Page 191 of Pervade London
“I wanted you to know, Emily,” he said, sounding out of breath, “that Patrick Woo was very impressed with your performance on the yacht. And he told me the audition you gave, the second one at the Barbican, was the finest he’s ever seen.”
I swiped a damp strand of hair out of my eyes. “I don’t understand. Why not me, then?”
His expression was sympathetic. “Things don’t always turn out the way we want them to.”
“And I wanted it so much.”
“I know, and I wish there was something else I could do.”
“Thank you.” I gave a nod. “For coming and saying these things.”
Anger flashed across his face. “Salme’s father made a hefty donation to the London Symphony Orchestra.”
So…Salme’s father had paid for her place. Not to mention the fact that her mum was a renowned member. I’d never stood a chance. Had James known this all along?
I blinked in surprise. “How is that fair?”
“I didn’t want you to think it was anything you did wrong.” Penn-Rhodes shook his head in disgust. “Don’t let such things change you, Emily.”
My nod was weak.
I’m already changed.
With his head bowed under his umbrella, Penn-Rhodes hurried back to the building.
I trudged home.
When I entered the empty house, I immediately headed upstairs to peel off my wet clothes and pull on a T-shirt. I would have worn one of Xavier’s, but all of his clothes had been removed.
Remembering the lone beer left over from when we’d had pizza a couple of weeks before, I headed downstairs. Now seemed as good a time as any to crack it open.
When I walked into the kitchen, I was stopped in my tracks by what I saw resting on the countertop—a chrome case in the shape of a violin. With trembling fingers, I unclipped the lid and pried it open. Within the velvet casing lay a sleekly designed and very modern violin, the color a gorgeous cobalt blue. The matching bow nestled beside it was equally exquisite.
A single card lay on top:One of a kind —created from the once lost design by Leonardo da Vinci.
In awe, I lifted out the instrument and ran my fingers along the strings. It felt light in my grip as I raised it up and slid the bow across it.
No…It sounded off…like it needed more than just tuning.
Beautiful in every conceivable way but not quite right…it was the echo that resonated. Such a shame that something so exquisite wasn’t as perfect as it first appeared.
But I didn’t care, because it came from him…my Xavier.
He would have been heartbroken when he’d heard what had happened to the Strad—the same one he’d left on my doorstep the night everything had changed.
I needed him like a poem needs a voice.
Xavier is my sky and you are my stars. I don’t want it to end.
Oh, my beloved James.
I sighed heavily at the beauty of this remarkable cobalt blue instrument, and I had a gut feeling that if I corrected the fault its music would astound everyone.
Just behind the F-shaped hole that every violin has on either side to enhance its acoustics, a corner of something white peeked out. I pulled on the paper and it slipped past my fingers, falling to the floor.
Carefully, I placed the violin back in its case along with the bow and then knelt to retrieve the envelope.
Easing up the seal, I slid out an invitation.
