Chapter Five

"Edith?"

Edith turned quickly as her father's hand settled on her shoulder. "Yes, Father?"

"There is something I must speak to you about. I know that the musical evening is to start within the hour and the house is a little in uproar but this is important."

Seeing the gravity settle into her father's hazel eyes, Edith nodded and clasped her hands in front of her, squeezing them hard as though she wanted to do nothing more than to push the worry from herself.

"It is about this evening," he began. "Now, you must recall how important this evening is."

"I am prepared, Father," Edith assured him, quickly. "I have done nothing but practise these last few days."

He smiled. "I know and I am well aware that you do not particularly want to play in front of an audience and in that, I am delighted that you are doing so."

Choosing not to remind her father that she had never had a choice in the matter, Edith kept a small smile pinned to her lips.

"Now, as you know, I went to call upon the Duke of Fairglen yesterday," her father reminded her, as Edith's smile quickly began to fade. "I was unable to speak to you about the conversation I had with him, given that I was then late for dinner and then, thereafter, in something of a rush for the evening's ball."

Edith nodded, recalling how flustered her mother had been for fear that they would be tardy. That had quickly changed into a tense silence around the dinner table as Lord Tidemore had apologized for his delay but had insisted that it had been for a good cause and had then, much to Edith's dismay, demanded that his wife keep her concerns to herself. That had been a display of one side of her father's character that Edith did not like. He was not often demanding and harsh but at times could be and it was on those occasions that Edith felt herself upset over his behavior. She had watched her mother shirk in her chair, had seen the way her eyes had become downcast and had found her own heart growing heavy. The way her father and mother interacted was so very different to how her aunt and uncle, Lord and Lady Hamilton did, it was clear to her that a love match was a good deal more preferable for her future. That, however, was not to be something that she would have any choice in.

"Edith? Are you listening to me?"

Edith snapped her attention back towards her father, realizing too late that she had been drifting in her thoughts. "Yes, Father."

"Good." He frowned though that lessened as he continued to speak. "Now, as I was saying, I spoke with the Duke of Fairglen yesterday and, much to my delight, he is going to be in attendance this evening!"

What felt like a cold hand wrapped around Edith's shoulders.

"And he wishes to be introduced to you which, I assured him, I would be more than delighted to do." With a broad smile, her father reached out to take Edith's hand, though she herself did not move, astonished beyond measure. "He does seem interested in you, Edith."

"How… how could he be so?" Edith whispered, the shock still grabbing hard at her heart. "He does not know me."

"Ah, but I have told him a good deal about you, assuring him that you are just the sort of young lady who knows what is expected of her and that you will behave just as you ought, should he choose you," came the reply. "Oh, and I assured him that you were not in the least bit interested in a love match, so you must set that thought out of your mind entirely."

Something broke in Edith's heart, as though there had always been something within her, something small and minute that prayed – that hoped – for a love match but now, in this moment, she knew it was something that would never be given to her.

"I tell you this in advance of his arrival, so that you will not be overcome with astonishment," her father finished, giving her a nod in clear expectation of her gratitude. "You must do well this evening, Edith, both in the playing of the violin and your introduction to the Duke."

"Yes, Father," Edith whispered, still a little overcome. Her father gave her a small smile and then turned away, his duty done. Edith closed her eyes tightly, sensing a slight weakness running through her as she considered the new burden which her father had set upon her shoulders. Playing for all and sundry was quite one thing but to know that a Duke was standing watching her – and that he was then to be introduced to her also – was quite another!

I did not think that a Duke would ever want to be introduced to the daughter of a viscount.

Opening her eyes, Edith let out a slow breath so that she might push away some of her worry, telling herself that all would be well. She could play that piece with her eyes closed though she would still have the music before her, simply because it gave her somewhere to look, so in that regard, she had nothing to worry about.

"I have to pretend that it is just myself and my violin," she murmured to herself, putting one hand to her stomach so as to quell the rolling anxiety there. "And that no one else – not even the Duke of Fairglen – is watching."

***

Standing up before the assembled audience had been rather intimidating but Edith had managed it, nonetheless. There had been a slight trembling in her limbs but when she had begun her piece, when she had first set her bow to the strings, that had quickly faded away as the familiarity of the notes and the simple joy of being able to play her instrument filled her. Closing her eyes, she let herself play with as much feeling and joyous abandon as she usually did, pushing away all thought of the many pairs of eyes watching her and ears listening to her. Soon, it was simply the music and her, her body softening into a more relaxed stance as she came to a slower part of the music. To her, the music told a story, a story which began with joy and, at the present part, twisted into sadness. She thought of the orphanage as she played, picturing the many faces and knowing the sadness behind their presence there. Then, she pictured them smiling as she stepped in to greet them, wrapping her arms around them and seeing the happy smiles spread across each and every face. She thought of the kind hearts of her aunt and uncle, of the love and the generosity that they shared and in doing so, moved into the final part of the piece. The sadness changed to hope, then to joy and Edith let herself smile as she finished the final few notes, taking her bow from the string and waiting for a few moments as the notes echoed out across the room. Then, she paused, turned and, setting her violin from her shoulder, inclined her head.

Lifting it, she, by chance, caught the eye of a tall, broad shouldered gentleman with dark brown hair and a somewhat piercing gaze. He was not smiling. A little uncomfortable, Edith pulled her gaze away from his, only for the room to erupt into applause.

She could not quite believe the response.

Gentlemen and ladies, all seated within the room, now rose to their feet as they applauded her playing and, much to Edith's astonishment, one or two were wiping their eyes. Had she really affected them so greatly?

"Bravo, my dear!"

Edith smiled and went to set down her violin as her father came to the front of the room, holding one hand out to her.

"My darling Edith is quite a remarkable musician, is she not?" he exclaimed, as Edith was forced to come and stand back beside him, looking out again at the audience rather than escaping away as she had hoped. "The most wonderful piece, my dear!"

Edith nodded, smiled and this time, managed to step away, just as her father introduced Amelia to the guests. Amelia smiled, though Edith noticed the paleness of her cheeks, before she made her way to the pianoforte. Soon, the air was filled with music once more and Edith, relieved that her turn had come to an end and that her duty was done, made her way to the back of the room on silent feet. She nodded and smiled as some of the guests whispered their congratulations to her, finding herself a little weak with the relief of having done all that had been asked of her.

"Edith."

She glanced behind her, only to see her father coming near her.

"Edith, let us make the introduction now."

Edith's eyes flared. "Father, Amelia is playing. It would be rude to – "

"Now."

There was nothing for Edith to do but to follow after her father, though she herself hated having to do such a thing in the middle of Amelia's performance. Her heart began to clamor with a mixture of nervousness and fear, concerned that the Duke of Fairglen would turn out to be the most monstrous of all gentlemen with a dark demeanor, a cruel tongue and a hardness about his character which spoke only of coldness and disdain. After all, were not most Dukes fully aware of their improved status amongst the ton ?

"Your Grace. Might I take this moment to introduce my – "

"Wait, if you please."

Edith's eyes flared in surprise as the gentleman her father had taken her to, cut off his words rather sharply, turning his head, barely giving her a glance and then returning his attention to Amelia.

She blinked, then looked to her father who had dropped his head, clearly embarrassed. At the very same time, Edith realized that the gentleman was the very same one who had caught her eye when she had finished her performance. The gentleman with dark hair, piercing blue eyes and a dark expression.

Her stomach dropped.

It was only when the music had stopped that the Duke of Fairglen finally turned towards them both, his eyebrow lifting a little as he looked directly into Edith's face. She held his gaze steadily, despite the fact that her heart was quickening just a little and heat beginning to spread up her chest at his perusal of her.

"I presume you are Edith?"

The way that he spoke her name, speaking it without proper formality or introduction, made Edith's face grow hot with embarrassment and she looked instantly to her father, seeing his eyes widen in obvious surprise.

"This is my daughter, yes, Miss Edith Tidemore," Lord Tidemore replied, emphasizing the first part of her name before shooting Edith a glance – a glance which told her she ought to be silent and attempt not to take offence at how boldly the Duke had spoken. "Edith, might I present the Duke of Fairglen to you?"

Edith dropped into a curtsy – an absolutely perfect curtsy, she had to admit – and then rose, only to see the Duke's eyebrow lifted as he continued to study her. He had not bowed, she noticed. Instead, he had simply stood there. The rude manner and the flicker of arrogance in his eyes made her heart twist as she looked again to her father and then back to the Duke. No-one spoke.

I was right to think that the Duke of Fairglen would be just like every other Duke, she told herself, as the Duke then looked to her father. I do not believe for a moment that he will truly consider me. My father has hope but I certainly do not. No doubt the Duke will dismiss me and –

"You still wish to marry her off, then?"

Edith blinked furiously, her hand going to her heart as it tore into a roaring beat. Coldness ran through her as she saw her father nod, tears beginning to burn in her eyes as she felt herself as nothing more than a possession to be handed from one person to the next. Her father had never once asked her about her thoughts on the Duke of Fairglen, had never even once considered that she might have feelings about the sort of gentleman that she might want to marry. It was as though her own considerations did not have any value.

"If you would be willing to consider my daughter, then I would be delighted!" Edith's father did not even look at her, rubbing his hands together as he turned to face the Duke. "You will need to know her a little better, I suppose?"

"Shall we go and speak in private?" the Duke asked, turning away from Edith entirely. "I do not want to further interrupt the music here and it is difficult to have a conversation when there are so many listening ears nearby."

Without so much as a glance towards Edith, her father walked away from her with the Duke just a step behind him. They made their way from the music room and Edith was left staring after them, her heart thudding furiously while she went cold all over. Tears began to prick at the corners of her eyes and she quickly dropped her head, hiding her face from the other guests who, much to her relief, were still focused entirely on the music rather than looking at her.

She barely knew this gentleman, had only just been introduced and now her father was going to discuss her possible future with him? How could he do such a thing without even speaking with her?

"Edith?"

Amelia's hand settled on Edith's arm, her whisper low and quiet.

"Edith, are you quite all right? You played very well, you know."

"As did you." Her whisper a little broken by emotion, Edith settled her own hand on top of her sister's. "I will tell you all later, Amelia." She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Though I fear that, from this day forward, my life shall never be the same again."