Alexandra lay down beside her, staring up at the ceiling, suddenly much more interested in the plans Belle had made for them. She adored Will, and she’d always wanted to meet his friends from the Royal Academy of Music. Next year she was going to be attending university too, although Belle had convinced her to take a gap year with her this year so they could figure out what they truly wanted to do. Alexandra’s great love was music, and Will had tried to twist her arm countless times to consider the academy, but in truth she wasn’t certain whether he was only being kind to her when he said such things. The application process was rigorous, and she had no idea whether she was even talented enough to audition.
Belle’s fingers closed around hers then, gently squeezing, and she squeezed them back. Not a day passed that she didn’t think how fortunate she was. What had happened to her as a girl had been a tragedy beyond words, but the love and kindness she’d been shown since was nothing short of a fairy tale. Her father be damned.
* * *
Alexandra stood in her floor-length silk gown in the foyer of the Royal Festival Hall, her bag clutched under her arm as she indulged in looking around at all the people dressed in their finery. It certainly was quite something to attend an evening out like this, and although Belle looked less than enthused, her other cousin, Will, looked positively thrilled. There was a feeling of anticipation among the crowd that only ever came with seeing a live performance. It was just a shame her younger cousin was away at boarding school and hadn’t been able to join them.
He came closer and took her arm, leaning in close to her as he spoke. ‘You look beautiful, Alex,’ Will said. ‘Although I’d grow your hair out again if I were you. Every girl in London was jealous of your dark, glossy curls.’
Belle punched him in the arm from the other side. ‘I heard that!’ she huffed. ‘Alex looks amazing, and besides, you wouldn’t know anything. We’re trying to keep up with the latest fashions, in case you hadn’t noticed.’
Alexandra only sighed. She had to admit that she agreed with him about her haircut, and she couldn’t be angry with Will even if she hadn’t shared his view. He treated her like a sister—well, in all fairness he probably treated her more good-naturedly than he treated his own sister. Regardless, she loved him all the more for it. They had a very close relationship and she loved that he was always truthful with her.
‘How are your studies coming along?’ she asked, as they began to walk with the crowd to take their seats.
‘Amazing,’ he said, running a hand through his slightly too-long hair. ‘Truly amazing. It’s like a dream come true.’
Will’s cello was his most prized possession, and she loved the thought of him playing every day and immersing himself in something he loved. Her aunt and uncle would have supported him in anything he wanted to do—they were like that with all three of their children and with her too.
‘One of my friends, someone who has already graduated, actually, is playing here tonight. Can you imagine? Playing to a crowd of this size?’ He let out a whistle. ‘He’s the youngest cellist ever to join the London Luminary Ensemble. We’re all ridiculously jealous.’
‘We?’ Alexandra asked.
‘My academy friends. If I’m perfectly honest, we’re all equal parts jealous and thrilled for him.’
Alexandra looked around at the people taking their seats as Will leaned over to speak to his sister, the theatre quickly filling to capacity with women in elegant dresses and men in dinner jackets. There was nothing about the entire experience that she didn’t love. She settled into her chair with Will on one side and Belle on the other, her aunt and uncle filing in after them. She watched as they bent their heads together to study the programme, so different to how her father had been with her mother. It still took her by surprise sometimes, the way they were so comfortable with each other without any formality. ‘You said your friend plays the cello?’ she asked.
‘Yes, just like me,’ Will said. ‘But he also plays the piano like you’ve never heard before. He’s the most talented musician I know, the way he can switch between instruments, but the cello is his true love.’
She wondered how young this friend must be as the lights began to dim, the crowd slowly growing silent around her, an excited murmur humming between them. Alexandra glanced first at Will and then at Belle before it went completely dark, noticing the difference between the pair of them. She and Will could have been twins, the way they both wished to live and breathe music, whereas Belle had simply seen it as a chore when they’d had lessons as younger teenagers, and no matter how much she’d practised, Belle had still managed to make a sound on the flute that made the rest of the family wish to block their ears. Belle was restless and went from one thing to another, whereas Alexandra and Will had discovered what they loved at a young age. She imagined that her adventurous cousin would probably choose not to enrol at university when the year ended, and instead decide to travel the world.
Her mind emptied of all thoughts then, as a sound so magical filled the air that it sent goosepimples across Alexandra’s skin, her entire body alive as the orchestra came to life, as bows touched strings and filled the theatre with the most exquisite sound she had ever heard.
Afterwards, as they stood in the foyer and waited while her aunt and uncle talked with acquaintances they’d spotted, Will unexpectedly grabbed her hand and whispered in her ear. ‘Come with me. Let’s see if we can say a quick hello.’
‘To your friend?’ Alexandra asked. ‘But—’
She looked behind at Belle, who hurried to catch up with them when she saw that Will was steering her away. ‘Not without me,’ she said. ‘I want to meet this famous young musician too. How old is he? How do you even know him?’
Will shrugged. ‘Young enough to be a big deal, and I know him because he graduated from the academy and we have some mutual friends.’
They walked around to another door and went back into the theatre, making their way closer to the stage without anyone stopping them. She half expected an usher to tell them to leave, given that everyone else had already vacated their seats.
‘I told him we were coming tonight, and he said he’d try to sneak back out onto the stage to say hello at the end of the performance.’
Alexandra was quickly distracted as Belle chatted to her and she looked around, thinking how different the theatre looked without anyone in the seats, so empty and void of the life that had so recently filled it. There was a shuffle on stage then that caught her attention, and she looked up to see someone coming towards them, a sole figure in the large expanse before them.
‘Bernard!’ Will called out. ‘That was amazing. What a performance!’
Bernard had his hand up to shield his eyes from the bright lights, but even as he squinted, Alexandra could see how handsome he was. From their seats it had been difficult to make out the individual musicians, and perhaps he’d been positioned near the back, but there was something about him that made her want to edge closer. He was wearing a crisp white shirt and a dinner jacket, his dark hair brushed slightly to the side, and he was tall, with long legs that made her wonder how short she’d be beside him.
‘Now that is one handsome man,’ Belle whispered. ‘Why didn’t Will tell us how good-looking his new friends were? I’d have insisted on meeting them sooner!’
Alexandra only nodded, edging closer to Will so that their shoulders were almost touching, and keeping her eyes on the stage. Bernard had dropped to his haunches as he spoke to Will, close enough for them to talk, but too far away, and with the stage far too high, for him to jump down. She found herself wishing that he would though, or find a way to come down to speak to them properly.
‘See you tomorrow night?’ Will called out.
‘See you then.’ Bernard waved and took a step back, and Alexandra didn’t know if she was imagining his eyes pausing as they met hers or not. But she did see that he waited a moment before turning, and she couldn’t take her eyes off him.
