Music on the Waters (The Marriage Maker Book 35) by Caroline Warfield

Author:Caroline Warfield [Warfield, Caroline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scarsdale Publishing, Ltd
Published: 2020-05-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Awkwardness destroyed Ann’s appetite. She moved Maud’s wonderful meal around on her plate like a fussy child, unable to do anything else. When Sir Alec sat across the table watching her with those probing eyes of his, how could she eat? She kept her attention on her plate.

“So, your teaching goes well?” Sir Stirling prodded. His questions about her time with Lillian filled the awkward silences.

“Yes,” she murmured.

Why did her reply draw a frown from Sir Alec? Lillian did well; that ought to please him. Does he expect more from me?

Ed Salter’s sharp gaze darted from Ann to Alec to his wife. “How go the Saint Andrew’s Day preparations?” He raised both brows at Maud.

His wife blinked twice. “Brilliantly!” her cheer sounded forced. “Ann has organized the choir to sing ‘A Mighty Fortress.’ She added a new harmony.”

Ann sat up straight. “Only if you don’t mind, Reverend Salter.”

“Mind? God Lord, we need someone to add life to the old celebration. New hymns would not go awry, either. Can you suggest some?”

“We didn’t practice it.” Sir Alec pretended to study his plate.

“But Mrs. Cartright said…”

The reverend rolled his eyes. “That old busybody would have us live in 1775 forever. She knows naught about music. Don’t you let her bamboozle you.”

Ann couldn’t hold back a smile. “I might have one or two to suggest, then.” Neither could she resist a quick glance at Sir Alec. His approval, obvious this time, made her heart soar. She took a bite of lamb while smiling down at her plate.

Maud didn’t seem to notice. “There’ll be dancing in the evening. Ann has agreed to play, now that we have that wonderful piano in the hall.”

Again, she snuck a peek at Sir Alec, but his growing pleasure only caused her more confusion. Did he approve of her playing? Did he wish to dance? Dare she hope he wished to dance with her? She now felt uncertain whether he disapproved of her behavior at Ramskeld or not, but she didn’t believe he entirely disliked her.

“Now, dancing might tempt me to stay over in Kirkwall,” Sir Stirling said with a smile.

“Your wife may think otherwise,” Alec teased.

Sir Stirling sat back, and a look Ann might have called “moony” came over him. “Without her, dancing doesn’t tempt as much.”

“Are there celebrations in the afternoon in Kirkwall?” Ann asked. “In Little Bottleby, the tradition was poetry reading.”

“Lord, no, not that,” Reverend Salter said. “There’ll be races in the common for the children, of course, some rougher competitions among the young men, and a concert in the afternoon. Didn’t Maud tell you?”

“A concert?” Ann asked.

“Hardly that,” Maud answered. “Auld Peter will want to serenade on the pipes, of course. Alec used to treat us to fiddling, but he hasn’t since—”

Since his wife’s death. Ann could the truth of that in Maud’s face.

“We can do better this year. We have a brilliant musician among us,” Sir Alec said, nodding at Ann.

“True enough! Would you consider playing in the afternoon, as well? That may be a burden, what with church services and the dancing.

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