Emily was in the family washroom brushing Teresa’s hair, which was filled with snags.

“Ouch,” Teresa cried out. “That hurts.”

“Do you ever brush your hair? It is like a rat’s nest.”

“It takes too much time.”

“And it very badly needs a washing. Honestly, Teresa, you are a mess. However do you hope to attract a young man looking as you do?”

“I only want to attract a certain young man,” she said looking up at Emily with a pleading look.

“Dear sister, it is not a good idea to have a romantic attachment to someone you are working with.”

“And why would that be?” she asked, as her head was pulled to the side by Emily vigorously pulling on the brush.

“Because it can cause problems.”

“What sort of problems?” Teresa insisted.

Emily sighed. “It can cause complications. Any romance has its ups and downs and you do not want to bring that dynamic into your work. And most especially in music where you have to work smoothly together and there has to be a free and easy give and take. A romance between colleagues can become as tangled a mess as this crop of hair you have grown.”

“But I want him to at least like me,” she pleaded.

There was a knock at the washroom door.

“Emily? Are you in there?” It was their mother.

“Yes, mother. What is it? I am busy with Teresa just now trying to make her into a fairly presentable human being.”

“The Duke of Edgerton is here to see you. He says it is about some sort of audition or other. Can you come down now? I offered him tea, but he has refused it.”

“Very well. Tell him I will be with him shortly.”

Emily found her pulse quickening and a warm glow infusing her body at the thought of seeing the Duke again. Emily stopped brushing and put the brush down on the wash table.

“Oh, Teresa, what am I to do with you? Why not wash your hair while I visit with the Duke and then we can try once again when I return.”

Teresa pointed to several jars of color on the table. “Are we going to use those?” she asked brightly.

“Once we begin to see an improvement. Otherwise, it is like putting a party hat on a donkey.”

Mother was still outside the door and began rapping lightly on the door with her knuckle. “Are you coming, Emily? Must not keep His Grace waiting.”

“Yes, Mother, I am coming right now.”

Emily removed the smock she was wearing as she worked with Teresa, and opened the washroom door.

Mother stood away from the door as Emily came out and followed her down the stairs to the sitting room where Mark was waiting.

Mother peeked into the room as Emily entered.

“Are you certain I cannot offer you tea, Your Grace,” she asked.

“Thank you, no, Mrs. Dunn.”

After Mother left, Emily went over to where Mark was standing at a bookcase casually studying a book.

“Mark, how nice to see you. And to what do we owe the honor?”

Mark slipped the book back in its place and turned to her.

“I have met with Monsieur Bellieu and we have set up a time for the two of you to meet. However, he is requesting an audition and I thought we might discuss what would be best for you to perform for him.”

“When is it?”

“Thursday and perhaps again Friday, as he may wish to invite some others to hear you, if he likes what he sees and hears.”

“I shall be happy to oblige.” Emily looked out the window toward the garden. “But it is such a lovely day outside, might we go out to the garden to continue our discussion?”

“I should enjoy that.”

Just then Teresa appeared at the sitting room door, her head wrapped in a towel.

“Oh, sorry… I did not know…”

“What Teresa?” Emily asked tersely.

“Ah… my hair… I am ready for you,” she said, starting to back out.”

“I shall be there shortly. But I have business with His Grace, and I cannot say when we shall finish.”

Teresa pushed her glasses up her nose. “Very well, then I shall be in my room. Is there anything I should do while I wait?” she asked, poking her head back into the room.

“Just brush your hair.”

Teresa nodded and disappeared.

“Sorry about that,” Emily said.

“Domestic concerns. Everyone has them.”

“I have been attempting to spruce her up. She has not paid much attention to her appearance until she found a young man she fancies.”

“That can certainly be an incentive,” he said with a teasing smile.

“Now then, shall we continue outdoors?”

Emily led the way through the door into the garden. She led him to her bench under the beech tree, where they sat skewed toward each other so they could converse.

“Tell me about this Monsieur Bellieu,” Emily asked. “Is he someone you believe could accomplish our goals?”

“Most certainly. He is very well connected to the music world on the continent and seems most open to you and your ambitions.”

“And you mentioned the possibility of needing to meet others. Are they additional promotors or colleagues of Monsieur Bellieu?”

“I am not certain. He will meet you on Thursday, hear you play, and then decide if another audition on Friday is warranted.”

“I see. Then I must do my very best, must I not?”

“I have no doubt you will impress him as much as you have impressed me.”

Emily took a paper out of her pocket. “Here are some suggestions for the audition I have been preparing. How many do you think I will need? I do not want to overwhelm him. Nor do I want to underrepresent myself.”

“Let me see.”

Mark took the list from her and studied it.

“Excellent selections. But maybe a few more contemporary pieces as well, to show that you are au courant.

Emily smiled conspiratorially, “I could add the Reginald Blake piece.”

He smiled and nodded. “Excellent choice.”

“And should I use the same playlist on Friday for the second audition or should I use new pieces?”

“Keep a few of your strongest pieces from the first audition and add a few new ones, would be my suggestion.”

Emily fingered a ribbon from the belt of her dress as she realized her dreams were on their way to becoming a reality. She was both nervous and excited—enhanced by her closeness to Mark whose warmth she could feel which surprisingly excited her.

“And have you had an opportunity to speak to Mr. Skeffington about some local tours for this upcoming season?”

“I wanted to wait until you met Monsieur Bellieu. If he is to take you on, I do not want to intrude upon his plans. Who knows, he might be able to schedule you a few European assignments for this new season.”

“Of course. That makes a great deal of sense.”

Emily was quiet for a moment as she thought through her playlist to see if she might want to make any changes, and studied which pieces might need the most practice before her audition on Thursday.

Mark placed a hand on hers which was resting on her lap.

“Are you nervous about the audition?”

She looked up at him pleased with his concern for her. “Not at all. Well… perhaps a little. But I am also thinking about how much practicing I must do before then. I should perhaps get to work as soon as you leave.”

“Then I shall not keep you,” he said rising.

Emily was surprised to feel a twinge of regret and clasped her hands as he prepared to leave.

He added, “And do not forget, you also have a sister needing your immediate attention. What a busy household!”

Emily stood. “Nary a dull moment at the Dunn residence.”

“I shall call for you at nine o’clock on Thursday to take you to the Savoy’s. The audition will be at ten and I want you to have time to warm up and prepare yourself to meet Monsieur Bellieu.”

Emily smiled. “How you pamper me,” she said lightly.

“And no one deserves it more.”

They retreated to the house where he took his leave at the front door.

Emily watched him walk to his carriage, then sighed and headed to Teresa’s room to help finish her transformation.

Emily knocked on the door. “Teresa, are you ready to continue?”

“I am,” her sister called out and came to the door.

They went back to the washroom and Emily, once again, began her work of reconstruction.

After an hour of instruction and trial and error, Emily stood back and took a long look at what they had accomplished.

“Hmm. Not too bad,” Emily said, herself frazzled but Teresa looking truly transformed.

“Now if only there was something we could do about your eyeglasses. Keep them off for the time being and let us go and see what Mother thinks.”

Teresa was studying herself in the mirror. “Will I need to go through all of that work each day?” she asked with some hesitation.

“No. We had a lot of restorative work to get you here, but if you do a little maintenance each day, it should not be a great chore. But you will have to commit yourself to doing it.”

Teresa smiled. “I think I can do that.”

“Come,” Emily held out her hand and, taking Teresa’s, led her to the kitchen where Mother was conferring with Cook over the evening’s supper.

“Oh my,” Cook exclaimed, being the first to see Teresa.

Mother turned. “Introduce me to your new friend,” she said, “Is this one of His Grace’s assistants?”

Teresa shrieked, “No, Mother. It is I?”

Mother gasped and took a step backward. “Oh, Emily, what have you done to her?”

Emily laughed. “Do you not like the change?”

Mother stammered, “I ah… oh, my… Well, it certainly is different.”

She went over and took Teresa’s hands, and studied her.

“My dear, you look lovely. Who would have thought?”

Teresa’s hair was no longer drab and greasy, but was lustrous and pulled back, revealing a lovely freshly scrubbed visage with a touch of color that relieved her usual looking pallor. And while not a ravishing beauty, she was greatly transformed into a handsome, sturdy young woman.

Teresa turned in a circle, her arms spread wide. “Am I not a queen?” Then she went to Emily and gave her a hug. “Thank you, dear Sister—you have freed me from eternal drabness.”

Emily took her by the shoulders and said, “And do not forget what I taught you. You must make an effort if you want to maintain your new look.

“But where are her glasses?” Mother asked.

“I need to find a new pair. My old ones made me look like an owl.” Teresa turned again to Emily. “Might we go shopping for new eyeglasses this afternoon?”

“Sorry, my dear, but I must practice. I have my audition on Thursday. Perhaps Mother can take you.”

Teresa looked stricken. “But she was the one who got me these old ones. I need you to choose them for me or I shall end up looking like my old self.”

“Very well, but not until after my auditions are concluded.”