by Londyn Skye
“Say yes!” Lily suddenly heard Austin shout, breaking the eye contact she had with James.
An array of scattered “say yeeess’s” then began to erupt from various members of the orchestra until it began to build into a slow chant with rhythmic applause to support it. “SAY YES! SAY YES! SAY YES! SAY YES!” they all continued to chant, the sound crescendoing like music toward an intense climax.
Lily scanned the room of happy faces, all chanting in support of her. A brilliant smile then illuminated on her face as she finally nodded her head.
“Yes?” Landon asked her, after seeing the slight movement that he was certain nobody had noticed.
“Yes,” Lily replied, barely audible over the sound of the crowd.
“You’re certain?” Landon asked.
Lily looked back down at her letter written by the Queen. “YEEESSS!” she suddenly erupted, no longer able to contain her enthusiasm after seeing the words Buckingham Palace there in front of her again. “YEEESSS!” she shouted again, holding her letter in the air this time, bringing the entire student orchestra to their feet. They all suddenly disregarded the formal nature of the ceremony by applauding loudly, whistling, dancing, and hugging one another in a youthful energetic fashion. They could not help but to share in the excitement of Lily’s good fortune and to celebrate the fact that they would soon be performing for a queen and an entire royal court, in a place they thought they would only ever visit in their dreams.
Even the older crowd, who were only there to bid on art, could not help but be entranced by the celebratory spirit enveloping the room. They all stood as well and applauded Lily’s decision. “Bravo!” echoed throughout the room, blending in with the sound of the giddy students.
Landon took his assistant by the shoulder and leaned in toward him so that he could better hear amongst the noise. “Prepare a letter to my father immediately.” He then turned to look at Lily. “Send him word that The Dream Symphony will soon be on the steps of Buckingham Palace.”
“As you wish,” his assistant replied, before trotting off to do as Landon had requested. The assistant breezed right by James, who had finally made his way over to Lily and lifted her from her feet in a warm, long, and loving embrace.
* * * *
After thanking Piers LeRoux, William stood on the stage alone, unable to turn away from the portrait that eternally depicted him and Lily. He was wishing that he could see his wife’s reaction to hearing that a piece of art he was featured in would soon be hanging in a gallery she cherished. He closed his eyes attempting to visualize the joy on her face, but he knew that his imagination could never do Emma’s true emotions justice. “I wish you were here, Em,” William whispered after opening his eyes, needing to stop the visions of her before he cried for a third time that evening. He collected himself and turned when he heard footsteps approaching.
“Mr. LeRoux certainly outdid himself,” James said, standing off to the right of William, staring in awe at Piers’s creation. “Feels like I’m sittin’ front row at the show.”
“It’s incredible. No doubt about it,” William replied. Both men then stared in appreciation for a moment before William completely changed the subject. “I’ve been hard on you, James.” William turned toward him. “When it comes to Lily’s welfare, I know.”
James nodded and slid his hands into his pockets. “Ain’t nothin’ been said that I didn’t need to hear. I deserved every tongue lashin’ you’ve given me thus far.”
“And I don’t apologize for any of it. However, it seems that I always forget about how extraordinarily unique the circumstances really are for you and Lily. I now admit that it was a mistake on my behalf not to take your frustrations about that into consideration.”
“Jesus! That’s somethin’ I sure wish everybody else in this world would forget about as easily as you do!”
“Trust me, I know. Even though it was much easier for Emma and me to hide our secret, I still very much empathize with how much you wish the differences in you and Lily didn’t matter so much to everyone. With your differences being so obvious, I know it must be far more taxing on the both of you than it ever was for me and my wife.”
“I’d be lyin’ if I said it was easy.”
“I know. And that’s why I must say, it’s truly commendable the way you’ve come to handle it all. Despite the weight of the situation, though, I still couldn’t help but be hard on you before. But I want you to know that that’s only because I truly love Lily. I love her as if she were my own child, and I truly want nothing but the best for her.” William put a hand on James’s shoulder. “And as of late, that’s all you’ve given her, James … nothing but the best of you. I see now how much you truly love that young woman. I see that you’re now being the sort of man that she needs by her side. I think I was always so angry at you before because I was convinced that that was the sort of man you could be for Lily from the very beginning, and I wanted so badly for you to just let him emerge.”
“I think it just took a while before I could convince myself that that’s who I could be for Lily too. Just had some growin’ up to do, I guess. Needed to learn my lessons the hard way.”
“Ha! Don’t we all?! We’re all just a bunch of stupid men after all!” William waved his hand dismissively. “We’re all guilty of losing our wits over a woman from time to time,” he laughed. “I guess I was just trying to do what I could to keep you from making the mistakes that us men all fall victim to at one time or another. But hell, maybe it’s best just to let every man fall flat on his face and pick himself back up. After all the scars and broken bones, he’ll be a stronger, wiser man.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more.”
“Well, anyhow, I’m just glad that you’ve come around, and I just wanted you to know that I’m proud to see that you make Lily so happy, because that’s all I ever truly wanted for her.”
“You and me both, William … You and me both.”
“What are my two favorite men in the world ova’ here plottin’ and plannin’?” Lily asked, approaching the two of them with a smile.
“I,” James began, greeting her with a smile and a kiss on the cheek, “was just plottin’ and plannin’ to go and take advantage of some more free alcohol,” he joked.
“Can’t blame you for that!” Lily teased.
James kissed her again before heading to the bar and leaving her alone with William.
Lily then walked over to the portrait that she was featured in and gently touched it while absorbing all of its fine details. “Emma would be so proud,” she said, as she admired the painting along with William.
“Just as I am of you.” He turned to Lily. “Have I ever told you that?”
The sound of those words brought instant warmth to Lily again. “Trust me, I don’t think I’ll eva’ forget that moment tonight when you did,” she admitted, recalling exactly where they stood at Winter Garden when he said it.
“Please, forgive my repetitiveness, but I am, Lily … So very proud of you,” William confessed again.
“No need to ask forgiveness. I don’t think I could eva’ tire of hearin’ that.”
“If not for that then, perhaps I’ll require your forgiveness for keeping the secret about Buckingham Palace. I’m so sorry I had to withhold it from you. I wanted so badly to be the one to tell you, but Landon swore me to secrecy. He was insistent that he be the one to deliver the news.”
“I could neva’ be upset with you for that eitha’.”
“Happy to know that,” William nodded. “But, more than anything, I’m happy to know that you’ll soon be able to make yet another of your dreams come true … an incredible dream that I absolutely believe you deserve to live out.”
“Thank you, William,” Lily said, touching him gently on the arm. “I can’t even tell you how thrilled I am to be travelin’ there! But what makes me happier than anything, is knowin’ that you’ll be there to experience it all with me.”
“Trust me … Nothing would g
ive me greater joy,” William replied, thinking about how much he loved to live vicariously through her. “It will certainly be unforgettable. Most often people say that the anticipation of an event always far outweighs the reality of it. But in this instance, I can assure you that the reality of performing in Buckingham Palace will far supersede the way you have dreamed it up in your mind. That! I can truly promise!”
“Oh, I believe you!” Lily smiled. “And I can hardly wait! I’m ready to get on that ship tonight!”
William laughed at the effervescent child in her emerging once again. “If you left tonight, there would be 6,400 people sitting at Winter Garden who will be awfully disappointed come Christmas night!”
“Lord, I’m so excited, I ’bout near forgot!”
They both gave a light laugh and turned to continue appreciating the portrait together in silence for a brief moment.
“Ya’ know, William, I guess I should take this opportunity to apologize to you too.”
“Why is that?”
“This gon’ sound horrible, but I have to confess that I hated you before I eva’ even met you.”
“Oh!” he replied, shocked by her candidness. “Is that so?”
“Unfortunately, yes, that’s the truth,” Lily said sheepishly. “But let me explain … Ya’ see, James neva’ told me the truth about why he was takin’ me to meet you. In fact, he neva’ directly said anything to me at all about where we were goin’. I just so happened to ova’hear him tellin’ his fatha’ that he was takin’ me to a slave breeda’.”
“To a what?!”
“Yeah! That’s exactly what I said in my mind … along with a few otha’ choice words,” Lily laughed.
“Well, James admitted to me that he was going to get you away from his father by any means necessary … I guess he certainly wasn’t lying. But after using such extreme measures, I certainly can’t blame you for the way you felt about me. My God! Under those circumstances, I would’ve hated me too. No wonder you seemed scared to death the first day I met you.”
“Oh, I’s terrified! No! Petrified, more like it. Actually, I don’t think there’s really a word to describe how I truly felt when James first rolled me through your gates.”
“I’m so sorry he tortured you in that way.”
“It’s alright. I think we both know by now that James isn’t perfect.”
“Really? I never noticed,” William joked.
Lily laughed. “As always, he was just doin’ what he thought was best … in his own odd little way. Now, in hindsight, though, I can say that I appreciate what he did. It shows me just how desperate he was to get me here. But I admit, it sho’ would’ve been nice if he’d’ve explained everything before I had the chance to meet you. Hell, I don’t think he said more than five words to me the whole two-day trip to your estate!”
“With the way you two carry on now, that’s certainly hard to believe,” William laughed.
Lily smiled. “Yeah, things have certainly changed since then. But at that time, that’s the way it was between James and me, and he just wasn’t willin’ to say a thing to me about who you really were. He let me walk through your mansion doors believin’ that you was nothin’ more than a slave breedin’ monsta’.”
“The thought of such a vile, so-called profession makes me sick to my stomach. Makes me even sicker to know that you had to suffer, even for a second, believing that I was about to destroy your life in such a cold and heartless manner.”
Lily turned to William. “That’s exactly why I feel the need to apologize to you. Because believin’ that awful lie left me hatin’ you before I eva’ laid eyes on you. Even afta’ we met, I had horrible nightmares about you, because James had still yet to say a word to me about who you were. For days, I didn’t want no parts ‘a bein’ near you, talkin’ to you, or even lookin’ at you. Didn’t wanna eat your food or sleep in the bed you’s kind enough to let me use. I didn’t want a single thing you’s offerin’ me … not even your incredible piano. Because, despite how nice you’s bein, deep down I figured you’s nothin’ but a monsta’ in sheep’s clothin’ tryna lure me in.” Lily turned to admire the huge canvas in front of her again. “And now I look at this portrait and think about all the things you’ve done for me since we’ve met, and I can’t believe I eva’ thought anything of the sort about you. All the beautiful things I see here on this paintin’…” She turned back to look at William. “There’s no way in the world I could’ve accomplished any of it without you. You’ve been so much more than a mentor to me, William,” she said, taking hold of his hand. “You’ve felt more like a fatha’ to me … a fatha’ who’s used all his heart and his valuable time to help build my confidence and my courage. Then you protected me enough to let the real woman that’s been hidin’ inside ‘a me step outta the darkness and into the sunlight. And I can’t even begin to tell you how good it feels to finally stand in its warmth with you.
“It’s for all those reasons that I stand before you now confessin’ the sin of my evil thoughts about you. I wanna let you know that I regret every single nasty thought that’s eva’ crossed my mind. Because with everything that’s transpired in this last year, I’ve grown to learn that you’re the kindest, most generous, and gentle soul I’ve eva’ met in my life … and I wanna thank you from the bottom ‘a my heart for all you’ve eva’ done for me.”
“Lily…” William whispered, his kind eyes welling with tears again.
“If only your heart beat in the chest of every man alive, this world would be like heaven on earth,” Lily added.
“Your words touch me very deeply. But in my estimation, it is you who has given so much to me for all these months. It is I who has not the words to express how much working with you has been one of the greatest joys of my life.”
“Mine too,” Lily smiled, touching his arm again. She then looked over at the twins after she heard them laughing together while talking to two ladies. “I hope your sons know how lucky they are to have a fatha’ like you,” she commented, after watching them for a moment and realizing that they always seemed to be so happy. “William, I know you’ve done so much for me already, but…”
“But what m’lady?”
“W-will you dance with me?” Lily asked shyly. “The way a fatha’ would with his daughta’? I-I’ve just always wanted to know what it would feel like.”
“Lily.” William took both of her hands into his. “You have no idea how truly honored I’d be,” he replied, his voice cracking with emotion again.
James was still near the bar drinking a glass of whiskey when he turned and saw William and Lily step out onto the dance floor together. On his way to get a drink, James had walked by Elijah, whose evil expression was powerless to take away the joy he was feeling that evening, especially as he watched Lily being waltzed around the dance floor by William with a smile on her face. James did not know what Lily and William had talked about after he left them alone, but he could tell by the way they danced that there was something special about the moment, something that made him even more impenetrable to Elijah’s nasty attitude.
“She is your lady, no?” Piers suddenly asked James, motioning his head toward Lily. Seeming to have appeared out of nowhere, he stepped up alongside James and watched Lily drift across the dance floor as well. Piers had finally come to realize that James and Lily were probably a couple after watching the pair closely during the night’s festivities. But despite it, he still boldly questioned James, with a sliver of optimism that maybe Lily was still fair game.
James looked over at Piers. “She is my lady, my queen, my best friend. She’s…” He turned for a moment to watch Lily smiling as she danced with William. “My everything. I’d give up my own life for her.”
Piers stared at James’s profile as he watched Lily. By the expression on his face when he looked at his woman, Piers was left with no doubt that James meant every word that he had just uttered. “A beautiful answer such as that makes you even more worthy of this.” Piers ha
nded James a drawing that he had crafted on a piece of paper earlier in the evening. It was a picture of James and Lily dancing closely together. Lily’s head rested on James’s chest and James rested his head on top of Lily’s. Both of them had their eyes closed, completely lost in the essence of one another. Piers had captured with perfection a moment that screamed love, and he did it with splendid accuracy. “A man with a woman, who has been blessed with such lovely features, should have her beauty to admire whenever he so desires … Cherish it.”
“Trust me, I will,” James replied, truly appreciating how accurately he had captured Lily’s beauty. “Thank you for this Mr. LeRoux.”
“You are quite welcome. It was most certainly my pleasure,” Piers said, with thoughts of Lily’s illustrious body dancing close to his instead.
James had become aroused by simply looking at the image of himself so close to Lily. At that moment, ironically, he glanced up from the picture to find Lily staring at him with a hunger in her eyes that he was pleasantly familiar with. It was a hunger that James was always willing and able to satisfy at a moment’s notice, whenever, wherever, and however Lily wanted. And with the way he was feeling after staring at her picture, James knew he would certainly have no problem fulfilling whatever erotic desires were invading her mind. His eyes spoke back to Lily, letting her know that his body was ready to meet her demands. Lily read his mutual longing and bit her bottom lip in anticipation of yet another fantasy that was on the verge of coming to fruition. James then quickly tucked the drawing away neatly into his inner jacket pocket. “Will you excuse me a moment?” he asked Piers.
“But of course,” Piers replied, a devilish grin on his face. After watching the enticing exchange between them, Piers understood full well the nature of the sudden urgency. He actually felt a twinge of irrational jealousy as he watched James and Lily disappear down a dark corridor.