“Are you nervous?” Charles asked as the carriage came to a halt in front of the same entrance they had used the last time they’d been at the prince’s home.
“Perhaps a little. Once I begin playing, I forget all about it or anyone around me. Don’t you feel the same when you play in front of people?”
He chuckled. “I have only played a handful of times in front of anyone, unlike you.”
“The only reason I’m playing here is because the Prince of Wales invited me, and one doesn’t say no to the prince.”
They were shown down a hallway to outside the ballroom where she would be playing shortly. All around them staff were busily preparing for this evening’s event.
“Would you and your husband like to sit here, or do you prefer to come through the main entrance when the prince announces you?”
She glanced at Charles. “I really prefer sitting at the chairs you showed us earlier. All I’ll need to do is stand, walk across to the piano, and play.”
“As you wish, milady,” the man replied.
“Would you be so kind as to tell me if the prince has arrived?”
“He hasn’t. You’ll know when he does.”
“Would you like me to place the music at the piano?” Charles suggested.
“If you wouldn’t mind,” she said with a smile. “I’ve arranged them in order so it would be simpler.”
She watched Charles walk to the center of the room where he placed the sheet music. Cathryn then glanced in the direction of where guests were settling in for the performance and waiting for the prince to be announced so the evening’s festivities could begin. There were more guests than she’d imagined. If this was an intimate soiree, she wondered what an actual ball mightlook like. The prince’s ideas and hers were something entirely different.
She hadn’t seen her parents. That was probably because they were telling anyone who would listen that this evening’s guest was their daughter. If they didn’t act quickly, they weren’t going to get a front seat, and she knew how her mother hated being in the back of a room. The only reason her parents were even here this evening was because of her mother non-stop insisting they be included.
The sound of a gong pealed across the room, telling everyone to find their seats. The prince and princess had arrived. Moments later they were announced and walked to their chairs. Once the prince was certain everyone was settled in, he rose from his seat and introduced Cathryn. Later on, the words the prince spoke would come to her.
Cathryn stood and smiled not only at her hosts but the audience as well. She then walked to the magnificent grand piano and sat down at the keyboard. Making sure the music was before her, she closed her eyes and began to play. Her fingers flew across the keyboard effortlessly. She lost track of time and anything else as the melody flowed through her veins.
Ending the last piece, Cathryn sat for a moment, listening to the prince’s guests’ vigorous applause. Finally, she stood and faced everyone. To their surprise, Cathryn turned toward the royal couple and melted into a deep curtsy. She glanced around the room looking for Charles, who was where she’d left him. He had an odd smile on his face, obviously proud of her.
She began walking toward him, the sound of people complimenting her as she smiled back at them, keeping pace. As much as she’d like to, Cathryn knew stopping to chat with anyone would delay their departure. As she reached Charles, she was redirected back. The prince and princess wished to speak with her.
With Charles in tow, they stood in front of the royal couple in no time. Again, she dropped into a curtsy.
“You play most elegantly,” Princess Alexandra said.
“Thank you.”
The prince reached out and took one of her hands in his beefy one. “We must have more, my dear. Say once a month?”
“I am honored you think that highly of my musical abilities. I will take some time to think about your offer.”
“If it’s a matter of money, I’m quite sure we can come to a figure that will benefit both of us,” the Prince of Wales said.
“Money is not the issue, though it’s generous. I’m not a professional pianist. Should you like for me to play for you again, I’d be happy to, but I need to think about it before doing it on a regular basis.”
“Of course you do. We just wanted you to be properly thanked for a magnificent evening and look forward to hearing you again,” Princess Alexandra replied.
“Thank you, your highness,” Cathryn said.
Curtsying one last time, she and Charles walked to where they’d been sitting. She knew they should leave, for Charles’s sake, but it appeared her mother was waiting in prey for her to return.
“Good evening, Mother.”
Her mother stood there with her mouth agape, a look of mock horror on her face. “Good evening? That’s all you can say? You completely ignore and embarrass your father and me and all you can say is ‘good evening’?”
