“I suppose.” Emily shrugged and then ran a finger along her bottom lip thoughtfully. “I have not given it much thought. Gentlemen get to do their whole Grand Tour, but there is not really an equivalent for women. And I suppose it would depend on my husband and if he would enjoy travelling.”
For a moment, it felt as if the air between them had hardened somehow. She thought she saw Luke tense, but in the flickering candlelight it might have just been a trick of her imagination.
“I am sure if you wished to, you could convince whomever you married to let you undertake such a journey.” His voice was light, he cleared his throat and said, “Now, let us try again.”
“Phenomenon. Phenomenon.” Emily repeated. “The dance ceased. On the ap. Ap. No, don’t correct me, I can do this. Ah! Approach of the carriage. Which was a phenomenon in these… What on Earth is that word?”
“Sequestered.” Luke played a few notes on the piano, sounding out the phonetics as he did so.
Emily nodded, and looked back at the word. “Sequestered. Seh-quest-erred.”
“Good.” Luke absentmindedly played a few notes on the piano, and gestured for Emily to continue reading.
She listened to the music, letting it calm her emotions as she focused on the words on the page before her. She returned to the top of the page, re-reading the section she had already read as Luke accompanied her on the pianoforte.
One of the notes Luke played made her think of the sound of the sea, and she found herself asking. “Have you ever been?”
“Pardon?” Luke was still playing, his voice only half present.
Emily liked when he lost himself in the music.He always seems so soft.“Have you ever been to Greece?”
Luke played a few moments longer and for a moment, Emily thought he would not answer. That he would instead insist that she focus on the task at hand.
“I have not.” He said an edge to his voice.
It piqued Emily’s curiosity and she asked, “Where did you go on your Grand Tour?”
“I did not have one.” He replied, clenching a fist.
“What? Why not?” Emily frowned at him.Most people think of it as integral to finishing a man’s education.
Luke raised an eyebrow at her. “How could I? I had the Duchy to run. I could not simply go gallivanting about the continent.”
“But surely you could manage a few shorter trips?” Emily asked.
Luke shrugged. “I have felt no need to do so. Not when there is so much I must focus on in my estate.”
“You have never wished to travel?” Emily frowned.
“When I was a boy, of course, I dreamed about my Grand Tour.” Luke sounded wistful, and his fingers absently played a melody on the pianoforte.
Emily added a few notes to his melody, letting it sit comfortably between them. “Where did you think you would go?”
“I wanted to go to Paris, then on to the Alps, into Italy and to the mediterranean after that. I thought I would spend the most time in Italy.” Luke said, continuing to play, his notes sounding more wistful, even though his voice seemed neutral. “Rodger spent most of his time in Italy and Greece, looking through old manuscripts and visiting archives.”
“Your brother had a tour and you did not?”It is hard to see your siblings do what you wish to do.Emily felt her heart ache for Luke, and almost reached for him without thinking, but stopped herself just in time.
Luke stopped playing and turned to face her. “I have responsibilities. He did not. And he needed to finish his education.”
“Did you not wish to do so also?”
“You should know that we do not always get what we wish. I have learned what I needed.” Luke’s voice was soft, and Emily heard echoes of her own frustration and regret.
“Perhaps you might travel some day. I am sure your brother could act as steward.”
Luke made a dismissive gesture. “As I said, it was only a boyish fantasy.”
“You are allowed to take a break every now and then. My father often says that fantasy is what gives rise to hope, and hope is what inspires us to action.” Emily insisted.Luke has never been taught to relax.
