The concert hall was modest in size. It served not only for the presentations of musical evenings, but it also served as a lecture hall and was known for its fine acoustics. The stage was small, with burgundy-colored, velvet drapes lining the back and sides.

Grandmamma, however, found their box to be stifling and she aggressively fanned herself with the program. She was seated at the front of the box, dressed in a deep purple dress with maroon lace and a large diamond brooch and a tiara.

“Remind me not to attend concerts in the summer. Mark, my love, might you enquire at the concession bar if they have any iced barley water? I do not think I shall be able to make it through the concert without some refreshment.”

Mark leaned in and whispered. “Grandmamma, the program is about to start. Might you make it to the first interval? Then I shall promptly fetch you whatever you like.”

Grandmother adjusted herself in the too small chair. “If I must.” And she began to fan herself more vigorously and ruffled in her handbag to make sure she had her smelling salts—just in case.

Mark and Silas looked up as the applause began and the performers appeared on stage. The sisters bowed and took their places—Emily at the piano and Ruth and Teresa in the chairs before their music stands just to the right of the piano.

“My God, what a looker that pianist is,” Silas said with a big grin.

“Ah, but can she play?” Mark responded, but having to admit to himself she was a very handsome woman.

The program consisted of several solo piano pieces including the flawless Mozart Fantasia. The pieces with the sisters’ accompanying were competent, but the other two sisters’ performances were tepid.

However, by the first interval, the audience showed their deep appreciation when Emily stepped forward to take her brief solo bow.

Silas turned to Mark and suggested, “We must go backstage and meet that lovely lady.”

“I expect you mean Emily Dunn,” Mark replied.

“I do.”

“Let me fetch some refreshment for Grandmamma, and then I shall go with you. I have to admit she is a brilliant talent.”

“And not to forget, a stunning looking woman, as well,” Silas added.

Mark smiled shyly, “Agreed.”

They walked to the only dressing room in this small concert hall. Silas knocked and slowly opened the door to a small crowded room, cluttered with objects the management had nowhere else to store.

“May we come in?” Silas asked. “Unless you are resting.”

Emily’s back was to the door. Ruth, who was seated facing them, immediately responded with a smile. “Please do. It is always nice to be appreciated,” she said, coyly tilting her head and fluttering her eyes.

Mark introduced Silas and himself. Upon learning he was a duke, Teresa and Ruth perked up and gave Mark their full attention.

Silas stepped forward and offered his hand to Emily. “Most stimulating performance. I especially liked the Mozart and the Beethoven.”

“Thank you,” Emily said. “The Mozart is a particular favorite of mine.”

Silas surveyed the crowded room and extending his arms, asked, “Might we invite you ladies to accompany us to supper after the performance?”

The sisters looked at each other.

“If you have no other plans, that is,” Silas added.

Mark could see there was some hesitation on their part and he said, “My grandmother, the Duchess of Edgerton, will also be accompanying us.”

That seemed to relieve the sisters of their concerns of impropriety and they assented.

“Excellent, then we shall call for you after the performance and we can go in our carriage—unless you have your own transportation,” Silas confirmed.

“And my cello?” Ruth asked. “I must take that with me.”

“The carriage is sufficiently large,” Mark assured them.

As they briefly chatted, before the interval was over, Mark could not take his eyes off the beautiful Emily. She was so statuesque, poised, and restrained. She was like one of the classical Roman statues back at Linfield Hall.

Finally, Emily stood and politely addressed the two gentlemen. “You must excuse us; the interval is nearly over, and we need to compose ourselves for the next segment of the concert.”

“Of course,” Mark said as he ushered Silas out of the dressing room ahead of him. As he was leaving, he took a last look at Emily. How extremely beautiful she was. But he felt a twinge of guilt as he compared Sophie to Emily and found she did not compare.

As they headed toward their box, Silas said, “Now, that Miss Emily is certainly a great beauty. I should very much like to further my acquaintance with her.”

Mark led the way toward the box but Silas broke away. “I should like a quick glass of champagne before the interval is over. Can I get you anything?”

“Not for me. I shall wait until dinner.”

“Very well.” And Silas headed for the bar.

The second section of the concert was about to begin, just as Silas returned. As the applause for the returning artists fell away, Mark leaned over to his grandmother and said, “We invited the musicians to dine with us after the concert.”

Grandmother gave him a stern look but did not respond otherwise.

When the concert came to a close, the audience lavished exuberant applause on the performers. After a number of curtain calls, the trio performed several encores.

However, Mark could see that his grandmother was becoming restless and wanted to leave. When the final applause ended, Mark said to Silas, “Might you fetch the ladies while I escort Grandmamma to the carriage?”

“Happy to,” Silas said flashing a large grin.

“Did you enjoy the concert?” Mark asked as he led his grandmother out of the hall.

“It was passing fair,” she said. “I must say, the idea of female performers does upend convention, and I am not at all sure I like the idea.”

“I thought the pianist was brilliant and I have taken to the idea of seeing if I might be able to help her career,” Mark said.

“And the other two ladies?” Grandmother asked as Mark helped her into the carriage.

“That is the problem. They are nowhere as talented as Miss Emily. I do not feel inclined to see much of a future for them. But I do not know how Miss Emily might react to such an idea.”

“Then why are they dining with us?” she groused.

“Because I do see a possible bright future for Miss Emily, and it would be rude not to include the sisters after their joint concert.”

“I am getting too old for all this nonsense.”

“Then may we drop you off at the house on our way to the restaurant?”

“Which restaurant?”

“Simpsons-in-the-Strand.”

Grandmother thought about that. “No, I am hungry and quite enjoy the Simpsons’ beef. I shall endure the evening as best I can.”

“But you will be pleasant to all the young ladies, will you not?”

“Of course, Mark, what do you take me for? A heathen?”

Silas opened the carriage door. “I have three ladies and a fairly good-sized cello. Will we all fit comfortably inside?”

Grandmother scooted over to the far side of the carriage. “Come. Come. We shall manage. Simpsons is not that far.”

The three additional guests and one cello squeezed inside. Teresa carried her oboe case in her lap. And with the carriage full, it was snug.

As they arrived at Simpsons-in-the-Strand, Mark announced, “The instruments will be safe here. No need to bring them into the restaurant.”

The party filed out of the carriage and into the entryway of the restaurant, and, once they were settled at their table, Silas ordered champagne and told the waiter to keep it coming.

Grandmother focused most of her attention on the roast beef and Yorkshire pudding and very little on the conversation, except for the occasional grunt or reply to a direct question.

Silas exclusively focused his attention on Emily while Mark struggled to include the other sisters in the conversation.

Silas was consuming far too much champagne, and at one point, Mark needed to lean in and try to moderate Silas’s consumption—but to little effect.

Finally, Mark took control of the conversation and said, “This has been a lovely evening, but I should like to ask you ladies, how might we be able to further your careers?” He turned to Emily and set his gaze upon her. “It is clear there is a lot of talent, and I would imagine that as young ladies you must find it difficult to find your way in the gentleman’s world of music.”

Ruth immediately spoke up. “That is exactly the case. I cannot tell you how many times we have been denied a venue or cancelled for a concert when it was learned that we were young ladies and not young gentlemen.”

Silas then asked Emily, “And do you ever do solo recitals?”

Emily looked briefly at her sisters, turned toward Silas, and said, “I have been asked, but our father insists that we remain a trio. We have been together from the beginning and he wishes us to remain so.”

“I see,” Silas said, obviously disappointed.

But Mark pursued. “Whatever your plans are for the future, I should like to see how I… we… might be able to assist you.”

“That is very generous,” Emily said, looking directly at Mark. “What exactly did you have in mind, and how do you foresee helping us?”

“Giles Carter is our teacher and manager. I think we should set up a meeting whereby he might meet you,” Ruth said. “He is the one to speak to as he is the one who manages all of our bookings.”

“Of course, I shall be happy to meet with all of you at any time.”

Teresa who had been mostly silent during the conversation spoke up, “But why do you need us? Certainly, you could meet with Giles and accomplish all you need without us being in attendance.”

“That suits me,” Ruth said. “I care nothing for the business side of what we do. I find it to be quite a bore.”

Emily seemed to disagree when she said, “I should like to attend. I feel at least one of us should be there with him, as I am sure you and he might have questions only we can answer.”

Mark took a calling card out of his inside coat pocket. “Then, please have your manager contact me with a proposed time to meet and I shall be pleased to host the meeting at Linfield Hall at your convenience.”

Mark held the card, and overcome with a welling up of affection for this lovely woman, handed it to her. With his card in her hand, she lowered her eyes and carefully put the card in her bag.

Silas made a point of offering to pour another glass of champagne for Emily.

“Drink up. The evening is young and it is time to celebrate,” he said, spilling wine as he reached over with the champagne bottle to pour her another glass, but she put her hand over the glass and shook her head.

“No thank you. I have had quite enough for one evening. And I think we should be returning home, as our father always waits up for us after a concert where he is not in attendance.”

Mark placed his hand on Silas’s arm, attempting to restrain him. “Then we shall settle the bill and accompany you home in the carriage.”

Releasing an appreciative sigh, Emily slowly rose from her chair and said, “No thank you. I think it best if we take a cab. You have been so gracious and kind to us this evening. I do not wish to impose on your hospitality any further.” She looked at Teresa and Ruth and asked, “Sisters, are you ready to leave?”

Seeing Silas was too drunk to stand, Mark stood and said, “Then let me fetch a cab for you and retrieve the oboe and the cello from our carriage.” He turned and whispered quietly to his grandmother, “I will return shortly. And see if you can sober Silas up, even a little. He has disgraced himself this evening.”

Grandmother heaved a sigh. “I will do what I can, but do not expect miracles.”

As they headed for the exit, Ruth lingered behind her sisters and cozied up to Mark.

“Thank you for the lovely supper. It was such a pleasure meeting you and your family this evening,” she said as she ran her hand down Mark’s arm before taking his arm for him to escort her.

Emily had gone ahead to the carriage, where it was standing in front of the restaurant, opened the door and was retrieving the oboe case and the cello when the other three arrived.

Mark disengaged himself from Ruth and went into the street to hail a hansom cab.

“Ladies, your carriage awaits,” he said jokingly.

Teresa was the first in, followed reluctantly by Ruth. Emily held back and said, “Thank you for a wonderful evening. And I shall have Giles contact you as soon as we meet and discuss a plan. I hope you do not mind if I accompany him to the meeting.” She said this very coolly with no hint of flirting.

“Not at all. I truly look forward to our next and, I hope, successful meeting.”

As Emily entered the carriage, Ruth leaned out, extending her hand, and said, “Charmed, Your Grace. I look forward to a rich and meaningful future relationship.”

Mark smiled, nodded and firmly closed the cab door.