Page 36 of A Dashing Duke for Emily

“Please, I long to hear yoursuggestion.”

“It seems the crux of the problem centers around the father’s refusal to let Emily leave the trio to pursue her own career. Is that notso?”

“It is,” Gilesreplied.

“Then what I propose is that we replace Miss Emily with Mr. Hawthorn and I shall present Mr. Dunn with a fait accompli—the trio complete with Linton on piano and with a series of bookings throughout the British Isles. How can he possibly refuse such anoffer?

“But what about rehearsals?” Linton asked. “One does not just insert oneself into a musical group without extensive study of their music portfolio and an extended period ofrehearsing.”

“He is right,” Giles said. “Not to mention how the other two musicians might feel about these changes. Have you discussed that withthem?”

“That is what I was hoping you might do. After all, you have been training and managing them for several years now, is that notso?”

“It is. But this is all rather sudden.” He then turned to Linton. “And how do you feel about this? As my student, I am not certain you are ready for public performance, except at the student recitallevel.”

Linton shifted nervously in his chair. “Maestro, I do feel ready. This is not solo work—I shall be within agroup.”

“And all the more reason. Up to now you have only worked on the piano as a student. You have no experience working in an ensemble. It is a very differentexperience.”

Now Linton stood and confronted Giles. “But I must start at some point. You have been very supportive and encouraging of my work up to now. You have even compared me to other professional pianists. I see this as the logical extension of mygrowth.”

“Perhaps. But you have not met the other members of the trio yet, haveyou?”

“Not yet. But Mr. Skeffington has offered to let us rehearse here until we are ready to present his proposal to Mr.Dunn.”

“That will not be necessary. You can rehearse quite comfortably at my studio where the sisters are used to rehearsing.” Giles turned to Silas, “And have you already made the tourbookings?”

“I am almostcomplete.”

“And when would the tourstart?”

“In the autumn. We are looking at three months, from the beginning of October until just beforeChristmas.”

Giles turned away and gazed out the window at Silas’s back garden. Then he turned back to Silas. “If this will free up Emily for her solo career, then I am all for this. Have you spoken to the Duke about this? I know he wanted to set up a continental tour and said the time was short for him to accomplish histask.”

“Not yet. I wanted to gauge you and the trio’s reactions before speaking to him. But if this is acceptable, we might have the Duke begin his negotiations for the European tour before we meet with Mr.Dunn.”

“Is that wise? What if Mr. Dunn refuses to allow Emily to leave thetrio?”

“But Miss Emily is an adult and certainly can chart her own course now, is that notso?”

“Yes, she may, but you are forgetting her loyalty to hersisters.”

“Ah, but that is now taken care of. The sisters can continue the trio with Mr. Hawthorn, freeing up Emily to tour. Is that not what this whole exercise is allabout?”

Giles rubbed his forehead. “I certainly hope so.” He turned to Linton. “And you feel certain you are ready for this newresponsibility?”

“I most certainly am,Maestro.”

“Very well. Then let us move forward with this newventure.”

* * *

Mark burst into his uncle’s study where Silas was examining a small painting with a magnifyingglass.

“Uncle, how dare you go behind my back without consulting me!” Mark shoutedout.

Silas looked up calmly, put down the painting and the magnifying glass, and smiled. “You seem upset, Nephew. And what might be troubling you thisafternoon?”