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Lud, if only she knew. Her best friendwashere, sitting in the audience now, silently wishing her all the best and knowing she would do magnificently at the same time.
But he couldn’t tell her. Not here or now. He couldn’t reach over, tap her on the shoulder, and give her a reassuring smile.
He couldn’t buoy her up from the audience because she didn’t know it was him.
It had only ever been him.
Several songs were performed, each slightly more challenging than the last. Lord Brown and Grace clapped politely at the end of each song, and they sometimes swapped polite commentary on the performances. All the while, Ezra’s head was swimming. Grace needed her dearest friend right now, and thanks to his foolish missteps, she couldn’t even have that.
Clapping sounded around him. Ezra followed suit, hitting his hands one against the other, but he couldn’t even recall who’d played or how the song had sounded. Grace stood, and his gaze flew to her. Oh, how he wished he could stand up and tell her the truth. How he wished he could convey to her that her best friendwashere. Her best friend believed in her and was sitting in the audience ready to offer encouragement.
Grace took a seat, positioned her hands above the keyboard, then glanced out over the crowd.
He willed her gaze to find his.
Finally, it did.
He gave her what he hoped was an encouraging smile.
I’m here,he wanted to say,the friend you need now, to help you feel calm. It’s me. I don’t wear the face you expect, but I’m here, and I believe in you.
Unfortunately, as Ezra was learning this Christmas, looks could only go so far. Grace’s gaze left him, but her expression looked no less nervous than before. He’d failed her. As her dearest friend, he hadn’t been able to be there for her in the way she needed—all because of a stupid misunderstanding.
She pushed a few keys and music floated out into the room.
Ezra’s gaze stayed riveted on her. The song was simple. There were no overly elaborate arpeggios or long, drawn out trills. But it was lovely. A song made elegant in its simplicity. Though Grace may not have the quickest fingers or the fastest hands, she played with her heart, and the music took on a rare beauty because of it.
The song ended, and Grace slowly lifted her hands off the keys.
Ezra was on his feet immediately, clapping with enthusiasm. A movement out of the corner of his eye told him that Lord Brown, too, had risen to applaud her. This time, it didn’t bother Ezra in the least that someone else was also acknowledging Grace. She deserved all the appreciation, in his estimation.
Indeed, Grace seemed a bit surprised to find not only an appreciative audience, but several individuals standing, as many had followed Ezra and Lord Brown’s example. She turned a sweet pink, and her lips pulled up into a slightly embarrassed smile. Did she truly not have any idea how beautifully she had played? Then again, most often society mistook difficult and challenging for musical and elegant. Grace didn’t, though, and it had shown in her music.
Grace gave a deep curtsy. When she stood, her gaze found his.
Ezra smiled at her, allowing all the pride he felt at hearing her play to shine through.
This time, it was clear she understood some of what he was thinking, for she smiled more brightly.
This time, it seemed, a simple look was actually enough.
