Page 50 of The Baron Takes a Wife

“I suppose it is, but this, this could change all our lives. She could fail. She might never marry.”

“Would that be so bad? She would always have a place with us.”

He looked up and found her eyes. Elena felt she was promising something at that moment but wasn’t sure what, so she added: “Or she could live like Aunt Sophie. I know it will not always be easy, but she could do so much, David. And we could help her. What is the harm in having her make a plan to see if it is possible?”

He began to nod slowly, then with more enthusiasm. “You’re right, of course. By St. George, you’re right. No one ever did anything of worth without taking a chance.”

Elena grabbed his hand, and while she felt the usual spark, she also felt the spark of possibility, the excitement that they could be a part of something bigger than themselves.

“It is a good idea,” she said. “To help people who want to play music, young people. People who can’t afford to or who have never had the opportunity.” David’s look was a little too knowing as she continued. “Could you, could we, help her financially? Would it be possible?”

“If Sophie is satisfied with the plan, then yes, we can afford to help her.”

Elena threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back, moving her to his lap. He angled his head in her hair, which she wore only partly pulled back as they were at home, and she could feel him sigh deeply against her hair. Suddenly, she became very aware of where she was and how their bodies were entwined.

Their happiness was beginning to shift into something darker when David murmured, “Let me go talk to Irene before I lose myself completely.”

“Good idea.” Elena grinned guiltily. David quickly kissed one of her dimples, and then she moved off his lap onto the settee as he rose using his cane. “I can’t wait to see her face after you tell her.”

“Oh, she’s going to be smiling and smug for weeks. It will be terribly annoying.”

Elena gave him a playful nudge, then shooed him off to talk to Irene. She felt such a happiness and pride in Irene, in this dream of the future. But, like so many of her feelings, it was tinged with sadness. How could she make plans here to help Irene when her family might still be out there? She was growing so weary of the cycle of hope and disappointment she had gone through these past few years. She wanted so badly just to be completely happy for Irene, to revel in the joy of someone discovering their life’s calling, and to have that calling help others. Yet, she reasoned with herself, even the most blissful moments were always shaded with a little sorrow, for even at our happiest, a small voice always reminds us that happiness, like life, is fleeting.

****

David found his sister alone at the piano, as Sophie had already gone on to her rooms. He sat beside her at the piano bench, feeling Irene purposely not looking at him. After a moment, he began to play the top part of a song his mother had made up, a child’s song he had taught Irene when she was little. Eventually, he heard the bottom part come in as Irene joined him. Even in this silly song, her advanced skill shone through. It was clear she far exceeded him as a pianist.

After they finished the song, he turned to her as she looked up at him, hopeful. “Renie, you realize if you take this path, you might never be able to marry amongst the ton?”

Irene answered him like she had practiced this part of what she was going to say.

“First, David, people, such as yourself, do get married outside of the ton and the Season. If Polite Society decides someone is too old or too inappropriate for the ton, that doesn’t mean they have lost all value as a person. Second.” She sighed and seemed to take a breath. “Second, this Season has convinced me of something. I am not sure I ever want to marry. And I don’t say that as a naïve girl or in missish indignation or anything. I never grew up wanting to be a wife or mother.”

“You might feel differently if you fell in love.”

Irene shrugged, tracing her fingers along the keys. “Maybe. But I would expect them to love me as I am and with what I do, or they are not worth loving back, are they?”

“Well said, Irene,” he conceded with a dip of his head.

“Until Annie, Aunt Sophie was the only female I knew growing up. I would rather be like her than any fine lady of the ton.”

“She is a rather unique individual.”

“Well, not exactly like her, but I want her freedom and fearlessness. Aunt Sophie doesn’t care what other people think. She travels, she knows the price of things, and she negotiates them. Because she is unmarried, all of her property, everything belongs to her.” She played a short string of notes, then turned, looking him straight in the eye. “I think it could really help people, David, people like Elena who want to learn to play music but never would have had the opportunity.”

While initially, this plan caused him a panic, he was coming to see more and more what a vision his sister had. He felt almost envious of her for that dream.

“Elena does so long to play the piano. I am trying to teach her, but--” He stopped abruptly as the erotic memories of their lessons took over his imagination. He ought to have another lesson with his wife very soon.

“She wants to help me, David. Please let her help me.”

“Irene, I couldn’t stop Elena if I tried. Wouldn’t stop her. I don’t have that right. I can’t stop you either, so I suppose I’ll have to help you. ”

Irene linked her arm around his, laying her head on his shoulder for a moment, then returned her hands to the piano. She began to play the bottom part of their mother’s song but sped up in tempo to a pace David could hardly keep. They played together, increasing the tempo at the end of each refrain until the notes were coming too fast for both of them. Irene laughed and then grew silent for a moment as she gave a fleeting look to the music room door as if looking past it.

“How lucky we were that she was by your sick bed when you woke up.”

“I remind myself of that every day.”