“I am not shooting anyone longing looks, and she is just a friend,” Daniel said, hoping he hadn’t indeed been sending her longing looks.
“Well, then, if she’s just a friend, maybe I’ll introduce myself to her.”
“And what would your fiancée say to that?” Daniel did not allow the flash of anger to show. This was just Jack, a friend who was intent on needling him.
“And we begin!” Mr. Kiltcher said before Jack could speak.
Why had he brought Abby along with him this evening instead of leaving her on her doorstep, which surely would have been the best course of action?
She caught his eyes and smiled. It wasn’t a special smile, nor indeed different from any number of smiles he’d received in his lifetime, but he couldn’t deny that little charge of excitement that ran through him. He’d not felt that way in forever.
“Focus on Mr. Kiltcher and not your lady love, or he’ll not be pleased,” Jack said from the side of his mouth. “I must add, she looks far too good for the likes of you.”
He knew Jack was teasing, it was their way when they saw each other, and yet seeing Abby sitting there looking like the brightest bloom in a bouquet, he thought that she did seem too good for him.
Daniel dug his elbow into Jack’s side, making him grunt. Abby was not his lady love, not his lady anything actually, but the hell of it was he wanted her to be something.
After that, Daniel tried to forget she was there, which wasn’t easy, as her scent teased him, which was surely not possible from this distance.
The practice was an hour and something he looked forward to each week… usually. Tonight, he wanted it done with so he could walk Abby home. Maybe put a hand on her spine or hold her hand again. Perhaps even kiss her again.
Mr. Kiltcher proceeded to insult them with his usual skill and coax music from their instruments.
“A flute is to be held lovingly, Mr. Bower, not gripped as if you would use it to maim someone.”
“I’d like to maim someone,” Jack muttered, adjusting his grip.
Finally, sixty minutes later they had finished, and he could once again look at Abby. He’d felt her there, watching him, but managed to keep his eyes focused on Mr. Kiltcher.
“And now I wish to ask you all something,” the teacher said as he gathered his things together. “I have been asked to supply a musical interlude at a gathering two weeks from tonight. I would like you all to be part of that, as I believe you are ready.”
Daniel personally couldn’t think of anything worse than having people watch him do something he was not yet fully competent at. The others seemed genuinely excited; he was not.
“I will be unable to attend.” He got to his feet. “But of course I wish the others well.”
“You are afraid, Mr. Dillinger?” Mr. Kiltcher said, clearly hoping to annoy him into agreement.
“Of course.” The others laughed. “Terrified, in fact.”
“Which is natural. If you have no fear, then you will not perform at your best.”
Daniel simply smiled and then moved to collect Abby. Mr. Kiltcher followed.
“You are the best in this room. I would ask you to reconsider.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“I do not speak the words to build up your ego, Mr. Dillinger. It is simply that you have that ability many seek. You can coax music from the flute as if you were born playing it.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you, yes?”
“I shall think about it.” And the answer will be the same.
“What do you fear?”
He was aware that Abby had risen and stood close enough to hear the conversation.
“I fear nothing.”
“If that was the case, you would have agreed,” Mr. Kiltcher said patiently.
“I have said I will consider the matter, sir.” Daniel gave his teacher a bow, then motioned for Abby to precede him out the door. “Good evening to you all.”
They walked in silence down the stairs and out onto the street. She moved to his side, their arms touching.
“You are talented, Daniel, as your teacher said. I enjoyed listening to you very much.”
“Thank you.” Daniel dug his hands into his pockets to stop from touching her.
“It is not an easy instrument to master.”
“Do you play, Abby?”
“Badly. I prefer the piano.”
“I thought about that, but the flute suited me, as it is smaller and easier to carry about the place.”
“Why do you not wish to perform, Daniel?”
It took a while for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, but soon he could see the expression on her face clearly once more.
“I enjoy learning and playing in my rooms, but I have no wish for more.”
“So only those people in that room have ever heard you play?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you ashamed of playing the flute, Daniel, when clearly you excel at it? Surely your family would love to hear you.”
“I’m not ashamed.”
She didn’t speak, just walked at his side for a few feet.
“I’m not,” he found himself saying. “It’s just something I do for myself. I have no wish to share it.”
“Then I am indeed grateful that you did so with me.”
Like most men, he was not comfortable with emotion… and perhaps more so given his upbringing.
“I don’t have to explain my reasons, Abby.”
“No, you don’t, and forgive me for asking you. I have always been a curious person.”
“Are you? I have a sister called Kate who is like that. She must know everything that is going on within the family. Of course we, her siblings, try especially hard to ensure she doesn’t just to annoy her.”
Abby sighed. “So it really is the same in other families as it is in mine.”
“I should imagine even nobility carry on as we do.”
Beside him, Abby stopped.
“Abby—”
“I am to go that way, Daniel. I shall leave you here.” Her words came out one on top of the other, as if they needed to be said with haste or choke her.
“No, you won’t.”
