Dinner was stressful. Everyone knew that in less than an hour Spencer would appear to be introduced to the family. Ruth could barely eat, and Papa was hunched over his plate, not looking at anyone and only grunting when asked a question.

The tension made Mother fidgety and Teresa withdrawn. Only Emily maintained any façade of normalcy by tossing off one line comments throughout the meal in hopes of stimulating some kind of genteel dinner table intercourse.

But near the end of dinner Ruth abruptly rose, brought her handkerchief to her face to hide a rush of tears, and escaped.

Emily excused herself and went to comfort Ruth and discuss some sort of a strategy for presenting Spencer to the family.

Ruth was in her room sitting on the side of her bed.

Emily came in, closed the door and leaned back against it.

“Ruth, my dear, you must pull yourself together. How do you plan to convince Papa of your intentions if you are blubbering and sputtering like a broken fountain?”

Ruth looked up with red eyes and a blotched face. “Oh, Emily…” she wailed. “I cannot bear to lose my Spencey.”

“Then, by all means, continue your wailing and moaning, and you are certain to antagonize Papa and defeat your purpose.”

Ruth quieted down but continued with her little sniffles and dabbing at her face.

“Then what am I to do?” she asked, finally placing her hands in her lap and pulling at her handkerchief.

Emily came over and sat down beside her.

Ruth said, “You know the first thing he is going to ask me is how I can continue in the trio if I am to be married?”

“Most likely. And what will your answer be? And you have not given me a straight answer to that question either.”

Ruth mumbled something.

“What?” Emily asked, leaning in closer.

“I said I am searching for a replacement.”

“Oh? And how are you going about that?”

“I put an advert in the Times.”

“And have you had responses?” Emily asked.

“A few, but they were all rubbish.”

“I see. And have you thought of contacting music schools or universities?”

Ruth looked at her and brightened. “Oh, that is a lovely idea. That might be worth a try. Thank you.”

“But what about this evening? What are your plans for presenting Spencer? He is going to be here shortly and you need to think how best to introduce him.”

“Oh, tell me how, Emily. You know all about these things and you are Papa’s favorite. Maybe you could take the lead and explain everything to him for us.”

Emily sighed and stood up from the bed. “Oh, Ruth… No wonder Papa frets about you. You have not got a clue, do you?”

“What do you mean?”

“He wants to see you strong and independent. He wants you to be able to make clear and thoughtful decisions. He wants…”

Ruth spoke up, “No, that is what you want. What he wants is for me to obey him and not have a life of my own.”

That stopped Emily and made her reconsider. She could not help but laugh.

“How absolutely correct you are. Very well then, what I suggest is that you introduce Spencer and let him make a case for your marriage. If he is clever and convincing, then you might have a chance of securing his approval. Do you think he is up to the task?”

Ruth smiled. “I believe he is. He is sensible, educated, and from a good family. What is there not for Papa to approve of?”

“Excellent. Then you have a word with him before you present him to the family and make it clear it is up to him to be clear and assertive. Can you do that?”

“Oh, Emily, can you speak to him for me?”

“No. He is to be your husband. And it is to be your life. And it is you who must travel your path.”

Ruth was silent for a moment, but she finally managed a tortured-looking smile and said, “I can do this. I must do this. I will do this.”

* * *

The initial introductions had been formally made and the ensemble was now seated in the sitting room.

Papa and Mother were seated side by side in their identical chairs facing directly forward. Ruth and Spencer were seated in straight-backed chairs immediately before them. Teresa sat to the side, knitting for her needy, and Emily stood at the fireplace so she could view the whole scene like the referee at a tennis match.

“Mr. Trilby,” Papa began, “Why have you not presented yourself to her family before now?”

A difficult and awkward question for Spencer to answer, Emily considered, keeping an inward score.

“It is not because I did not want to, or because I had any reservations about my feelings for your daughter. But it was out of respect to you.”

Emily believed that to be an excellent answer—fifteen-love to Spencer.

This seemed to take Papa aback slightly. “Oh? And how would respect for me prevent you from introducing yourself?”

First score for Papa, Emily thought.

“Because, sir, I did not want you to meet me until I was fully qualified in my profession and could make it clear to you that I could and would properly care for your daughter’s well-being.”

Another score for the young man.

Papa now turned to Ruth. “Daughter, and just how do you plan to be married and continue on with the Trio at the same time? Especially if you are to be living in Bristol—of all places.”

Ruth looked stricken. She had not expected to answer any questions herself. However, Spencer spoke up for her, and the look of relief on Ruth’s face was priceless.

“She will have a schedule of the concerts and my family’s carriage will be made available to her for each concert date.”

“And what about rehearsals? She cannot rehearse regularly as she does now.”

Very bad. Definitely a point for Papa.

Spencer seemed not to have an answer for that, but added. “That we shall have to arrange. Perhaps a week or so over the course of the concert season can be set aside for rehearsals.”

Only a fair answer. It is definitely a thirty-thirty tie.

“Hmm.” Father seemed to disapprove.

Then quite surprisingly, Mother spoke up. “And do your parents approve of this marriage? I assume you have spoken to them, at least, about your plans?”

“I have, and they met her when they came to visit me in London last month—it was my birthday.”

That appeared to shock both parents, and Papa said, “And why did you not introduce us to them at that time?”

“How could I? Ruthie and I were not engaged at that point, but I wanted them to meet her, so we had tea together at my lodging.”

No points scored, Emily decided. Still a tie.

Then out of nowhere, Teresa raised her hand and asked, “And what if I wanted to get married, too?”

Both parents looked at her, astonished.

Then she spoke more words than anyone had heard from her in months. “You two are really being quite mean to Ruth. Why should she not marry? Why should she not leave the trio if she wants? Why should I not as well? Do you really expect the trio to survive what you know is to be inevitable? We will marry and have families. The trio has been fine while we were children and young adults, but Emily is gone, Ruth is about to flee, and you must both wake up to the fact that we are no longer children and must have our own lives. Is that so very hard to understand? I do not think any of us, except for Emily, want to do this anyway. Maybe it is time to let the trio go.”

Game, set, match! Good for you Teresa. There is hope for you yet.

Teresa had exploded her bomb and passively gone back to her knitting.

Papa stood. He seemed not to know what to say. He looked down at Mother and she shrugged.

It was now time for Emily to enter the fray. “Well. We have been dancing around this issue for weeks if not months, and now it is out. Seriously, might it not be time to disband the trio?”

Papa looked as though he might have a stroke. He put his hand to his heart, but no one died. Instead, he sat back down, his jaw dropping and worked his mouth as though he was trying to speak but nothing came out.

Then Spencer stood and took Ruth’s arm and threaded it through his.

“Mr. Dunn that is an excellent idea. In any case, Miss Ruth Dunn and I are to be married. And it would be ever so much more convenient if she were no longer connected with the trio. She and I have our lives to lead in Bristol, and we hope to have your blessing but, I believe I speak for Ruth when I say, we are prepared to be married even without it.”

Mother looked up, “Well, you have my blessing, dear. Then she nudged her husband. “Owen, give it.”

Papa stuttered but said. “Very well. You have our blessing.”

Ruth turned to Spencer and they embraced. Mother cried. And Teresa sighed and said, “Thank God, that is over. Now we can cancel that damned tour.”

Emily went over and took both of her father’s hands.

“Papa, you still have me, and I am going to do my very best for the family name. A whole new chapter is opening up for me and I hope you will be very proud. Perhaps not all of the Dunn children will remain in music, but I shall. Please find your comfort in that.”

He looked up at her, but she could still see his lingering sorrow. And then it struck her. With the trio disbanded, Silas would no longer have a hold over her. He could no longer threaten her with abandoning the trio, for the trio had abandoned him.