How does he look so endearing and yet so smug at the same time?Emily frowned at him. “What do you mean? Right about what?”
“That music is about order, and structure.” Luke gestured to the pianoforte.
She arched an eyebrow at him. “And how do you come to that conclusion?”
“You were playing for patterns. Is that not order?” he grinned.
Emily shook her head. “You are the one who was so moved by my playing! Besides, patterns do not mean order. It was about marrying the emotions to the sound.”
“And is that not bringing something chaotic into structure?”
Emily opened her mouth to argue, but shook her head.He is right, but I am not going to say it.
Luke seemed to have read the answer in her silence as he gave her a satisfied look. “And to answer your other point, Thursdays are grey for me, they sound more like this.”
He played a few notes on the piano and Emily saw a swirl of colours and shapes.
“That sounds more like Tuesdays to me.” Emily played another few notes on the piano.
“Tuesdays sound like this.” The Duke replied.
Soon, the two of them were simply playing together, each adding to the melody of the other. They stopped speaking, and it was as though they were completing and complimenting whatever the other person could see.
Emily played notes that seemed golden and happy, the Duke met her with notes that seemed rich and deep, like warm honey. They moved from emotion to emotion, and suddenly she was laughing, the sound of it joining the music they were making.
Luke was laughing too. And it filled her with a warmth that was breathtaking. They stopped playing and he looked at her, a fire in his eyes.
“I think I know how we are going to teach you to read.” He grinned and pointed to the pianoforte. “What if we matched things to music?”
He played a few notes on the pianoforte. “Tell me which of these sounds like ‘ah’.”
“That one.” Emily played it.
“Now trace the letters with your finger, while I play the note.” Luke played the note again, and Emily thought.
She traced an a and an H. Then she turned to Luke and beamed. “I think this might actually work!”
“There is only one way to find out. Let us get some paper, a quill, some ink and the abecedarium.” Luke said.
“I will race you.” Emily leapt to her feet.
“And what does the winner get?” Luke asked his eyes dancing.
“That is for me to know, and you to find out.” Emily laughed and sprinted from the room.
The sound of Luke’s footsteps echoed behind her, and she laughed all the way down the corridor.
Chapter Twenty
“You seem rather cheery today.” Rodger remarked as they walked down the narrow country lane and into the village.
The two of them had decided to venture into the village and enjoy a little country air and visit the book seller. Rodger, of course, had delighted in the opportunity and Luke wanted to find something that he might use to help Emily.
“Do I?” Luke replied. “Perhaps it is simply that the sun is shining and it is nice to get out of the castle.”
“It is rather enjoyable to stretch one’s legs I suppose, and there is nothing quite like visiting a bookshop in another village.” Rodger beamed. “I am glad you suggested it.”
“You are not to go completely mad, brother-mine. We shall have to arrange transport for whatever you buy and though it is admirable to support the local merchants, I have no wish totravel home with an entirely new library.” Luke gave his brother a meaningful look.He would easily buy the whole store if I let him.
