The Forget-Me-Not Sonata(35)

‘They are slowly, give them time,’ she replied, not wishing to hurt him by recounting her conversation with her mother.

‘Time is what we don’t have,’ he moaned.

‘What do you mean?’ she asked.

‘Well, Cecil’s very serious about you and you’re leading him on,’ he explained, biting into the name of his brother with venom. ‘You can’t play games with him forever. You can’t deny me forever either.’

‘I’m not denying you, Louis,’ she gasped, hurt by his accusation.

‘Then let’s just run off together.’

‘You know I can’t do that.’

‘What other choice is there?’

‘Damn my parents!’ she hissed angrily, pulling away and looking up into his eyes. ‘Why do I care so much about what they think?’

‘Because, my lovely Audrey, you’ve grown up with their love,’ he said, running a warm hand down her face with tenderness. He kissed her forehead. ‘It’s natural that you don’t want to hurt them. You need them too. Oh Audrey, you’re not the sort to elope, are you?’

‘Are you?’

‘Of course. I’d run off with you at the drop of a hat. But then, I’m irresponsible.’ He chuckled sadly.

‘Oh, Louis. You’re perfect. To me you’re perfect.’

‘I love you, Audrey,’ he said softly, pulling her to him again and brushing his lips across her temple. ‘I really do love you.’

‘And I love you, Louis,’ she replied. ‘Nothing else matters really. We’ll always be together.’

‘Of course we will. I’m not foolish enough to let you go. Besides, we’ve got a lifetime of adventures ahead of us. What about all those dreams of yours? Someone’s got to make them come true.’

‘We’ve already danced in Palermo,’ she laughed.

‘So we’ll dance on the top of Machu Picchu and over the Atacama desert when it’s in flower. We’ll dance across the Atlantic to Paris and Rome and Vienna. We’ll dance all the way around the world and I’ll never let the music stop. I promise you that, my darling, Audrey. The music will never stop.’

She nestled her face into his neck, sure that he was right.





Chapter 7



Audrey dreaded her evening with Cecil, not because she disliked his company, but because she was aware of Cecil’s affection for her and knew that what she was doing was wrong and hurtful. She worried constantly about the tangle of intrigue that was slowly winding its way around her and pulling her under. It was against her nature to wound. But Isla convinced her that it was a necessary means to an end. ‘Don’t be fooled, Audrey, Cecil’s too cold to have a warm heart. After all, how much does a fish feel?’

Cecil was unable to focus on his work, his play or on anything else that would have diverted his attention from his impending evening with Audrey Garnet. He had taken great trouble to arrange the evening because he wanted so much to impress her. He had organized to borrow Henry’s Ford T to drive them into the city where they would watch the ballet from a gilded box in the Teatro Colón. He imagined them exchanging tender glances through the darkness; perhaps she would allow him to take her hand in his. That wish hung suspended in his thoughts until the telephone rang, shattering his dream and thrusting his attention back to the present moment. But after he had replaced the receiver his concentration wavered once again until Audrey’s long, sensitive face surfaced to steady it.

Cecil had never discussed his feelings for Audrey with his brother, but overcome with optimism and the need to share his joy he opened his heart to Louis on the train home after work. As Cecil’s face glowed with optimism and pride Louis felt his stomach twist with jealousy. He tried to dodge the subject but Cecil was determined and spoke over him until Louis had no choice but to listen. ‘I didn’t dare hope that she’d accept my invitation. She’s unfathomable. But when she said yes it was as if the drawbridge was finally being lowered for me to step inside.’ He sighed, certain that the battle for Audrey’s heart was over and that he had won. Louis noticed the self-satisfied smile and was irritated. Cecil’s face flushed crimson as if he were ashamed of his own smugness.

‘So where are you going to take her?’ Louis asked in a strangled voice, drawing his ankle onto his knee in a gesture of defence.

‘Audrey’s a cultivated young woman who loves music and dancing,’ Cecil began in a tone that suggested he knew more about her than his brother. Louis looked out of the window, but it was dark and all he saw was his own grey face staring back at him. ‘I’m taking her to the Colón to see Giselle,’ he replied. ‘She loves the ballet, you see, but rarely gets to go.’ Then he added with an uncharacteristic twinkle in his eyes, ‘It’s a surprise.’