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Mr. Vogel executed a precise bow. “Good afternoon, my lady.”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Vogel.” She looked approvingly from Molly, who’d risen to her feet, to Mr. Vogel and finally, to the piano, its beautiful cabinet shining in the afternoon sun. “Shall I play? I invite you both to have a seat.”
Mr. Vogel waited for Molly to sit before joining her on the settee. Lady Clara tested the piano by playing the final movement from a Schubert sonata, complete with its galloping rhythm leading to a resounding climax.
As ever, Molly marveled at her ladyship’s talents as she watched her pour her soul into the performance. The piece required frequent hand-crossings, a feat her ladyship had been practicing with the added difficulty of her growing belly.
Turning to them afterwards, out of breath, Lady Clara nodded. “Your adjustments have worked wonders, as always. How do you manage to have the thirds sound so splendid?”
“All compliments go to you on your aptitude, my lady.”
“You’re too kind. Now, this is our last appointment before I leave for the country. I haven’t the slightest doubt that my faith in both of you is well-placed, and I already look forward to returning and discovering the beauty created by your…collaboration. For my music library, of course.”
Without looking over at Mr. Vogel to gauge his reaction, Molly simply nodded, her cheeks tingling.
“Now, as to my last instructions. As I have explained to Molly, with all my responsibilities of late, I find myself so occupied in every way that I simply cannot determine which scores should be procured. Molly, you know my tastes. Mr. Vogel, you speak German and have contacts among the publishers in Leipzig.”
“I am at your service, my lady,” he replied.
“Thank you. When I took lessons from Mr. Chopin, he told me of another Clara—Clara Wieck Schumann. Her playing captivated him, an accolade of the highest order. She’s said to compose as well, but I require your assistance in obtaining the scores from Leipzig. Perhaps some of her husband’s as well. They’re not terribly well received in England, but I’m told that he enjoys popularity on the continent.”
“Yes, my lady,” replied Mr. Vogel. “I’ll write to Breitkopf & Härtel to obtain whatever scores you wish. But, um,whichother scores do you wish?”
Clasping her hands together with relish, Lady Clara smiled. “Mr. Vogel, as a musician, would you agree with me that it’s only in hearing a piece performed that one can truly appreciate its possibilities? Yes? Then you’ll understand this request for your help.”
When she paused dramatically, Mr. Vogel moved to the edge of his seat. “Yes, my lady?”
“I shall need you and Molly to attend the upcoming performances by the Philharmonic Society together. Molly, with your knowledge of my musical inclinations, and Mr. Vogel, your technical expertise and connections to publishing, I have every confidence in the conclusions you’ll draw.”
Mr. Vogel’s attention shifted to Molly; she could feel it. Slowly, she turned toward him, finding his earnest regard on her.
“Would you do me the honor of attending a concert with me, miss?”
A slight roar grew in her ears, and the tips grew hot. “Yes, Mr. Vogel.”
He blinked as if surprised, then a shy smile spread.
“I leave it to your discretion,” her ladyship said quietly, “but I shan’t object should your friendship give rise to an invitation to use each other’s Christian names.”
He raised an eyebrow questioningly, his gaze never having left Molly’s. “Should you like to call me Frederick, miss?”
She dipped her head shyly. “Only if you call me Molly.”
“It’s decided! Now, a last request before I rest upstairs. Forgive me, both of you, for my artistic foibles. But when it comes to music, it pains me to think of its consideration being too cold or commercial. No, to me, music isalive. It’s to be discussed and appreciated between friends. For that reason, when the two of you meet to select or discuss the scores, I ask that you do so only in a setting befitting the occasion—out of doors.”
Molly frowned. “Out of doors?”
Her ladyship nodded. “Alfresco, such that the harmony of music and nature will inspire you.” When Molly and Mr. Vogel stared at her with a confused look, she gave a silent sigh before continuing. “I shall need you to take a constitutional through the park together. To visit a conservatory and be inspired by the flora. To go on a picnic.” Silence elongated. “Surely the typical outings that inspire selections for music libraries.”
Molly’s eyes closed for a moment before turning to the man next to her. “Frederick, would you do me the honor of going on such outings with me? To inspire selections for Lady Clara’s music library?”
To her relief, both understanding and humor glinted in his eyes. He, too, was aware of Lady Clara’s…efforts…and he looked more than amenable.
“That depends.”
Perhaps he’s not so interested!“Oh?”
“Might we…might we speak of more than music? If it were welcome, I should like to become better acquainted withyou, Molly.”
Glancing at her employer before answering, who sat with her hands over her heart now, Molly found the courage to nod.
