When the Music Stopped

by Matthews, Beryl

  ‘I’ve managed to wangle five days’ leave and have lined up a couple of houses for us to see tomorrow. Would you like to come with us?’

  ‘Houses?’ the twins said together.

  ‘Yes, there’s one I think would be perfect, but your mother must see it first. It is overlooking Richmond Park.’

  ‘You’re buying another house?’ Lester was puzzled. ‘What are you going to do with this one – sell it?’

  ‘No, it’s yours and Lillia’s now,’ Sara told them. ‘I will be taking any of the staff who want to come with us, so you will have to employ your own, but I am sure Adams will help you with that.’

  ‘Oh, my. Have you got any more surprises for us?’ she asked her mother.

  ‘I think that’s enough for one day, don’t you?’

  ‘It’s good of you to let us have the house,’ Lester told his mother, ‘but we can’t afford to run it. Neither of us has a job at the moment.’

  ‘You don’t have to worry about that. I will meet all the expenses and support you while you pursue your musical careers, or whatever you decide to do.’

  ‘But that is too much to ask of you,’ Lester protested.

  ‘I am quite capable of doing that, but if it makes you uncomfortable you can come and live with us. We would both be very happy if you wanted to, but we did think you would want to stay in London, and that’s why your mother has given you the house.’

  Lillia was chewing her lip as she turned all this over in her mind.

  ‘You don’t have to decide now, my dears. It will be a while before we move, so why don’t you take time to think about it?’

  They looked at their mother and nodded.

  ‘Good. Now, I’ve booked a table for us to have dinner out this evening.’

  ‘I’m very tired after all the travelling,’ Lillia told them, ‘so why don’t you two go and have a nice quiet meal on your own. I need to have a talk with the brother I haven’t seen for a long time.’

  When the twins were alone they looked at each other, their minds buzzing with everything they had been told.

  ‘What a day!’ She sat next to her brother and stared in to the fire. ‘We come home to find our world has exploded. Everything we knew has been swept away, and until Alex and Mother are married, we don’t even have a proper name. Holdsworth was one of his aliases.’

  ‘I’m going to start calling myself Stansfield now.’

  His sister nodded. ‘I’ll do the same.’

  ‘When I think of all Mother has suffered and done for us, I swear I would throw that man out on the street if he hadn’t already died. I’ll bet he threatened to tell us about our birth if she didn’t do as he said.’

  ‘I’m sure that was the hold he had over her, but he’s gone now and Mother can be happy at last. Alex is a fine man and has stuck by her through the unpleasant times, even though he knew about her past. His family and James’s have also given their support. It’s comforting to know she had people around her who cared.’

  Lester sighed. ‘I wonder if James and Ruth knew about the trial.’

  ‘I have a feeling they did, but if so, then they kept it very quiet. They are good friends.’

  ‘The best,’ he agreed. ‘Nevertheless it is only right they know the whole truth about us.’ His sister nodded her agreement, and he said, ‘This is a new start for all of us and we must do everything we can to see Mother and Alex have a happy marriage.’

  She slipped her arm through her brother’s. ‘The best way we can do that is to show her that we are happy and planning for our future. A future she has paid such a high price to give us. She is worried about us and we must lift that burden. The thought of starting over again is scary, though.’

  ‘That is what I’m struggling with.’

  ‘Well, there’s only one way to find out if we are still any good, and that is to try.’

  ‘True.’

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  The next day they went with Alex in his car and looked at the houses he had picked out. Every one was excellent, but their mother fell for the one near Richmond Park, and the twins agreed with her choice. It was spacious with a large garden, and from the third floor you could see the park.

  ‘Look, there are deer in there.’ Lillia was enthralled. ‘Isn’t it beautiful?’

  Sara agreed. ‘It feels like a happy, peaceful home, and how lovely to be away from the noise of London. Alex does prefer this one as well.’

  ‘Then this is the house for you.’

  ‘I have already told the agent we will have it.’ Alex joined them at the window, and smiled at the twins. ‘Are you sure we can’t tempt you to move with us?’

  ‘We really need to stay in London,’ Lester told him, ‘but we might change our minds later, and we will certainly come and stay with you often.’

  ‘We shall expect you to. There’s plenty of room here for you. Would you like to take a ride through the park now we’ve finished?’

  ‘Yes, please, and when we come and stay can I have this room? You can have the one next door,’ she told her brother. ‘It’s got the same view.’

  Alex gazed up at the threatening sky. ‘We had better be on our way before the weather gets too bad.’

  They arrived home to find James and Ruth waiting for them, and Sara told them they could use the upstairs sitting room. Refreshments were brought to them and the friends settled down by a blazing fire to talk.

  ‘Did you know about the trial?’ Lester wanted to know.

  ‘We did.’ James then told them about the newspaper article and how he had concealed it from his friend. ‘I didn’t let you see it because it would have upset you, and there wasn’t anything you could do so far away from home. I contacted Alex and he assured me your mother was being well-looked-after. I thought it best to keep quiet.’

  ‘I knew because James told me,’ Ruth admitted. ‘He wanted to make sure Lillia didn’t see any English newspapers. In the situation we were all in we felt it would be better if you didn’t know anything about it.’

  ‘It probably was, but we don’t think you know he wasn’t our father.’

  ‘That doesn’t surprise us,’ Ruth admitted. ‘Will you tell us who your father really is, or would you rather not talk about it?’

  ‘We want you to know.’ Lester then began to tell them the whole story, leaving nothing out.

  ‘I said you looked like that pianist,’ James exclaimed when his friend had finished talking. ‘Wow! You must be shocked.’

  ‘We are.’ Lillia managed a smile. ‘But we are also very pleased that man wasn’t our father, and our mother is finally free of him. Now you know the details of our birth, we would quite understand if you didn’t feel you could still be friends with us.’

  ‘What are you talking about?’ James demanded.

  ‘You both come from respectable families and they might not think—’

  ‘Stop right there.’ James surged to his feet. ‘You are soon to be part of the Stansfield family, and you can’t get more respectable than that. And let me tell you another thing. We don’t give a damn about your past. You are our friends and nothing will ever change that. Alex obviously doesn’t care what happened in the past either; he loves your mother and that’s all that matters.’

  ‘Quite right,’ Ruth agreed. ‘It’s two beautiful twins we love and respect. That’s all we know and all we see, so don’t you dare mention this again.’

  Lester held up his hands in surrender. ‘We had to know how you felt and give you the chance to back away if you wanted to.’

  ‘Don’t be daft. How could you think we’d do that after all we’ve been through together? You are not getting rid of us, so you can forget it,’ James scolded, then grinned. ‘Now that’s out of the way, tell us why you’ve been looking at houses.’

  Having cleared up the point they had been concerned about, Lillia launched into describing the beautiful house they had seen. ‘It’s to be Mother and Alex’s home after they are married, and it’s perfect
for them.’

  ‘What is going to happen to this house?’ Ruth asked. ‘Is your mother going to sell it?’

  ‘She’s given it to us, and we are going to stay here.’

  ‘I say, what a good idea.’ James nudged his cousin and winked, then turned back to their friends. ‘Can we come and stay sometimes?’

  ‘Of course you can,’ Lester told them. ‘This will be our home and you will always be welcome. You might have to help with the chores, though, until we employ our own staff.’

  ‘Happy to do that. I can make a good omelette.’

  ‘He can actually,’ Ruth laughed, ‘and I’m an expert at bed-making.’

  ‘We won’t have any problems at all then.’ Lillia laughed and they all joined in.

  The twins looked at each other and gave a little nod. They had been shocked by all they had been told, but only good had come from revealing the truth. The way was now clear and the past could be put behind them, but what that future would be they were still unsure about. The doubts still lingered that they would be able to pick up where they had left off so many years ago. She was ready to try, but not without her brother. They had to do this together, because without the support of each other the task would be too daunting. It had to be both of them or failure was a distinct possibility.

  ‘What was that?’ Lillia sat bolt upright in bed, wondering what had woken her. She tipped her head to one side and listened. There it was; that was the sound that had disturbed her sleep. Reaching across to put on the light and grab her robe, she glanced at the clock. Five in the morning. She scrambled out of bed and shot out of the door, nearly knocking into her mother. They looked at each other and without speaking, hurried down the stairs. Adams was standing outside the music room and placed his fingers to his lips.

  ‘How long has he been in there?’ Sara whispered.

  ‘Two hours, madam. He’s playing the same piece over and over again. At first it was soft and I could hardly hear it, but he’s really getting in to it now.’

  Sara put her hand out to open the door, but her daughter stopped her. ‘Let me go in alone.’

  She nodded and turned to Adams. ‘As soon as it’s light I want you to send for the professor.’

  ‘Yes, madam. Would you like tea? Cook is already up.’

  ‘That would be welcome.’ She sat on a hall chair. ‘I’ll stay here.’

  Lillia slipped into the music room and closed the door quietly behind her. Her brother stopped halfway through the piece, shook his head, and went back to the beginning again. She could see the perspiration on his face and the frustration as he tried to play the piece to his satisfaction. It was vital that she acted normally, so she took a steadying breath, walked over and sat beside him on the wide stool. ‘That’s good, but you’re rushing it,’ she told him calmly. ‘Try something else and then go back to that.’

  He stopped and wiped his face with a handkerchief. ‘What are you doing up?’

  ‘The whole household is up. Don’t stop playing.’

  ‘It’s hard.’ He bowed his head. ‘I need the professor.’

  ‘He’ll be here soon.’ When he clenched his hands she laid hers gently on top of his. ‘Relax. Let us start with the basics. Play scales for me while I try and loosen up my vocal chords, and we’ll take it from there.’

  Sara sat outside the door for over an hour, and when her daughter’s voice became clearer and more powerful, with her brother playing for her, she struggled to keep the emotion in check. Adams had stayed with her and she was aware of other members of the staff nearby, listening with smiles on their faces.

  ‘I had better go and get ready for the day. Please call me if they need me.’

  ‘Of course, madam, and I’ve sent for the professor already. He won’t mind being woken early for such good news.’

  ‘Indeed, he won’t. Brigadier Stansfield will also be arriving early, so ask Cook to prepare a large breakfast. I think everyone is going to be very hungry.’

  ‘She is doing that now, madam.’

  An hour later the professor arrived, stopped outside the music room, listened for a while, then opened the door and strode in. ‘Stop! Stop!’ he ordered. ‘That won’t do at all. Dear me, we have a lot of work to do, but before then, go upstairs, wash and dress, and after you’ve had a good breakfast, we will begin to repair the damage.’

  ‘Yes, Professor,’ they replied, and tore out of the room, running up the stairs to their rooms, just as they had done as children when their tutor had given them orders.

  Joshua came out and smiled at Sara and Adams. ‘Thank you for sending for me. This is the breakthrough we have been hoping for, and they are now ready to study again. Quite a day,’ he told them. ‘Ah, quite a day.’

  By the time Alex arrived, Joshua had his pupils hard at work. Normally he would have taken them separately, but he knew this was a difficult time and they needed to be together.

  ‘That’s a lovely sound,’ Alex said the moment he walked in the door.

  Sara greeted him, her face glowing with joy. ‘Lester started playing again in the early hours of the morning, and then Lillia joined him. Isn’t it wonderful?’

  ‘I’m so pleased, my dear. It was heartbreaking to know all that talent was being wasted. Does Joshua know?’

  ‘We sent for him and he’s in there with them now. Come and have breakfast. Cook has made enough to feed half of London.’

  While he was enjoying his meal, James and Ruth arrived, and helped him make a dent in the food.

  All the doors had been left open so everyone could hear the music, and James sighed when Lillia’s voice soared through the house, making him close his eyes in sheer pleasure.

  Ruth had wandered out to the hall and was sitting outside the music room, listening with a smile on her face.

  It was an hour later when Joshua stopped them. ‘That’s enough for this session. That was a good start, now relax.’

  ‘How is it going?’ Sara wanted to know when he walked into the dining room and began heaping a plate with food from the covered dishes.

  ‘Because of everything they have been through there is now an extra quality to their interpretation of the music.’ He could hardly contain his excitement. ‘I do declare they are better than ever.’

  ‘Have you told them?’ Alex asked.

  ‘Certainly not! I have already told them they have done well. Too much praise is not good for them.’

  James rushed out of the room, grabbed Ruth from her chair and they went in to see their friends, who were still in the music room, talking quietly together.

  ‘That was terrific,’ James declared, and then he gazed at them for a moment. ‘I say, you both look worn out, so how about coming for a drive? You can show us where this house is in Richmond.’

  ‘What a good idea.’ Lester stood up and slapped his friend on the back, more at peace than he had been for a very long time. ‘A walk through the park would be excellent.’

  In April, Alex left the army and opened his flying school, Sara made preparations for their wedding in May, and the twins worked, driven on by Joshua, completely unaware of passing time.

  One evening, after a shorter session than usual, Joshua joined Sara and Alex in the sitting room. He took the drink Alex offered and sat down with a sigh. ‘They are ready.’

  ‘You are happy with them at last?’ Sara asked hopefully. Joshua had moved in to be constantly with his pupils and had driven himself and the twins in an effort to make up for the wasted years. They were now twenty-seven years old and must launch their careers without further delay.

  ‘I know you think highly of them, but do you honestly believe they have a chance?’ Alex asked. ‘It’s a tough business.’

  Joshua drained his glass and held it out for a refill. ‘Only the most talented make it to the top, and that is where I believe the twins belong. They know it isn’t going to be easy and are quite prepared for that.’

  ‘Is there any way we can help, Josh?’

  ‘You
are holding your wedding reception at the Andersons’, so I have arranged for them to give a short recital,’ he told them, not bothering to ask their permission. ‘I will be inviting a few gentlemen to that performance. Now, if you will excuse me I must return to my home. There is much I have to do before the wedding in two weeks.’

  ‘What is he up to?’ Sara was puzzled.

  ‘I would say he is going to see the twins are noticed as quickly as possible, and has taken the wedding as a good time to bring some interested people to hear them. We can relax and leave this to Josh, for he clearly has plans for his star pupils.’

  ‘That is wonderful, and it will be lovely to have them perform at our wedding.’

  Two days later Ruth arrived while Lester was playing alone in the music room, so she slipped in to listen. He was completely different from the tense, troubled man who had returned from the war. The lines of strain had disappeared and he was relaxed and happy.

  He looked up and smiled.

  ‘I love to hear you play.’

  ‘That’s good, because you are going to have to live with it.’

  ‘Pardon?’

  ‘I practise every day and there may be times when you would like quiet in the house.’

  ‘What are you talking about?’ She was confused.

  ‘When we are married you will have to live with me playing all the time.’

  ‘Are you proposing?’ she asked, standing up slowly.

  ‘Do I need to?’ He didn’t stop playing.

  ‘Well, it would be nice.’

  ‘In that case; I love you very much, Ruth. Would you agree to marry a struggling musician?’

  ‘I will!’ She rushed over to him, and only then did he stop playing so he could gather her into his arms.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  It was a beautiful spring day and the twins had never seen their mother looking so radiant as she married Alex. After the wedding in London they had a fleet of cars to take them to the Andersons’. This large house was perfect for the reception, and also the ballroom an ideal place for the recital. Cook and her staff had also been moved there so she could oversee the preparation of the food.