

Emily withdrew her hand, which Silas was still holding onto and said, “I am most grateful for your and His Grace’s assistance.”

“I am happy to hear that. And perhaps you might show your gratitude by having supper with me this evening. I have a wonderful cook who makes the most delightful boeuf en daube. A fine bottle of claret. A Scottish smoked salmon to begin, and one of her delicious gateaux to finish. We shall make a jolly evening of it, no?”

Emily smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Skeffington, but I have plans with my family for this evening.”

“I see,” he said coolly and took a step forward. “Another time soon?”

Emily seemed to consider before she spoke quite firmly, “I think not, Mr. Skeffington. I am loosely seeing someone at the moment and I think a dinner alone with you would not be appropriate. Of course, you have my gratitude, and I look forward to many social encounters with you in the company of others. I hope you understand.”

Silas was not to be deterred and asked, “And who is this person you are loosely seeing, might I ask?”

“Mr. Hawthorn and I have been meeting socially.”

Silas cast a look at the handsome youth still chatting with the sisters. “I see. Well, when you tire of a light spring wine you might want to consider a mature and mellow cognac.” He turned and went to speak to the other two sisters.

It was then that Linton left them and came over to Emily.

“You must be very happy,” he said.

“Pleased, yes. But not happy, just yet. There is a lot of work to be done before I have accomplished my goals. And I have learned already, in my short life, that plans often go awry and there may be surprises, pleasant or unpleasant, along the way.”

Linton had the most charming smile and he knew how to use it. “Then let me cheer you up. There is a café that has entertainment each evening. Some very promising artists are discovered there. Would you go with me some evening?”

“Yes, I should like that.”

Linton’s smile widened. “Excellent. Let me know when you are free to go before I leave this morning and I shall book us a table.”

Giles came over and interrupted, “Linton, might I have a word with you and the sisters? We need to set our rehearsal schedule.”

“Of course,” he said, and followed Giles.

Emily glanced up and met Mark’s eyes as he had been watching her intently. He smiled and went to her.

“Well… this has certainly been a momentous morning for you. And you and I have a lot to talk about concerning the tour.”

“We do. And I should like to know what has been done so far as concerns bookings.”

“I stopped by to see Alice this morning, and she sent her best wishes, and suggests you might like to come for lunch. Then afterward, we could sit quietly in her sitting room and discuss the steps forward for the tour.”

Emily appeared to like that. “That sounds splendid. I do adore your sister, and anytime I can find an excuse to visit her, I shall. But let me speak to Mother and Papa so that they know where I am going.”

“Of course.”

Mark watched Emily go to confer with Giles and her father, as the celebration was winding down and the parents were beginning to look tired.

Mark was very pleased with the way the meeting had gone, and went to retrieve his walking stick prior to leaving with Emily. But he was waylaid by his uncle.

“Mark, my boy, leaving so soon?”

“Miss Emily and I are to have lunch with Alice and then begin planning for her tour.”

Silas gave a weak smile. “And how is your darling sister? I have not seen her for a time.”

“Busy with her twins.” He did not know if Silas knew of Alice’s secret composing life, so said nothing about that.

Silas had his walking stick and tapped it against Mark’s chest. “And do not forget about our little chat previously. When things settle down and Miss Emily is more secure in her career, I plan to court her, please remember that.”

“Again, Uncle, that has nothing to do with me. Miss Emily is quite capable of managing her own engagement calendar.”

Silas gave a crooked smile and stepped backward, wagging his walking stick in warning.

Mark could see Linton go over to Emily, talk for a moment, then give her a kiss on the cheek, and prepare to leave right behind Silas, who had already gone to the carriage.

Emily came over and said, “I am ready to leave when you are.”

“My carriage is out front. We can leave now if you like,” he said, offering his arm.

* * *

Alice opened her arms out wide as she welcomed Emily into her sitting room. They embraced and began chatting about the boys.

Mark went over to study Alice’s new painting again.

“It is starting to grow on me,” he said to no one in particular.

“I hope so. It certainly cost a pretty penny,” Alice said as she came over to her brother.

“You had better not tell me how much it cost or I might faint,” he joshed.

“No need to, my husband already did that.”

Mark wheeled around and took his sister in his arms and planted a kiss on her forehead. “What would I do without you—adorable creature?”

She disengaged, trailing her hand along his arm. “You do not have to. I am here to stay. And so, too, I hope, your adorable companion, and my dear friend, Emily.

“I am so happy to have met you, Alice,” Emily said, coming over and linking arms with the two of them.

“Are you hungry? Lunch is ready, and unfortunately, I must continue working this afternoon. But the two of you please take your time. Enjoy lunch and then take as much time as you need to make your plans. Tea is at four, and if you are still here then, I shall join you.”

At lunch, they mostly chatted casually until Alice said, “Mark, my love, what promoters will you be approaching when you start to set up Emily’s tour?”

Mark mentioned a few names.

“Yes, I know them, but I must tell you, a dear friend of mine, Andre Bellieu, is to be in London this week. He is one of the most distinguished European concert tour organizers and, if you like, I can set up a meeting with him.”

“I know of Andre, although I have not met him. That would be splendid.”

“I shall send you a note when I have spoken to him and arranged a tentative meeting—at your convenience, of course.”

“Never fear, I shall make whatever arrangements are necessary to attend the meeting you set up. This is my priority at the moment.”

“And I was also thinking, I should like to visit Father and Grandmamma,” Alice said. “I shall bring the husband and the terrible two. Some weekend soon?”

“Anytime.”

“And perhaps I could persuade Andre to come along,” she turned then to Emily, “and might you be able to attend? Linfield is such a lovely house and we have horses and a lake and even croquet.”

“I should like that a great deal…” she turned to Mark, “If it is not an imposition.”

Mark laughed. “We have more rooms and more staff than we can possibly use and it would be a delight to have you all in attendance. It sounds like it could be a most convivial weekend.”

“And if possible, Mark, perhaps you might invite some of the distinguished music set. It would benefit Emily no end to be meeting many of the influential in the London music circle.”

“Excellent idea. I shall arrange it.”

“Then, dear ones, you must excuse me, I must get back to my comp…” she caught what she was about to say in front of Emily and said, with a smile, “My correspondence. If you will excuse me.”

Mark stood as Alice left.

When he sat back down he said, “You know what she does and who her other self is, do you not?”

“I do. You told me previously. But she and I have this little game where I pretend not to know who she really is professionally, and she talks in metaphors about her work. Reginald Blake… indeed.”

Mark stood up from the luncheon table. “Shall we retire to the sitting room? I should like to go into some detail about what you would like your touring program to be.”

“Of course.”

They were seated by the empty fireplace—a low table between them. Emily was on a sofa and Mark sat across from her in an upholstered chair.

“Now then, do you have a list of the solo pieces you might want to perform on the tour?”

“I do, but not with me. I can mail a copy to you at Linfield.”

“Yes, please do that. But there is another factor. If, for example, we were able to book you as a solo artist with an orchestra—for a Mozart or Beethoven piano concerto, for example, would you be able to accommodate that? I know your work up to now has been primarily solo works, but there might be a great opportunity if you could be a solo guest artist for a major orchestra.”

“I have, of course, studied most of the most popular performing works of the great composers. But I would need to study and practice any particular piece.”

“And Mr. Carter could help you prepare?”

“Of course. He is the maestro, after all.”

“Excellent. And I assume you will want to be traveling throughout Europe with a companion. You will need someone to attend to your needs and to aid in the packing and unpacking, as you will be staying in many different hotels.”

“Oh, I had not thought of that? We have no one at home that can be spared. And where might I find such a companion?”

“I could assign one of my household staff to you for the tour, or we could interview and select someone who is experienced in this sort of duty.”

“I should prefer the latter. I do not want to impose upon your staff.”

“As you wish.”

“But how much would that cost?”

“You do not need to concern yourself with that. That will be provided to you as part of your travel expenses, paid for by the tour management. It is customary and expected.”

“Oh, my. This is all so new to me. I feel quite incompetent in all of this touring business.”

Mark smiled, patting her hand with reassurance. “It is to be expected when you are just starting out. But I am here to help and guide you. You shall want for nothing, and I will make certain that you are comfortably provided for.”

“I see I have yet a lot to learn,” she said with a sigh of relief.

“But it is nothing to be concerned about. As with any new venture, there will be a period of adjustment, but I know you will manage quite well.”

“And when might I expect the tour to start?”

“I was thinking for the start of the musical season in the autumn of next year.”

Emily was disappointed. “Oh, that is a long way away. That is over a year from now.”

“But bookings are always made far in advance.”

“And there is no way to at least get started this autumn.”

“But that is only a few months from now. I hardly think that is possible.”

This upset Emily enough to where she needed to stand. She crossed over to the front window and gazed out at the street before turning back to Mark. He could tell she was agitated.

Her voice was quivering as she said, “I do understand what you are saying, and I accept that. But is there no way, whatsoever, to book some performing venues anywhere this coming season? I made such an issue of leaving the trio and, now, not to be performing, I fear, would not only hurt my father, but also dull my skills.”

Mark stood and went over to her. “There might be a way. Silas is more knowledgeable than I am about UK bookings. Perhaps there might be some slots open, or there may be cancellations which come up. I shall speak to him about that.”

“That could actually be useful,” Emily said, the worry lifting from her face. “It would allow me to get some experience as a solo performer before I am thrust upon the European circuit a year from now.”

Mark took her hand and looked at her with a smile. “Fear not, Emily, and take some time to enjoy what you are about to enter into.”

She returned his smile, happy to have her hand in his. “Yes, I shall try to do that. And other than preparing my performances, what else do you need from me?” she asked with still some hesitation.

“Do you have travel documents?”

“I do not.”

“Then you must obtain those. And I can help you with that, if you like. I have friends in the Foreign Office who can advise me.”

“Yes, I would appreciate that.” Emily impulsively reached over and took Mark’s arm. “Oh, Mark, this is both exciting and frightening at the same time. I have been so used to my little family trio and the security of home and family, and now everything is about to change.”

Mark laughed. “Indeed it shall. And I know it is what you want. Of course, there will be fears and apprehensions, but once you begin to practice and, as the tour looms, you will become excited and be ready to jump right into it.

Emily became thoughtful. She felt a range of emotions surging through her, not the least of which was gratitude for the warmth and comfort that Mark provided her. How many men had she ever met who were as supportive and steady as he was? And not to forget—handsome.

Then she pulled herself together from her lapse into self-doubting and said, “Then let me jump into it right now. What is next and how can I help?”

“I think I will firstly meet with Monsieur Bellieu and then we can see what he has to offer and go from there. Leave everything to me for the moment and I shall contact you when there is anything to report.”

“And for my part I shall send you my proposed program of compositions and begin to work on them in earnest.”

“I am sure whoever finally organizes the tour will want to give input as to your repertoire, but there will be plenty of time to make adjustments before any tour gets underway.”

“Thank you, Mark. Truly. And now I think I must get home to my family. They have gone through a lot today, and I should like to be there for them.”

“Of course, and my carriage will take you home.”

“Will you be coming with me?”

“No, I wish to spend some time with Alice. We shall have tea and plan a meeting with Andre.”

“Then, good day, dear friend,” she said.