Val watched her as she studied the old instrument. “Nay,” he said. “It was my father’s. He, too, was musical and had a talentfor instruments, but this has sat here unused since his death. Mayhap, you would be kind enough to play it for us. I am sure my mother would like to hear the sounds again.”
Vesper looked at him, smiling timidly. “If you do not believe she would mind.”
Val shook his head. “She would love to hear you play it,” he said, suddenly looking around as if he was missing something. “There is a stool that goes with it but I do not… ah, here it is.”
He yanked a small three-legged stool out from beneath a stored table, setting the stool in front of the instrument and indicating for her to sit.
“My lady?” he said, an encouraging smile on his face. “If you please?”
Vesper couldn’t resist. She really did love playing music so she carefully sat, timidly pressing one of the keys to see if the old instrument even worked. A soft, slightly out of tune note echoed in the loft and also down into the hall, where it was heard above all of the noise and eating. Sensing that entertainment was about to come, the room quieted down and Val smiled at her when she seemed too hesitant to play another note.
“Go ahead,” he said softly. “Play something as beautiful as you are.”
Vesper looked at him, seeing purely by the man’s expression that he was sincere. It made her heart leap strangely, that same feeling he’d caused within her once before. It also fed her courage as she very much wanted to please him now, as her host. Or perhaps it was even more than the fact that he was simply a generous host; perhaps it was because he’d been so kind to her.I like the way he looks at me. Placing her hands on the keys, she played four or five chords before finally lifting her voice in song.
I dreamt that you loved me still
And loved me forever and a day.
From beyond the mellow sea
I felt your spirit calling to me
And I dreamt that you loved me still.
She had a pure, true voice, like the sound of angels singing. It was very sweet and high. Val couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face as she continued to play the instrument but her singing had stopped for the moment. Now, she was simply continuing the song without words but her sweet voice lingered in his ears. He wanted to hear it again.
“Surely that is not all you are going to sing for us,” he said, moving up beside her as she played. “I have never heard anything so lovely in my life. Please sing something else.”
Vesper paused in her playing. “If you wish,” she said, clearly flattered at his praise. “I am sorry, but the instrument is slightly out of tune. I am afraid my singing might sound poorly because of it.”
He shook his head before the words were even out of her mouth. “You open your mouth and angels pour forth,” he said. “Nothing you could sing could sound poorly, my lady. Please sing another.”
Vesper was back to blushing again. Val was a charming man and not afraid to heap praise upon her, something she was very quickly coming to like. His words made her feel very special and honored in a way she could never remember feeling. Wondering if he truly meant what he said never crossed her mind; surely he meant it.
She wanted to believe him.
O lovely one… my lovely one…
The years will come… the years will go…
But still you’ll be… my own true love…
Until the day… we’ll meet again….
Seeing Val’s enthralled expression, she continued with the next verse.
O lovely one… my lovely one…
My love for you… will never die…
My heart is yours… ’til the end of time…
When you will be…my own true love…
The song was glorious and endearing, a love song that was typical of the songs in these times, written and sung by troubadours or young maidens like Vesper. Songs that spoke of lasting affection, undying love, or sad partings. All Val knew was that those words, words he’d heard before, had never really had any meaning to him until Vesper had sung them. As he watched her sing, he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have the affection of a woman like Vesper.
My heart is yours… ’til the end of time….
