Chapter Nineteen
Cathryn stared at the person standing in front of the full-length mirror.
Finally, she chose a new periwinkle silk gown she recently had made.
She chose it in part because of its color.
Having considered emerald-green or red, she decided she didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention to herself. Tonight was about the music.
Grabbing a shawl, she left her dressing room in search of Charles. He wasn’t far, sitting in front of a fire in the drawing room. He rose upon seeing her enter the room. She effortlessly glided across the floor to his side.
“What do you think?” she asked.
“You look beautiful.”
“You always say that,” she said.
“Because it’s true.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere, husband.”
“Good to know. Would you care for a drink before we depart?”
“No,” she said. “I’m fine, but we should be leaving,” she said.
They walked out of the house to the waiting carriage. He handed her up and then followed as a footman shut the door behind them. The evening was quite comfortable, the night sky clear. Stars were beginning to come out. Soon they would be twinkling against a black backdrop.
“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 might look 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’?”
“How did I embarrass or ignore you? I didn’t even know you and Father were here. Now if you’ll excuse us, we were just leaving.”
“You can’t leave yet. There are so many people you need to meet.”
Cathryn shook her head and linked her hand through Charles’s arm. “No, we don’t. My only purpose for being here was to play for the prince and princess. We’ve done that. We’re leaving.”
“You ungrateful cow,” her mother hissed.
Charles moved his body in such a way he blocked the two women, standing in between them. He was about to say something when Cathryn tugged at his arm, trying to lead him away.
“She’s not worth it, Charles.”
He nodded. “You’re right.”
She let him lead her out the same door they had come in through, leaving her mother alone, her mouth once more open in disbelief.
Neither spoke while walking down the hall to their waiting carriage. What could be said? Her mother wasn’t worth the words it would take to describe her actions.
A footman opened the door to the carriage and stood aside as Charles helped her up the steps leading into the carriage. He immediately followed her and sat down next to her. The footman closed the door, and the carriage began to roll forward.
“You were extraordinary this evening, love,” Charles said.
“I was quite satisfied with my performance, but I’m glad it’s over with.”
“Your mother?”
“No. I’ve gotten to the point where when she gets like that, the best thing to do is ignore her. It’s almost as though she wants you to get into an argument with her,” Cathryn replied.
“I was very proud of how you handled her.”
Cathryn smiled at his compliment. It wasn’t something he did a lot so when he did, it was something to be cherished because it came from his heart. “Thank you.”
The carriage was moving at a slower than normal pace due to the congestion in the streets.
“When do you want to go back to the estate?” she asked, leaning her head against his shoulder.
“Would tomorrow be too soon?”
“I can be ready,” she said.
“I’m afraid if we stay, your mother is going to start calling on you.”
Cathryn laughed softly. “I hadn’t thought of that, but you are correct.”
“From all I’ve observed of your mother, I would say she lives vicariously through you,” Charles said.
“You might be right. She’s not a very good player even though she’s practiced and practiced. She simply is an average player, and it makes her crazy. Not everyone can play at my level.”
The carriage finally pulled up in front of Jameson House. They walked into a relatively quiet house. Cathryn had made sure no one waited up for them by giving the staff the night off. She took off her shawl and placed it in her arms.
“Come, let’s go upstairs. I asked Frazier to leave a bottle of chilled champagne in the sitting room in our suite. I thought a celebration was in order,” Charles said.
“How thoughtful.”
They entered the room and indeed found a bottle of champagne chilling on ice. It was set on a small marble-topped table with two glasses beside the champagne. The bed was turned back waiting for them and a fire was still lit.
“Would you like to get more comfortable first or enjoy a glass now?” Charles asked.
“Let’s enjoy a glass now. Afterwards we can change and enjoy the rest of our evening,” she replied, kicking off her slippers.
She sat down on a settee and waited for him to bring a glass to her.
It hit her right then how tired she was.
Having been on the go all day, she hadn’t stopped at all until now.
“I like that idea,” he replied. A cork popped, and she watched as he poured two glasses.
Cathryn accepted the glass. “To Charles for making this day far less stressful.”
“This is for my extraordinarily talented wife who makes my life brighter with each passing day.”