Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California by Keli Gwyn

Author:Keli Gwyn [ GWYN, KELI]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-60742-029-3
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Ashiver shimmied up Elenora’s spine, and she smiled in anticipation of her initial performance before the Society. In a few short minutes Mr. Rutledge would get his comeuppance. Although he was a gifted musician, he had no right assuming her skills were lacking.

He scanned the faces of those in the room and rested his eyes on her. “They knew, didn’t they? And no one told me. Why?”

“I thought you’d have heard by now. There aren’t many secrets in El Dorado. Everyone knows I enjoy playing and have been providing the entertainment at my socials. You don’t think the women have come just to buy my wares, do you?” She laughed, but he didn’t look amused.

Mr. Morton joined them. “Judging by the shocked look on your face when you saw Mrs. Watkins, Miles, it would appear your friends have had some fun at your expense.”

“So you admitted her?”

“She auditioned for me. Based on her talent, I welcomed her without reservation.”

“You made the decision on your own? I would have thought you’d consult us.”

“She’s agreed to perform the same selection for all of you that she did for me. When you hear her, I think you’ll understand why I was eager to have her as a member.” He raised his voice. “Gentlemen, kindly take your seats and prepare to play the fourth movement of The Four Seasons. Mrs. Watkins will be joining us.”

“The Four Seasons? That’s a fine choice, Mrs. Watkins, one that will test any musician.” The storm clouds darkening Mr. Rutledge’s countenance parted, and a smile lit his face. When he beamed like that, he looked warm, friendly—and more handsome than any man she’d ever met. But this glimpse of him at his best would be brief, since she was about to perform a portion of the lengthy solo that had earned him a chorus of compliments at the concert.

He followed her up the steps to the stage and stood where he had during the final number at the concert. She waited off to the side while the rest of the orchestra took their seats and located their music. A frisson of excitement shook her. Any minute now Mr. Rutledge would be forced to eat another course of his hasty words. Although it shouldn’t, that thought brought her immense satisfaction.

Mr. Morton mounted his platform. “Miles, kindly take your seat. Mrs. Watkins is performing the solo.”

“But that was my so—”

A chorus of sniggers, chuckles, and one belly laugh ensued. Mr. Rutledge’s face contorted, whether in anger or pain she couldn’t be sure. And then, to her amazement, a rosy flush flooded his cheeks. He slunk to a vacant chair in the front row, dropped into it, and fumbled through the music on his stand.

His apparent humiliation touched a deep chord. She couldn’t begin to count the number of times Pa had put her in her place in front of customers. His customers as he’d insisted on calling them. She remembered the sinking feeling in her stomach and the bitter taste in her mouth.

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