‘Fantastic. I can’t believe how quickly it came back to me.’
‘I think the grand piano calls, don’t you? And perhaps this?’ He handed me the sheet music for Mozart’s ‘Ronda Alla Turca (Turkish March)’ – a fast, fun and dramatic piece which featured in the BBC’s adaptation ofPride and Prejudice. I smiled as I pictured the scene at the Netherfield Ballin whichBingley’s sister, Mrs Hurst, played it while Miss Elizabeth Bennet was humiliated by the outlandish behaviour of her mother and younger sisters.
Playing the grand piano blew me away. The sound was out of this world. As the piece ended, I felt both joyous and tearful. Had I really just played the ‘Turkish March’ on a grand piano, note-perfect?
The sound of applause pulled me from my daze and I gazed around the room, astonished to see I’d drawn a crowd. I’d only ever played to Mum, Cliff and Mrs Kellerman before, and nerves tingled in my stomach at roughly a dozen staff and customers smiling and clapping.
Blushing, I bowed my head in thanks before gazing around the room once more. My eyes caught those of a dark-haired man seated by a baby grand piano nearby and my heart leapt. Will! In the dim light last night, I’d thought he was good-looking but now that I could see him properly, he had to be the most handsome man I’d ever seen in real life. My heart pounded even faster and a shiver of delight rippled through my body as he smiled at me.
‘That was stunning,’ he said, his voice velvety, sending butterflies soaring as he approached me. ‘Hello again, Yvonne.’
‘Will! I didn’t think I’d see you again.’
‘I couldn’t resist.’
I wasn’t sure what he couldn’t resist – the chance to play, to hear me play, or simply to see me again. I couldn’t help hoping it was the latter.
‘I don’t suppose I could tempt you with a duet?’ he asked.
‘A duet? I don’t know. I’ve never played one before. Have you?’
‘A few times.’
‘I’ve got just the piece,’ Michael declared, ‘but let me change the stool first.’
I stood up as Michael swapped the single stool to a longer one to seat us both. As he rummaged through the racks of music, Will sat beside me, his pine-scented body spray tantalising my senses.
‘You play with such emotion,’ he said, his eyes fixed on mine, his voice full of admiration. ‘I could listen to you all day.’
‘I was so nervous about playing after such a long break.’
‘How long?’
‘Nearly twenty years.’
His eyes widened. ‘You’re not serious? Oh my word, Yvonne, that’s one heck of a talent you have.’
‘Here we go,’ Michael declared, bounding over to us and placing the sheet music for a duet of ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ on the music stand.
Will and I took a moment to familiarise ourselves with the piece, picking out and playing a couple of trickier parts before settling into the duet. I hadn’t played that many contemporary pieces and loved the jazziness of this one. I’d never imagined that playing a duet could be so much fun and I couldn’t stop smiling.
As soon as we’d finished, Michael replaced the music with an arrangement of Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man’ which was even more fun to play.
Five duets later, Will and I agreed it was time to let other customers have a go.
‘Thank you so much for that,’ Will said, shaking my hand once more. ‘The piano and I have had a difficult relationship recently, and you’ve just made me fall back in love with it.’
‘Really? I’m so pleased.’
As we smiled at each other, the butterflies in my stomach chased each other, making me breathless. I didn’t want to say goodbye to Will. I wanted to know about hisdifficult relationshipwith the piano and, surprisingly, I wanted to tell him about mine.
‘I don’t suppose you have any plans for the next hour or so?’ he asked.
‘Nothing special. A museum, perhaps?’
‘Care to trade the museum for a drink? We could swap our sad piano stories.’
* * *
