It’s too fast.
She rips her gaze away from MissPine, staring straight at the wall. There’s no more room in her head for girlish fancies or fancying girls right now. There is only the keys, an audience of the most important people in the ton, and the punishing pace she’s set.
She manages to keep herself on track, closing her eyes to get through the fast, delicate ending. She probably makes too much of a flourish of her final notes, but she manages it, releasing the keys with a short retraction of her hands.
Slowly, she opens her eyes, turning to the clapping audience. She knows her performance was hugely impressive. But they’re not clapping like they did for MissPine.
Rosalie stands abruptly, curtsying before returning to her seat. MissPine and her mother are leaning together happily. MissPine shoots her a bright smile, but Rosalie averts her eyes.
She sits down, her whole body shaking. She never gets nervous like this. Or rather, is never nervousaftera performance. But her heart is pounding, and she’s a little clammy. She’s glad Aunt Genevieve is taking the stage. She’ll play something beautiful and long, as is always her way, giving Rosalie a minute to compose herself.
“That was most impressive,” Mr.Dean whispers to her.
Rosalie forces a smile and glances at him before looking back at Aunt Genevieve. Impressive, but notbreathtaking.
The Pine women are just too good. They’re a true threat, much more than Rosalie would have thought just two weeks ago.
Her heart, at least, has calmed down by the time Mother plays her tight, technical variation. She’s excellent without being showy, and gives a polite curtsy to the audience as they applaud her afterward. She never disappoints, but neither does she overshadow.
Father stands and thanks the guests for attending, encouraging them to mingle and relax with passed hors d’oeuvres. Rosalie rises with Mr.Dean and girds herself for facing MissPine. She has to give the woman a true compliment, and, at the same time, find a way to put her in her place.
“You were so wonderful!”
Rosalie turns to find Henrietta and Amalie approaching her, dragging Mr.Rile and Mr.Fortes with them.
“Easily the hardest piece of the lot,” Amalie adds, squeezing Rosalie’s hand with her free one.
“Very well played, Lady Rosalie,” Mr.Rile agrees.
“Though that MissPine, my goodness,” Mr.Fortes says, his long face gone a bit dreamy.
He winces a moment later and Rosalie stifles a laugh. Amalie must have pinched him.
“She has a true gift,” Rosalie says, pushing a tinge of admiration into her words. “You and she might enjoy duets, MissLinet,” she adds to Amalie.
“Oh, you certainly should. You are a true talent as well,” Mr.Fortes says quickly.
Amalie winks at Rosalie.
“I wish I could play as well as the two of you,” Henrietta says without malice, round-cheeked smile still perfectly in place.
“You can play circles around us on the violin,” Rosalie says firmly. “I suppose we could all gather to play music.”
“That sounds like an excellent idea,” Aunt Genevieve says, appearing around their little group, leading Mother by the hand.
“I’m sure Rosalie could teach all of you some new pieces,” Mother says. “You were perfect, darling,” she adds.
“Thank you, Mother,” she says, only a hint of bite there. Laying it on thick won’t make anyone think she was better than MissPine.
“You were fast,” Aunt Genevieve says.
Rosalie laughs softly at that. She adores her aunt so very much. “And you were wonderful, as always. Is there anything you can’t do?”
“No,” Aunt Genevieve says playfully. The gentlemen laugh, and Henrietta and Amalie giggle. “And whose did you gentlemen think was the best performance of the evening?”
Mr.Fortes, Mr.Rile, and Mr.Dean all look at her and then glance amongst themselves.
“Well,” Mr.Fortes begins, narrow shoulders going up.
