Emily excused herself and went to comfort Ruth and discuss some sort of a strategy for presenting Spencer to the family.
Ruth was in her room sitting on the side of her bed.
Emily came in, closed the door and leaned back against it.
“Ruth, my dear, you must pull yourself together. How do you plan to convince Papa of your intentions if you are blubbering and sputtering like a broken fountain?”
Ruth looked up with red eyes and a blotched face. “Oh, Emily…” she wailed. “I cannot bear to lose my Spencey.”
“Then, by all means, continue your wailing and moaning, and you are certain to antagonize Papa and defeat your purpose.”
Ruth quieted down but continued with her little sniffles and dabbing at her face.
“Then what am I to do?” she asked, finally placing her hands in her lap and pulling at her handkerchief.
Emily came over and sat down beside her.
Ruth said, “You know the first thing he is going to ask me is how I can continue in the trio if I am to be married?”
“Most likely. And what will your answer be? And you have not given me a straight answer to that question either.”
Ruth mumbled something.
“What?” Emily asked, leaning in closer.
“I said I am searching for a replacement.”
“Oh? And how are you going about that?”
“I put an advert in the Times.”
“And have you had responses?” Emily asked.
“A few, but they were all rubbish.”
“I see. And have you thought of contacting music schools or universities?”
Ruth looked at her and brightened. “Oh, that is a lovely idea. That might be worth a try. Thank you.”
“But what about this evening? What are your plans for presenting Spencer? He is going to be here shortly and you need to think how best to introduce him.”
“Oh, tell me how, Emily. You know all about these things and you are Papa’s favorite. Maybe you could take the lead and explain everything to him for us.”
Emily sighed and stood up from the bed. “Oh, Ruth… No wonder Papa frets about you. You have not got a clue, do you?”
“What do you mean?”
“He wants to see you strong and independent. He wants you to be able to make clear and thoughtful decisions. He wants…”
Ruth spoke up, “No, that is what you want. What he wants is for me to obey him and not have a life of my own.”
That stopped Emily and made her reconsider. She could not help but laugh.
“How absolutely correct you are. Very well then, what I suggest is that you introduce Spencer and let him make a case for your marriage. If he is clever and convincing, then you might have a chance of securing his approval. Do you think he is up to the task?”
Ruth smiled. “I believe he is. He is sensible, educated, and from a good family. What is there not for Papa to approve of?”
“Excellent. Then you have a word with him before you present him to the family and make it clear it is up to him to be clear and assertive. Can you do that?”
“Oh, Emily, can you speak to him for me?”
“No. He is to be your husband. And it is to be your life. And it is you who must travel your path.”
Ruth was silent for a moment, but she finally managed a tortured-looking smile and said, “I can do this. I must do this. I will do this.”
The initial introductions had been formally made and the ensemble was now seated in the sitting room.
Papa and Mother were seated side by side in their identical chairs facing directly forward. Ruth and Spencer were seated in straight-backed chairs immediately before them. Teresa sat to the side, knitting for her needy, and Emily stood at the fireplace so she could view the whole scene like the referee at a tennis match.
“Mr. Trilby,” Papa began, “Why have you not presented yourself to her family before now?”
A difficult and awkward question for Spencer to answer, Emily considered, keeping an inward score.
“It is not because I did not want to, or because I had any reservations about my feelings for your daughter. But it was out of respect to you.”
Emily believed that to be an excellent answer—fifteen-love to Spencer.
This seemed to take Papa aback slightly. “Oh? And how would respect for me prevent you from introducing yourself?”
First score for Papa, Emily thought.
“Because, sir, I did not want you to meet me until I was fully qualified in my profession and could make it clear to you that I could and would properly care for your daughter’s well-being.”
Another score for the young man.
Papa now turned to Ruth. “Daughter, and just how do you plan to be married and continue on with the Trio at the same time? Especially if you are to be living in Bristol—of all places.”
Ruth looked stricken. She had not expected to answer any questions herself. However, Spencer spoke up for her, and the look of relief on Ruth’s face was priceless.
“She will have a schedule of the concerts and my family’s carriage will be made available to her for each concert date.”
“And what about rehearsals? She cannot rehearse regularly as she does now.”
Very bad. Definitely a point for Papa.
Spencer seemed not to have an answer for that, but added. “That we shall have to arrange. Perhaps a week or so over the course of the concert season can be set aside for rehearsals.”
Only a fair answer. It is definitely a thirty-thirty tie.
“Hmm.” Father seemed to disapprove.
Then quite surprisingly, Mother spoke up. “And do your parents approve of this marriage? I assume you have spoken to them, at least, about your plans?”
“I have, and they met her when they came to visit me in London last month—it was my birthday.”
That appeared to shock both parents, and Papa said, “And why did you not introduce us to them at that time?”
“How could I? Ruthie and I were not engaged at that point, but I wanted them to meet her, so we had tea together at my lodging.”
No points scored, Emily decided. Still a tie.
Then out of nowhere, Teresa raised her hand and asked, “And what if I wanted to get married, too?”
Both parents looked at her, astonished.
Then she spoke more words than anyone had heard from her in months. “You two are really being quite mean to Ruth. Why should she not marry? Why should she not leave the trio if she wants? Why should I not as well? Do you really expect the trio to survive what you know is to be inevitable? We will marry and have families. The trio has been fine while we were children and young adults, but Emily is gone, Ruth is about to flee, and you must both wake up to the fact that we are no longer children and must have our own lives. Is that so very hard to understand? I do not think any of us, except for Emily, want to do this anyway. Maybe it is time to let the trio go.”
Game, set, match! Good for you Teresa. There is hope for you yet.
Teresa had exploded her bomb and passively gone back to her knitting.
Papa stood. He seemed not to know what to say. He looked down at Mother and she shrugged.
It was now time for Emily to enter the fray. “Well. We have been dancing around this issue for weeks if not months, and now it is out. Seriously, might it not be time to disband the trio?”
Papa looked as though he might have a stroke. He put his hand to his heart, but no one died. Instead, he sat back down, his jaw dropping and worked his mouth as though he was trying to speak but nothing came out.
Then Spencer stood and took Ruth’s arm and threaded it through his.
“Mr. Dunn that is an excellent idea. In any case, Miss Ruth Dunn and I are to be married. And it would be ever so much more convenient if she were no longer connected with the trio. She and I have our lives to lead in Bristol, and we hope to have your blessing but, I believe I speak for Ruth when I say, we are prepared to be married even without
it.”
Mother looked up, “Well, you have my blessing, dear. Then she nudged her husband. “Owen, give it.”
Papa stuttered but said. “Very well. You have our blessing.”
Ruth turned to Spencer and they embraced. Mother cried. And Teresa sighed and said, “Thank God, that is over. Now we can cancel that damned tour.”
Emily went over and took both of her father’s hands.
“Papa, you still have me, and I am going to do my very best for the family name. A whole new chapter is opening up for me and I hope you will be very proud. Perhaps not all of the Dunn children will remain in music, but I shall. Please find your comfort in that.”
He looked up at her, but she could still see his lingering sorrow. And then it struck her. With the trio disbanded, Silas would no longer have a hold over her. He could no longer threaten her with abandoning the trio, for the trio had abandoned him.
Chapter 26
The next day, Emily received a note from Alice in the morning post, urging her to come for dinner that evening. Mark was to be in town and requested she be invited.
Emily immediately replied in the affirmative and went to drop her note in the nearest post box so that it could be delivered by the afternoon post.
The mood at home was, to say the least, mixed. With the trio now defunct, Mr. Skeffington needed to be notified to cancel the tour, and Linton would have to be informed he was required to seek new employment. Ruth took it upon herself to take charge of the trio’s dissolution, much to Emily’s relief, as she wished to have no more dealings with Silas.
Ruth stood up, decisively, from her place at the table and announced. “I shall inform Mr. Skeffington this very morning of our decision to disband the trio. There is not a moment to waste. It is time to move on.”
It appeared that Ruth, now freed from the trio and with her engagement now out in the open, had found the will to assert herself and show that she could be a successful future wife and mother.
Father still moped about the house when not at the shop, but Mother began talking about wedding plans and appeared to have a renewed energy in her rather sedate life.
And even though the trio had become suddenly defunct, and Teresa could no longer obsess over Linton, Emily decided she still wanted to go through with her plan for Teresa’s romantic life. And she would start this very afternoon.
As it was a bank holiday, Emily knew both Fanny and Trent would be at home, and decided to invite them to tea with Teresa present. She began by writing a brief invitation to her two friends and hand delivered it to the Allen house herself.
Then she roused the still sleeping Teresa, oversaw her morning toilette, and told her that she was expected to be at tea that afternoon with Fanny and Trent.
Teresa looked askance at her and asked, “But they are your friends. Why do you need me there? I would much rather read or take a walk in the park.”
“No. Believe me, it is for your benefit,” Emily insisted.
“My benefit? Whatever are you talking about?”
“Just wait and see. And I want you to look your very best.”
Teresa had her new eyeglasses and she did, indeed, look much handsomer. After Teresa was dressed under Emily’s direction, Emily stood back and inspected her handiwork.
“Very nice. You look quite lovely.” She took Teresa by the shoulders and turned her toward the standing mirror. They stood side by side gazing at themselves, and both had a faint smile. After all her effort, it was amazing to see how much they resembled each other.
Then Emily admonished her. “And do not go and mess yourself up during the day. You are to look quite presentable at tea time. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Emily,” Teresa said, with less enthusiasm than Emily had hoped for.
“And put on a fresh coat of lip rouge just before they arrive.”
Teresa flopped down on the edge of her bed. “Oh, Emily, you can be such a tyrant.”
“Good. And remember that all day in case you feel yourself becoming lax.”
“Oh, I do wish it was I who was becoming married. How I long to get out of this house and away from all of you. Not that I do not love you all, but really this is becoming such a chore.”
“Hmm. Very well then. You may not know it, but that is exactly what I am trying to accomplish for you.”
As it was such a lovely summer afternoon, Emily decided to hold the tea party in the garden. The Dunns had a set of table and chairs that the family often used for outdoor teas or lunches—particularly in the height of summer when it could be uncomfortably close inside the house.
The rest of the family was out. Ruth was now openly visiting with Spencer, and Mother and Papa were visiting some of their friends for tea, and it was Molly’s day off.
Just before Fanny and Trent were due, Emily visited Teresa in her room to see if she was ready. Emily found her sprawled out across her bed reading.
“Stand up. Our guests are about to arrive, and I want to look at you.”
Teresa groaned but stood up and submitted to Emily’s inspection.
“Oh, Teresa. Look at your hair.” She went over and pulled loose strands of hair away from her face, tucking them back into place. “And more lip rouge. Now.”
Her sister grumbled but complied.
When done, Emily led Teresa to the kitchen to help prepare the tea.
“Set the table in the garden and wait out there. Fanny and Trent should be here any minute and I will heat the water and prepare the rest.”
And, indeed, the front doorbell rang and Emily went to answer it.
Trent was holding a large bunch of flowers and Fanny was beaming with delight and clapping her hands.
“For you,” Trent said, thrusting the bouquet toward her.
Emily smiled, but said, “Trent, might I suggest you save those to give to Teresa. She is so excited you are going to be here this afternoon and I know it would mean the world to her if you presented them to her instead of to me.”
At first Trent seemed taken aback but smiled. “She is excited to see me?” he asked.
“She has not stopped talking about you since she bumped into you on the street recently.”
“Oh. Very well then, these shall be for her.”
Emily shepherded them inside and led them toward the garden.
“The water is on the boil and I shall bring the tea out shortly,” Emily said as they passed through the sitting room.
Fanny said, “I stopped at the bakery to bring some scones but they were closed. But knowing you, you probably made some yourself.”
“You know me too well,” Emily said leading them to the tea table where Teresa was seated with her book.
“Look what Trent brought you,” Emily exclaimed as she pushed Trent forward.
Teresa looked up and gasped. She stood and dropped her book. “Are those for me?”
“They are,” Trent said. “Early blooms from our garden.”
Teresa took them and held them to her bosom. “They are lovely. Let me put them in water.”
“Please sit and make yourselves comfortable,” Emily instructed, and then she and Teresa retired to the house.
As Teresa found a vase and put the flowers in water, she babbled, “Can you imagine Trent bringing me these flowers. That was so very sweet of him. And I have to say he is quite handsome. I must not have looked at him very much before.”
“My dear, you always have your nose in a book. It is a miracle to me that you can walk down the street without striking a lamp post. Is it any wonder you never really saw him?”
“Well… it was very nice of him to think of me.”
“I think you will find him to be quite delightful. And you know he has a job as a junior clerk with definite prospects for promotion.”
Teresa stopped and squinted at her sister. “Are you trying to set me up?”
Emily had been caught out. “Well… maybe just a little.”
“But Linton…”
“The trio is to b
e no more… at your insistence. Linton will be moving on now.”
It was clear her sister had not considered that when she proclaimed her manifesto of freedom, but now it was sinking in.
“Oh…”
“And Trent is charming, handsome, close by, and available… unlike Mr. Hawthorn.”
“You do have a point,” Teresa said, seeming to warm to the idea of Mr. Trent. “The water is boiling,” she pointed out.
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