“We’re at an impasse then. I’m leaving in that case.”
Charles had remained close-mouthed the entire time as he’d been treated badly. Cathryn seemed to have everything under control. He extended his arm and pulled her closer. Together they walked through the palace to the main door to take theirleave. Mr. Temple followed close behind, trying to get them to change their mind.
No matter how much he groveled, Cathryn stuck to her belief. Ladies shouldn’t be alone. Especially in a situation like this where any man would love to take advantage of a woman like her. She was a married woman, and if she wanted her husband to accompany her, he would. If men like Mr. Temple wanted to play the prince’s game, she would simply remove herself from the situation.
“Very well,” Mr. Temple finally said. “Your husband may accompany you.”
“Thank you. I want the room cleared unless the people are working on readying the room for the party.”
Temple sighed, knowing he’d met his match. “Very well. Most everything has been done and anything else can wait until you’re finished.”
She and Charles followed Temple to the ballroom. The shiny black piano sat on a large riser. Stairs were just behind the piano stool. “Very nice,” Cathryn said.
“Did I tell you the piano has just been tuned? You should find it a delight to play.”
“No, you hadn’t told me that. I appreciate that being done.”
Charles found a chair to sit in and set it off to one side. He watched his wife climb the three stairs to the large piano and sit down on the bench.
She ran her fingers across the keyboard and began doing some exercises to loosen not only her fingers but also to test the piano. Each one was unique, and it was up to the player to know what it was.
First, she broke into one of the pieces requested by the prince. She’d decided to play the pieces at rehearsal in order to hear how it would be played later. Charles closed his eyes and listened to the sound. While he played and played well, his talentdid not come close to matching his wife’s. Her playing seemed to soothe him and help him relax.
By the time she was through with the requests of the prince and his wife, Charles was almost asleep.
“What did you think?” she asked.
“Superb.”
“You don’t think I need to play them one more time?”
“No, not unless you’re unhappy with something. I think you’ve done what you set out to do.”
“I’m satisfied. I think I can leave feeling good about everything,” she replied.
He got up from the chair and walked toward her, meeting her at the bottom of the steps. “Shall we go to lunch like we planned?”
“Absolutely.”
“I think you’ll enjoy the place I picked out.”
“You’ve got me curious, but first I’d like to find Mr. Temple and thank him for obliging me.”
“Good idea.”
They followed the hallway in the direction Mr. Temple had brought them. Nearing the door they’d entered through, they found it was not as busy as when they arrived. Charles spotted Mr. Temple outside, speaking with none other than Cathryn’s mother. He glanced over at his wife and saw she’d seen her mother as well.
“What is she trying to do?”
“Why don’t we thank Mr. Temple and leave? I have a feeling she’s trying to get in to listen to you rehearse.”
“Yes, let’s. I’m counting on you to get us away from her.”
They walked over to the prince’s man and thanked him, before acknowledging Cathryn’s mother.
“I was trying to get in to hear you rehearse. You can always use a good critique.”
“No need for you to come here, Mother. I’m quite satisfied with how things went.”
