Daniel couldn’t remember a time when he’d reacted to a woman as he did to Abby. There was something about her, an innocence that reached inside him and warmed his chest. She was beautiful, but this was more… so much more.
“And now I wish to see if you have all practiced as requested.”
“He’s in a right mood,” Jack said to his left.
The students numbered five. Jack Bower was the son of a butcher but had an uncanny knack at increasing his family’s coffers through solid investing. He was now a self-made man of considerable wealth. Of the other three, one was a doctor, and two were also businessmen. Like Daniel, they had developed a love of music, and more importantly the flute, and had stumbled upon the small advertisement in The Trumpeter that led them here.
“He’s always in a right mood,” Daniel replied.
“That’s true. Who is the woman?”
Daniel shot a look at Abby, who was looking around the room. Sweet, he thought, really sweet.
“Just a friend.”
“Oh, come now, I can see by the way you are shooting her longing looks that she is more than that. You’ve also never brought anyone to a lesson as most of us have.”
“I am not shooting anyone longing looks, and she is just a friend,” Daniel said, hoping he hadn’t indeed been sending her longing looks.
“Well, then, if she’s just a friend, maybe I’ll introduce myself to her.”
“And what would your fiancée say to that?” Daniel did not allow the flash of anger to show. This was just Jack, a friend who was intent on needling him.
“And we begin!” Mr. Kiltcher said before Jack could speak.
Why had he brought Abby along with him this evening instead of leaving her on her doorstep, which surely would have been the best course of action?
She caught his eyes and smiled. It wasn’t a special smile, nor indeed different from any number of smiles he’d received in his lifetime, but he couldn’t deny that little charge of excitement that ran through him. He’d not felt that way in forever.
“Focus on Mr. Kiltcher and not your lady love, or he’ll not be pleased,” Jack said from the side of his mouth. “I must add, she looks far too good for the likes of you.”
He knew Jack was teasing, it was their way when they saw each other, and yet seeing Abby sitting there looking like the brightest bloom in a bouquet, he thought that she did seem too good for him.
Daniel dug his elbow into Jack’s side, making him grunt. Abby was not his lady love, not his lady anything actually, but the hell of it was he wanted her to be something.
After that, Daniel tried to forget she was there, which wasn’t easy, as her scent teased him, which was surely not possible from this distance.
The practice was an hour and something he looked forward to each week… usually. Tonight, he wanted it done with so he could walk Abby home. Maybe put a hand on her spine or hold her hand again. Perhaps even kiss her again.
Mr. Kiltcher proceeded to insult them with his usual skill and coax music from their instruments.
“A flute is to be held lovingly, Mr. Bower, not gripped as if you would use it to maim someone.”
“I’d like to maim someone,” Jack muttered, adjusting his grip.
Finally, sixty minutes later they had finished, and he could once again look at Abby. He’d felt her there, watching him, but managed to keep his eyes focused on Mr. Kiltcher.
“And now I wish to ask you all something,” the teacher said as he gathered his things together. “I have been asked to supply a musical interlude at a gathering two weeks from tonight. I would like you all to be part of that, as I believe you are ready.”
Daniel personally couldn’t think of anything worse than having people watch him do something he was not yet fully competent at. The others seemed genuinely excited; he was not.
“I will be unable to attend.” He got to his feet. “But of course I wish the others well.”
“You are afraid, Mr. Dillinger?” Mr. Kiltcher said, clearly hoping to annoy him into agreement.
“Of course.” The others laughed. “Terrified, in fact.”
“Which is natural. If you have no fear, then you will not perform at your best.”
Daniel simply smiled and then moved to collect Abby. Mr. Kiltcher followed.
“You are the best in this room. I would ask you to reconsider.”