After her early morning walk, Emily had had breakfast, but she was so exhausted from the days of stress and practice leading up to the recital, that she decided to lie down and take a quick nap before the ten o’clock meeting with Mark and his friends.

Suddenly Emily sat up on the bed and threw her legs over the side. She rubbed her eyes and sought the time. There was a clock on the fireplace mantel that read five past ten. She gasped and stood up, checked herself in the mirror, clasped her summer shawl around her shoulders and ran toward Mark’s study where she bust in and stopped—seeing no one but a household maid dusting.

“Oh…” she exclaimed. “Where is the meeting?”

The maid answered. “It was moved to the library, ma’am.”

“Thank you.”

Emily rushed to the library and opened the door gently, so as not to disturb if the meeting was already in progress, and slipped inside.

Mark looked up at her entrance. “Emily. Did no one tell you about the change in venue?”

“I am afraid I took a nap and was running late. A chambermaid told me you were here.”

“Come join us, Miss Dunn,” one of the gentlemen said, as all of the gentlemen stood at her entrance.

Emily went over to the circle where they had been sitting around a low table. One comfortable chair had been reserved for her.

“Miss Emily, these gentlemen and I have been discussing what we might be able to offer you regarding the advancement of your career,” Mark said, from where he was sitting in the chair next to her.

Emily sat down and took several deep breaths to calm herself after her hurry to find the meeting.

“I believe you have met all of these gentlemen,” Mark started.

Mr. Butler, the partner in Butler, Goodwin, and Winter, was seated across from her and she nodded to him in greeting. Next to him was Bernard Smith, the Dean of Music at London University. She nodded to him as well. But she had not been introduced to the third gentleman. And when she turned to him he introduced himself.

“We have not met. Miss Dunn, allow me to introduce myself—Heinrich Darmstadt, formerly of the Heidelberg Conservatory of Music, at your service.” He gave a sharp nod.

“Now then, Miss Emily, each of these gentlemen has a proposal for you,” Mark said. Then he held his hand out to the professor.

The professor placed his spectacles, which were on a cord around his neck, on the bridge of his nose and looked at Emily.

“Miss Dunn, our school is limited as to what we can offer a talented young lady, such as yourself. If you were a student, I am certain I could arrange a scholarship for you. But, by the evidence of last evening, you are now ready for the professional musical world. The most I could offer would be to book a few recitals—paid, of course—at our concert hall during the next school year. I know that is not a great deal, and not what you are looking for, but if that interests you, I will be happy to arrange it.”

Emily responded, “Thank you, Professor Smith. I am open to every opportunity to play professionally in the upcoming year.”

Mark then indicated Mr. Butler.

Mr. Butler consulted several papers on the table in front of him. He then looked up at Emily and, wagging his finger, said, “We at Butler, Goodwin, and Winter would be most pleased to offer you representation as your agents. However, we are not well connected on the continent and could only offer to help negotiate on your behalf with UK bookings. They might be sporadic, but we would work to build your reputation throughout Great Britain. Is that something you might be interested in?”

“Most certainly,” Emily said with great enthusiasm.

“Excellent. Then, when I return to London, I shall confer with my partners and we will contact you so that you might come in and discuss a representation agreement. Then we can get started.”

“Might I be able to bring my current manager and teacher, Giles Carter, with me to the meeting?”

Mr. Butler seemed taken aback. “Oh, you have current representation?”

“Oh, no. He is the manager of the trio, of which I was previously a member.”

“I see.”

Mr. Butler seemed to be considering and Emily was apprehensive that she might lose his interest.

“Then he does not currently represent you?”

“No.”

“Very well, then he is welcome to come as an advisor, but we cannot allow him any further representation of your career.”

“I completely understand,” Emily said. “That will not be an issue.”

Mr. Butler nodded. “Then if you will give me your address, we shall contact you shortly.”

Emily turned to Mark and smiled. “This is most exciting. I am very pleased, Your Grace. Thank you.”

“Wait, Herr Darmstadt has something he wishes to say, as well.”

Emily turned to Herr Darmstadt. “Sir, I am listening.”

“Fraulein Dunn, I was most gratified last evening when I finally made it to Linfield Hall. I almost missed your recital, but I am happy to say I didn’t. And what a revelation it was for me. Rarely have I heard such divine playing of the piano. You are truly gifted.”

Emily nodded modestly, “Thank you. I truly appreciate your interest.”

“I am with the German-Franco agency, Kroner-DuPont. I would need to confer with my colleagues, but I feel certain we could organize a substantial tour for the season of next year.”

Emily turned to Mark and smiled. She reached over and took his hand. “Your Grace, is that not splendid?”

Mark turned to Herr Darmstadt. “If you think it might facilitate matters, I could come to Heidelberg to deal with any questions and help with the paperwork. I could then bring any contracts to Miss Dunn for her signature.”

“That would be helpful, but not for some time. It will take us at least three months to four months for the tour to be set up. You understand?”

Mark nodded.

“However, an agreement between us, we could write before I return to Germany. Ya?”

Mr. Butler spoke up. “I could draw that up for both of you to sign before the weekend is over, if that is acceptable to everyone?”

“But she is not officially signed with you yet?” Mark reminded him.

“This would not be an official agency document. Just a way for the process to begin as efficiently as possible,” Mr. Butler added.

Mark stood with a large smile, “Well, Gentlemen—Miss Emily. I think we have made great progress toward a successful career.” He turned to Emily. “Are you pleased? Do you understand everything that has just happened?”

“Mostly. But there are many details to be worked out, I am certain.”

“Gentlemen,” Mark said, offering to shake each man’s hand.

“And now if you do not mind, I anticipated a happy outcome and suggest a champagne toast.”

Mark turned to the footman standing by, who removed a bottle from a bucket of ice and opened it—filling glasses for the toast.

* * *

Emily was so excited she felt she must share the good news with Alice and the Duchess. However, the Duchess was most likely still at the Flower competition, so she sought out Alice.

She first went to Alice and Chester’s room but neither was there. She roamed the house looking for them in all of the obvious places but she could not find her dear, new friend.

On the off-chance, she went to the Duchess’s rooms, but Baggs said she had not yet returned from the fete.

Then, at a loss with what to do with herself and all her excitement, she decided to take a stroll around the front of the house and keep an eye out for the Duchess’s carriage.

Emily went to her room, changed into a warmer shawl and headed for the front door. As she was about to exit, Colin Harris, the conductor’s son, approached her.

“Miss Dunn,” he called out.

Emily turned to him, “Yes, Mr. Harris?”

“Are you to take a breath of fresh air?”

“I am.”

“Might I accompany you? I should like to stretch my legs.”

Emily really wanted to be alone to process all that had happened in the last four and twenty hours, but she did not want to be standoffish or rude.

“Of course. However, I am on the lookout for the return of the Duchess and must visit with her when she returns.”

“By all means. I do not wish to intrude. If you prefer, I can take a stroll by myself.”

Emily felt a little guilty and said, “Please do accompany me. It is such a lovely morning and I should like company.”

Mr. Harris offered her his arm and they left the house.

They began by strolling along the driveway in front of the house and stopped to admire the vista of the lake at the bottom of the incline.

“I have never been to Linfield Hall before, have you?” Mr. Harris asked.

“Yes, I have, and find it to be a most harmonious environment, do you not think so?”

“Indeed.”

They gazed at the view for a moment or two and then began strolling again.

Mr. Harris kept looking at Emily and smiling and she began to think that, while he was not flirting, he was at the very least expressing an interest in her that was more than that of a friendly fellow guest.

“You live in London?” he asked.

“I do. However, I will rarely be at home once I start touring in the autumn.” She wanted to make sure he understood she was not available.

“I see. Pity,” was all he said and then seemed to disengage with her.

They walked on for a short time longer, Emily pointing out features in the landscape or commenting on the birdsong, but Mr. Harris barely responded.

Emily was greatly relieved when she saw the Duchess’s carriage coming up the drive and pulling up at the entrance. Emily excused herself from the gentleman and rushed over to greet the Duchess, as she descended from the carriage with Silas right behind her.

“Your Grace, I am happy to see you, and I desperately want to hear the outcome of the flower judging.”

The Duchess’s expression was difficult to read. She did not look heartbroken but, at the same time, Emily could tell she was not triumphant.

The Duchess held out two ribbons. “I won first place for the violets, but alas the roses came in third.”

“Yes, you thought something like that might happen after you spoke to Mark about always winning.”

“Indeed. But the first place for the violets was a bit of a pyrrhic victory, I am afraid.”

“Oh?”

“It was the only entry in its class, so they had to give it first place. Ah, the hollow crown.”

Emily could not help but chuckle. “I am sorry, but certainly the preparation was worthwhile and I am certain you enjoyed your gardening.”

The Duchess nodded. “But now, I am exhausted and need to lie down for a rest.” She turned to Silas. “Escort me, Silas, I need your support.”

Silas offered his arm but Emily could see he was not pleased, and he said to her, “I should like to have a word with you later.”

Emily nodded but was dreading the visit.

After Silas and the Duchess entered the house, Emily was uncertain what she wanted to do next. After such an intense lead-up to her recital, she felt both let down and at loose ends. She wandered around the side of the house toward the back and came upon several young children playing with a ball. They held sticks they had found lying on the lawn, striking the ball to send it to one another. Emily watched from a distance for a few moments before one of the children, a small boy, saw her and waved for her to join them.

“Hello,” the child said. “Do you want to play with us? I have an extra stick.”

Emily was touched that they would include her. “You look like you are having a lot of fun by yourselves. Why would you want an old lady like me butting into your game?”

They laughed. “You are not an old lady, you are young,” one of the girls said.

“But I am old compared to you,” Emily said.

“I know you,” another young boy said. “You played the piano last night, did you not?”

Emily sat down on the grass to be closer to their level. “Yes, I did. Did you like it?”

“It was loud,” one of the girls said. “I had to cover my ears.”

“Oh, I am sorry. But some pieces of music are loud. Was there anything you did like?”

“It was all too jangly. It should go la, la, la and it went boom, thump, bang.”

“Oh, my. That does sound jangly. I will tell you what. If you want, later this afternoon you come to the room where the piano is and I will make a concert just for you. All songs you know. And I promise no loud or jangly music. What do you say to that?”

The children looked at one another and seemed to agree. “What time?” the first youngster asked.”

“How about three o’clock?”

“That is nap time,” one child said.

“Four?”

They nodded. “See you then,” she said, standing up. And, as she walked away, she went through a list of the children’s songs she knew, as the children resumed their game.