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 Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 9:31 am
He had hoped that she would take his response as a hint to elaborate on her thoughts or on his even, but it didn't surprise Edgar that she chose to take the safer route. Most ladies would; it was only proper. But there was a certain disappointment that he did his best to mask.
"Ah. Of course," he acknowledged, nodding. "No matter. There isn't much use in becoming too preoccupied by the fatal flaws of society, considering there are so many."
Maybe in time, they would find more to talk about, things that would sustain them in conversation. Edgar certainly hoped so. A lifetime of this would be a long lifetime indeed and he wondered if such distance might not eventually break poor Miss Winfield.
"I suppose it will soon be time for me to return to Rosehill Manor," he said finally. "But if you wouldn't mind terribly, Miss Winfield, would you mind performing a piece or two on the pianoforte before I leave?"
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Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 12:56 pm
Someday, perhaps, they would be able to have proper conversations. Though of course, Eliza was hardly familiar with a proper conversation no matter whom she was speaking with. Still, she hoped that time and familiarity would give her more insight into Edgar Ashworth. It would, she thought, be perhaps the first time she had ever invested so much effort in getting to know someone. She hardly knew where to begin.
His request, however, came as quite a surprise. Was he merely humoring her or did he truly enjoy music? Still, it was not an unpleasant request. Though she never played for audiences of one and she was already feeling a little embarrassed, she knew that the music would sooth her as soon as she started. It always did.
"Of course," she said, already drifting toward the instrument as though drawn to it. "Do you have any requests?"
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Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 1:13 pm
Was he simply humoring her? Even Edgar wasn't sure. He had never been musical but neither did he object to music. Perhaps it was something of a trade: he had shown her his Guardian and now she could show him her music. It hadn't occurred to him why he had thought to ask her to play.
His request seemed to have its desired effect though, no matter the motivation behind it. Miss Winfield moved quite naturally toward the instrument, and he shook his head as he followed. "Anything you like." He didn't have any particular preferences, and no doubt wouldn't know how to appreciate the music as well as it deserved but he would listen nonetheless.
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Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 1:59 pm
Eliza sat herself at the bench and smoothed her skirts. As she uncovered the lovely, ivory keys she considered her options - and oh, were there options. Though she did not keep up to date with the latest gossip, she was intimately familiar with the latest piece of sheet music nearly before it was off the shelf. Perhaps she ought to play something lively or cheerful, or perhaps something romantic. Something appropriate for a first meeting between a young lady and her betrothed. However, her spirit rebelled at the very thought of it. If there was one place in her life where she was utterly honest and unafraid, it was when she sat before a pianoforte and her fingers danced across its keys. So instead of performing something that she ought to play, she chose a piece that she wanted to play. A piece that was at once beautiful and painful and terribly lonely. A piece that came from the soul.
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Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 11:08 am
Underneath the beauty of the piece there was a sort of hollowness, quiet and almost hidden, but Edgar sensed a certain loneliness beneath it all that wasn't unlike what he had felt in earlier years, before Dardanos had come into his life. It was a terrible feeling of being surrounded and yet completely alone, as if he didn't quite belong and try as he might to change that, part of him didn't want to.
He stood beside the piano and watched as her fingers danced across the keyboard. Perhaps we aren't so different, you and I, he thought, letting the music wash over the both of them. At least Edgar had Dardanos. He could reach out to the buck in moments like these - and did, tapping into the comforting mental connection they shared and finding warmth and understanding at the other end. But Miss Winfield had no such thing.
As the music came to an end, Edgar smiled - a genuine smile this time, heartfelt and meant to convey gratitude for her honesty. It wasn't easy to be vulnerable and open up when there was always the risk that ridicule would follow. "Thank you, Miss Winfield." This moment, perhaps, had told him more about her than the rest of their meeting. "I hope our next meeting will not be long delayed."
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Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 1:38 pm
For a moment, Eliza simply sat there, allowing the final notes to resonate. Her head was bowed as the feelings of the piece drained from her, flowing down her fingers and returning to the piano. Then, with more poise than she had thus far exhibited, she stood and turned to him, daring a glance at his smile - what a disarming expression it was.
"I as well, Mr. Ashworth," she replied, dipping in a curtsey. She was not entirely certain whether that was strictly the truth. It had been such a confused meeting, full of ups and downs and twists and turns that she could scarcely keep up with, let alone comprehend. However, the music had steadied her nerves for this final moment and his smile was encouraging. She could face him steadily and, though the future remained a terrifying unknown, offer a small smile of her own. Perhaps there was hope, yet.
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