It was a lovely, late spring day when Emily and Giles set out from London in the Dunn’s carriage. Many of the fruit trees were still in bloom as they traversed the countryside headed toward Linfield Hall. Emily wore one of her most comfortable, but stylish cotton dresses. And even though it was spring, there was a chill early in the morning and she wore a smart, short jacket.

Both Giles and Emily were pensive in the carriage. They had already talked through the points they wanted to make to the Duke when they met and now each silently stared out the carriage windows.

The drive leading up to Linfield Hall rambled, at first through a grove of oak and beech. But then the trees gave way to a wide expansive lawn with classical statues lining either side of the drive. The carriage pulled up at the entrance.

Broad stairs led up to the large arched entryway where the Duke was standing with Wesley and a beautiful young lady at his side ready to welcome them.

As the carriage came to a stop, Mark walked down the steps and opened the carriage door.

“Welcome to Linfield.” He offered his hand to Emily who took it and stepped gracefully out of the carriage.

“What a beautiful house, Your Grace,” she said.

“Thank you, but you may call me Mark if you like. It will facilitate a smoother conversation.”

“Thank you, Mark.”

He turned his attention to Giles, “Mr. Carter, I am happy you replied so promptly to my invitation. It is a pleasure to have you here.”

“No, thank you. It was an unexpected surprise to have you make such a surprising offer.”

Mark, having already told Sophie the guests’ names, stretched out his hand toward his lady companion. “Please, let me introduce you to a dear friend of mine, the Lady Sophie Crauford, daughter of a close-by neighbor. She also has an intense interest in music and is joining us this morning.”

Sophie extended her hand limply—more as a gesture than as a handshake and nodded slightly. “Pleasure.”

Emily was surprised to see that Sophie, although certainly fashionable, appeared somewhat overdressed while at the same time, making sure to emphasize her perfect figure.

“Well then, shall we go inside?” Mark asked.

The guests entered the large entrance hallway and waited to be directed to where the meeting was to be held.

Mark turned to the butler and said, “Wesley, I think tea in the blue sitting-room would be lovely.” He turned to Giles. “Unless you would prefer a whiskey or sherry?”

“Tea would be perfect,” Giles replied.

“Come,” Mark said, leading them down the hallway to a splendid room overlooking the estate park, with its vistas of the gardens and the lake in the distance. Silas was standing at the far end of the room helping himself to a whiskey.

“Please make yourselves comfortable. It is almost warm enough to have the doors open, but there is a bit of a chilly breeze off the lake today, so I think not,” Mark said.

“Good morning,” Silas said as he walked toward the guests and offered his hand to Emily, and when she took it, Silas raised her hand and kissed it. Then he turned to Giles and said, “You must be the professor of music.”

“Giles Carter,” Giles said, bowing slightly.

“Silas Skeffington, Mark’s… His Grace’s uncle.”

“Good day to you, sir.”

Emily began to wander the room admiring the artwork. She stopped in front of a painting. “What a splendid portrait by Gainsborough. Is it of a relative?”

“My maternal grandmother. But alas, she is no longer with us. However, she was a beautiful lady and, yes, it is a splendid portrait, is it not?”

“I should like to see more of the artwork after our meeting,” Emily said.

“I shall give you a tour of the house. We have many fine pieces. And please be seated.”

Giles and Emily sat, but Sophie stood beside Mark taking his arm.

It was clear to Emily that Miss Sophie was threatened by her presence and was making it perfectly clear that she had claims on the Duke. Emily assumed the two were courting. But she dismissed the thought, as she was much more interested in the business with His Grace.

Wesley came in with the tea on a trolley. He rolled it to a side table and began to serve.

Mark remained standing but removed Sophie’s arm from his as he accepted his tea from Wesley.

“Now, then…” he began. “I have been giving a great deal of thought to your stunning talent, Miss Emily, and I would like to make a proposition to you.”

Giles answered for her. “We would love to hear what you have to say,” he said as he sipped his tea.

“Very well. I have a number of contacts on the continent that organize and broker concert series. And I have written to a number of them proposing a concert tour within the next six months to a year. I feel it is time for a breakthrough, and an extended tour of Europe would be just the thing to put you on the map. Followed up by a triumphant return to Great Britain for another tour. What would you say to that?”

Emily was momentarily speechless but managed to answer. “Oh, Mark, that is beyond my wildest hope. I cannot wait to tell my sisters of your offer.”

Mark’s expression changed from a wide grin to concern. “Oh, Miss Emily, I think you misunderstand me. The offer is not for the trio, but for you as a solo performer. I know you will set Europe afire with your marvelous playing and enchanting presence. You will become a sensation overnight. But as a solo artist, not as a trio.”

Emily looked at Giles, who sputtered, but finally said, “Your Grace, I think it is you who misunderstand. Emily is part of a group that cannot be divided. They are committed to working as a trio, and I know for certain that Mr. Dunn absolutely forbids the breakup of the group. I am most dreadfully sorry, but Emily is not available as a solo artist.”

“I see,” Mark said darkly. He turned away and gazed out a window across the park, but turning back said, “And I am dreadfully sorry to say that, while I admire your fidelity to your sisters, I am certain you must realize they are not of the same musical excellence as yourself. And even if they were of equal quality, it is very difficult to obtain international bookings for a trio. But as a soloist, there is not only the opportunity to give solo concerts, but the whole world of solo performing with orchestras and chamber groups opens up for you. Surely you can see that, can you not?”

Emily was terribly upset and her temper flared. “But Mark, I cannot just abandon my sisters. We have worked together all our lives. It is the very basis of our family.”

“But my dear Miss Emily, you may need to consider that your father is blinded by his regard for all of his children, regardless of the quality of their work. Are you sincerely ready to hold yourself back by accepting your father’s will?”

Giles turned to Emily. “He may be right, my child. As much as I appreciate your father’s desire to make the trio be a successful musical enterprise, I have to agree with His Grace. They are not up to professional standards—while you have the potential to become an international musical star performer.”

Emily was extremely agitated and stood, went to the window, and gazed outside, twisting her handkerchief, and snapped back, “The proposal puts me in an untenable position!”

Mark went over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Will you, at least, please consider my offer? But realize this is time sensitive and, if we are to move forward for the next concert season, we must act within the next few weeks.”

Mark’s hand on her shoulder calmed Emily slightly and she turned to him. “Yes, I will think about it. I can see what you say is true about my sisters. Their playing is mediocre and I know they lack the discipline and will to become truly successful. But my father… We will just have to wait and see.”

Giles came over. “How much time can you give us?”

“No more than a week or so. It is already late, as it is. But there is still a little time.”

Silas joined them. “Miss Emily, Mark is certainly correct. You have a stunning talent and it would be almost a monumental shame if you squandered your talent by continuing to play with your tepid sisters. I urge you to break away and start your own career.”

Emily was resigned to the breakup of the trio. She took a deep breath, nodded and said, “Yes, I understand.”

“And please do not make any hasty decisions to reject Mark’s offer,” Silas continued. “I have a few thoughts about how this could work for everyone. Let me make some inquiries and I shall visit your family in a few days.”

“That sounds most reasonable,” Giles said, “Thank you.”

“Well, then…” Mark said rubbing his hands. “I think that concludes our business for the time being.”

At that, Sophie came forward, smiling, and reclaimed Mark by, once again, taking his arm.

But Mark disengaged from her and turned to Emily and said, “If you like, I would be happy to show you our house and point out some of our finest art pieces.”

“I should like that a great deal,” Emily said, now calmer as Mark offered her his arm.

Emily noticed that Sophie was not at all happy, but Emily found she was delighted to have the Duke’s attention.

As they were leaving the parlor, Mark said, “Grandmother was most taken with you at dinner the evening of your concert. She has not stopped talking about you and urged me to bring you to her after our business meeting. Would you mind?”

“Not at all. That would be lovely.”

Mark then led Emily and the party around the public rooms of Linfield Hall. Mark and Silas made comments on the various works of art while Sophie trailed behind, her arms clenched tightly across her chest.

The tour ended in the gallery and Mark turned to Emily and Giles and asked, “If we go to visit Grandmother, it will take us to nearly lunchtime. Might I invite the two of you to join us? Our cook is quite marvelous and we can easily accommodate a few more guests.” He turned to Sophie, “And might you join us as well?”

Sophie did not look at all like she wanted to accept the invitation.

“I was only riding by and did not intend to stay long. I shall decline your invitation as my family is expecting me at home for lunch.”

“I would be happy to send a messenger to let them know you are staying here if you like,” Mark suggested.

Emily watched as Sophie’s face registered a flash of different emotions, but she said, “I think not. You obviously have a lot to talk about with your guests. I would hate to intrude.”

Mark calmly answered. “Very well, as you wish.” And he turned from her, but Emily could see that Sophie had expected Mark to plead with her to stay, which he had not.

Then Emily spoke up, “Oh, please stay, Miss Sophie. It would be so lovely to get better acquainted with you. And I know His Grace would be so pleased to have you sit next to him at the luncheon table.”

Sophie stared at her and Emily could see Sophie’s features soften. “Yes, I think that would be lovely.” She turned to Mark. “Then, if you would send your messenger, I shall accept the invitation.”

Mark had an enigmatic smile as he first looked at Sophie and then at Emily and said to her, “You are most gracious.” He then turned to Silas. “Uncle, would you be so kind as to entertain Lady Crauford while I take Miss Emily to visit with Grandmother?”

“It would be my pleasure,” Silas said, offering Sophie his arm.

* * *

Baggs opened the door to Grandmother’s rooms allowing Mark and Emily to enter.

“Grandmamma, greetings,” Mark called out.

Grandmother was seated at her desk working on her correspondence.

“Oh, hello, Mark… Miss Emily. I am so glad you stopped by,” she said as she stood up.

“I have asked Emily and her manager to stay for lunch, but I thought it might be nice to have a private word beforehand.”

Grandmother came over and took Emily’s hand in hers. “I was not at my best the evening of your concert, but I wanted to apologize and stress how much I did enjoy your playing.”

“You are so kind, but I had no idea it was a bad evening for you, as you seemed to be so wonderfully gracious.”

Grandmother laughed. “That was because I was mostly silent. If I had spoken, as I mostly do, you would have found me to be boorish and obnoxious.”

Laughing, Emily said, “Oh, I do doubt that.”

Grandmother reached over and took hold of Emily’s arm. “Do you play cards?”

“Occasionally, in the evening with my sisters. We enjoy a game or two of whist on a snowy winter’s night.”

“Then perhaps you might join me in a game before lunch?”

Emily turned to Mark for confirmation. He shrugged and extended his hand with his palm up.

“No need to ask him,” Grandmother giggled. “He has absolutely no choice in the matter. And we shall not ask him to play with us as we are to play a two-handed game.”

“Then I shall leave you two ladies. Lunch is at one. Please be prompt, Grandmamma.”

“Am I not always?”

Grandmother led the way to the card table as Mark left. Emily was in somewhat of a whirlwind from the events of the morning and she was inwardly wresting with the whole issue of breaking from her sisters to follow a solo career. But she thought a game of cards might help settle her.

As they sat at the table, the Duchess said, “Please Miss Emily, call me Hester. I feel that we shall be fast friends and we can certainly be on a first name basis, I believe.”

“Thank you, Hester, and I am Emily.”

“You know Bezique?” Hester asked.

“I do.”

“Excellent.”

They began to play and were silent except for commenting on the game for a few moments. Then Hester asked, “Perhaps I should not ask this, but I believe Miss Sophie is visiting Mark this morning, is that not so?”

“Yes, she is.”

“And have you formed an opinion of her?”

Emily was surprised by the question but answered. “We have not spoken privately, but she seems to be an educated and charming young lady.”

“Hmm. Now tell me what you really feel about her,” Hester insisted.

Emily paused in her playing. “I do not feel I am one to judge such a fine lady on short acquaintance, and one who is obviously devoted to Mark.”

“And that is exactly why I am asking for your opinion. You are talented, intelligent, and I have observed, very discerning and sophisticated. And not one to give an opinion lightly.”

“Thank you. Yes. And that is why I am hesitant to make an observation after knowing her so briefly. I would not like to be judged under such circumstances.”

Hester inclined her head. “Yes, I can appreciate that, but my grandson’s future is at stake and I have concerns. It is quite clear to me that she has set her sights on Mark for a husband. And I am not certain she is the right person for him. What do you think? Honestly. Please tell me your thoughts.”

Emily fully considered what she wanted to say before speaking. “My very first impression of the lady was that she was handsome and certainly intelligent, but a bit standoffish.”

“That is because she sees you as a threat.”

“And how could that possibly be? She is an aristocrat and I am but a strolling musician,” she said lightly.

“I think you underestimate your charms and influence, Miss Emily.”

“Certainly not.”

“I saw Mark studying you at dinner the other evening, and let me tell you, it was not from a cold analytical point of view. I believe he is intrigued by you.”

Emily’s heart lit up with such a thought for, she had to admit, she was also intrigued by Mark. “Now let me ask you a question.”

“Very well.”

“How do you feel about that? It would seem to me that you could not consider me to be a suitable match for your aristocratic grandson.”

Hester casually played a card and finally answered, “Yes, you are correct. But I am also concerned for my grandson’s happiness and I must say I do not find Lady Crauford to be a likely candidate for the Duke’s hand either. That is why I solicited your opinion.”

“Then let me add, I know far too little about Her Ladyship to give you an insightful opinion about her suitability to be the next Duchess.”