I was ashamed to say that I never considered it from that viewpoint. Perhaps I had been obtuse or simply hadn’t wishedto acknowledge it. “Forgive my ignorance, but this has been a recent thing with her, before she seemed content with the status quo.”
“Seemedimplies you assume and that you don’t know for sure,” Flynn said. He had been after me for ages to really talk to Eleanor. He had no problem communicating with my wife because they shared a love of music and dancing. What did Eleanor and I have in common other than our children?
“A perfect point to make, and I will go a step farther by pointing out the obvious. Your wife is in the ballroom whileyouhave been in the card room all night.” She turned her head to look at me, her eyebrows lifted. “If you want to get to the bottom of her dilemma, simply spend more time with her. Rediscover her, and for the love of God, don’t try to fix her issues. She isn’t a broken teacup. She’s a woman with wants and desires. If you truly want to know what Eleanor’s passions are, you need only listen to her music.”
Every word Olivia spoke echoed Eleanor’s explanation.
“She is very talented on the violin and the piano.” I knew she liked to play, and she usually locked herself in the music room at night, the strains of her violin drifting throughout the house. She found great joy in playing. Like many ladies, she was well-versed in music, decorum, and had a fair hand at painting. I was very proud of her accomplishments.
“Did you know she once wanted to attend the National Training School of Music?” Olivia asked.
“It has long since closed so that’s a moot point.” Flynn frowned down at the orange tip of his cigar, the sweet smoke drifting on the breeze. He’d been introspective of late and often fell into long silences, which was unlike him. Flynn had an opinion on every subject and wasn’t afraid of chiming in. I ran a hand to the back of my neck and rubbed the tight tendons. It seemed everyone was having a hard time of late.
“No, I didn’t know that. She never told me.” Instead, Eleanor accused me of being unable to understand. She hadn’t truly tried. Or maybe I simply hadn’t listened. My temples began to throb. Confronting Eleanor might appear on the surface to be a cut-and-dry endeavor, but I had to take care and not try to resolve her issues for her. That in itself would prove difficult. I was a man tasked with coming up with solutions to complex problems therefore not trying to resolve an issue was foreign to me.
“The National Training School of Music might have closed its doors, but the Kensington Music Conservatory still thrives.” Olivia reached over, took my cigar from my fingers, and lifted it to her lips. The action looked natural to her. I wouldn’t doubt it if she partook in tobacco quite often. She was a woman well ahead of her time. I admired her, but truth be told, I was a bit intimidated by her.
“The conservatory has guest musicians all the time. I would gladly pull some strings and get her a position.” Flynn nodded at his own idea.
Like me, he had been thrust into a position requiring him to make quick decisions. Most in society assumed that others ran my estates and financial interests, and they did. However, I was aware of everything that went on in the duchy.
“That is a wonderful idea,” I said. It was acceptable for women to work in charitable organizations, and they often had projects such as works for young women and children. My wife’s love of music would make her an ideal candidate for something as auspicious as the conservatory board. “Can you do that forthwith?”
“That is a terrible idea.” Olivia glared at Flynn once more, clearly exasperated. “I am about to tell you something in the strictest confidence.”
I shared a curious glance with Flynn. Olivia often spoke in dramatic terms when she was about to impart some gossip.
“Eleanor went to open auditions at the conservatory and is waiting to find out if she will be accepted. She wanted to do it on her own merits. If you really want to support her, you will do nothing.”
Stunned, I rolled the revelation around in my mind. Eleanor had auditioned for a spot at the conservatory and she hadn’t said a word. Had we grown that far apart that she no longer felt the need to confide in me? “You do realize that will be torture?”
“Yes, I do, and I wouldn’t have said anything had Flynn not assumed he needed to fix her problems to placate his own ego,” Olivia said.
Flynn grunted at the insult. “Be that as it may, I believe the bylaws have limited the age for all students.”
“You are on the board.” Olivia stared up at him and tapped her nail on her chin. “Make them change the bylaws.”
“I am one member out of ten. I don’t have much influence over the conservatory,” Flynn said.
“You’re an earl. You have more influence than most.” Olivia elbowed me, holding up the cigar. “As for Rex, I will finish this. You find your wife and dance with her. Spending time with her will do more to heal the rift between you than a dozen jewels.”
Part of me wanted to encourage Flynn to do as Olivia suggested and use his influence to change the rules no matter what. Except Eleanor had indicated she wanted to succeed without my help. I was torn with no easy way out.
With a nod, I entered the house through the cardroom, a renewed determination to my step, and exited to the ballroom. It was a treat for the local gentry to be invited to Smythington House, and I was waylaid by many. My goal was my wife, who seemed to disappear every time I was close to catching up with her. Olivia’s words still rang in my mind and while I was eager totalk to Eleanor, I was also peeved at her for not being open with me.
At last, I saw her on the edge of the dance floor, and I excused myself rather quickly from the parson. A portly gentleman was bowing to her, a new dance about to begin. I stepped in front of her just in time, breathless from my actions.
Eleanor narrowed her eyes at me, confusion in their depths. It was unusual for me to dance, as I preferred the quiet of the cardroom. People tended not to bother me while playing. The ballroom afforded me little privacy. Everyone wanted to be friends with me, not because of me personally, but because of my title.
“Beg pardon, old chap. Might I steal my wife away for a dance?”
“Of course, your grace,” the man said, patting his sweating brow.
I slipped my hand into Eleanor’s and went to the orchestra dais to request a waltz.
The conductor nodded, and the strains of the waltz began to play. I bowed to her. “Shall we?”
“Yes, please.” With a nod, she placed her hand in mine and allowed me to slip my arm around her waist. She turned her face up, the animosity she wore of late gone. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
