Encore! (Tudor Saga Book 1) (25 page)

Hoping not to do further damage, I sprung into action. "It's just that we've probably been asked ‘When are you getting married’ about a zillion times on this leg of Danny's tour, that's all."

"Well, okay if you say so," he replied with a smug tone in his voice. I glanced up in the rear view mirror as I was slowing his SUV down. The tone in his voice matched the look on his face…the full-of-himself older brother I so remembered. No fooling Damien.

I maneuvered the vehicle down the private road leading into Amadeus' compound. That's what it was, too. Fenced, looking like you were certainly approaching something you might not want to be entering.

Pulling up in front of the house, I shut the engine off to sit and stare at the house. One second more to muster some courage and strength.

"You'll be fine, sis." I heard my oldest brother say as he opened his door. "No one bites, with the exception of, perhaps, Mother. And then she's more bark than bite. Remember the lioness and her cubs."

Daniel leaned across the console and kissed me on the cheek, squeezing my hand. "He's right, just relax and enjoy yourself. Then he leaned even closer and whispered. "Remember our plan, house closing, London, wedding."

"Of course, I'll be fine. The two of you need to stop reading things into situations." I winked at Danny, opened my door and began to get out. Looking up I noticed the front door wide open and what seemed to be a mob approaching us. It was Clan Tudor!

Initial greetings aside, everyone made their way through the house to the huge wooden deck that seemed to go on forever. In the near distance, at the water's edge, was a dock with a huge white sailboat tied at the side. Another smaller motor craft sat on the other side of the dock. The men were already making their way off the deck and toward the dock. Here we go - get Danny off and interrogate him. They weren't fooling anyone.

"Elizabeth, would you care for a cup of coffee?" Zara asked from behind me. I turned to follow her voice.

"Oh, sorry, I was captivated by that sailboat. It's huge. Coffee would be great." I walked back over to where the women were seated, a tray with a carafe and mugs sat on a table in front of them.

Zara chuckled. "Yeah, that's Amadeus' passion out there. He loves to sail."

"Hard not to if you live here," I replied pouring myself a mug of coffee. I looked around and noticed Mother not among us. "Where's Mother? I thought she was coming."

"She is. She called to say she was running late, but would be here by lunch time." Zara added pulling a toddler onto her lap.

"So, we better discuss anything you want to talk about, but don't want to discuss with her, before she arrives," Ashleigh cackled.

"Well, some things never change. I could have pursued my education from Julliard and gone on to do wonderful things. Or, I could have stayed and gone the route of the boys– only on my own; but it would have never measured up to them. Not in her eyes."

"Perhaps, Zara suggested, "it's because you remind her of herself when she was younger. She was on her way to becoming quite the concert pianist until she met William. They fell in love and she gave that up. It may be that she hoped you would succeed where she failed."

I shook my head. "No, I don't believe that at all, Zara. Why would she have gone out of her way to discourage me like she did? I tried to get them to send me to Julliard or another performing arts school, but she and daddy were always more focused on the three of them."

"Have you given up on performing then?" Ashleigh asked.

I sat back in my chair, looking out at the dock, where Danny was. "Yes, publically, at least. Danny is more than enough talent in one household; and to tell you the truth, I am perfectly content with that. I have my photography and that's my way of capturing him and all of his creativeness."

"He's certainly in a class by himself, that's for sure," Zara added. "He amazes me, and Amadeus, too. He would like to work with Daniel sometime."

"I'm sure they will, Zara. Daniel is full of ideas. I swear it never shuts off."

"So, not changing the subject entirely," Ashleigh chuckled, "but it seems you and Daniel are quite in love. Any talk of getting married? And I only ask because I'm sure Grace is going to approach the subject, today."

"Yes, we are in love. We've discussed marriage, of course, but we agreed to postpone all discussion until after his tour. Danny is so consumed by his music and his performances that he shuts everything else out."

"I can see that with him. But the two of you are purchasing a place in New York. So, that's a step in the right direction. When the time’s right, it will happen." Zara concluded. She bent down to put a fussy, but inquisitive baby girl down. My namesake, Elizabeth, and how she looked like her daddy. She was a miniature Amadeus only in female form. Elizabeth began walking my way, eyeing me warily.

I nodded my head in agreement, putting my free hand out towards Elizabeth. "There's one thing about Danny that's different from those three. Danny's always focused ninety nine percent of himself towards his music and only one percent to his personal life. Our relationship is a huge change to all that. He's never had a serious relationship before, ever. He's never had the time. His music has always been his mistress."

"It's obvious when you listen to him play," Zara replied. "He's brilliant, and I'm certain he will go down in the history books as one of the greatest violinists of this era. I, myself, thought I was going to cry a couple of times hearing him play the other night."

Ashleigh and I both nodded our heads in agreement. Little Elizabeth stood in front of me, babbling as though she understood and was also agreeing with us.

"Do you agree, Elizabeth?" I asked her, trying to coax her. "She looks so much like Amadeus." I added to no one in particular.

"Yes, she does, and has his temper to match."

"I can see that. I noticed it the last time."

"You and Daniel want to have children?" Ashleigh asked a slight smile on her face as she sipped her coffee.

"We've discussed it; but just like marriage, when the time is right. In Danny's life, everything seems to just fall into place as it should, when it should. But yes, eventually we'd like to have a couple of kids."

"Well," Zara exclaimed, leaning forward to pour herself another cup of coffee. "Anything you want to know before the boys come back or your mother arrives? Any family stuff you're dying to know?"

Ashleigh cackled at the suggestion. "Yes, you better."

"Well, two things, no actually three. Where are the older kids? And Damien, what happened to him? And what happened between him and Julia? I thought they'd be together, forever."

Before either Ashleigh or Zara could reply, a voice spoke from the doorway. "Damien suffered a stroke, Elizabeth, and Julia is a subject we no longer discuss– especially when Damien is near." Mother announced.

I turned in the direction of her voice, her outline vaguely visible. "I know he suffered a stroke, Mother. I meant no harm, I was merely curious, that's all. He's close to the old Damien, but there is something missing. Like part of him was taken when she left."

Mother walked out into the daylight. She was dressed in a pair of khaki slacks with a black and white stripped top. "It was an unforgivable thing she did to him and their girls. He still hasn't gotten over it. Now, if we could change the subject to something happier, like how Miss Elizabeth is learning her letters." She bent down to the child’s level and stroked her cheek.

The toddler was already in Mother's embrace. She gathered her into her lap as she sat down on the remaining chair. "I brought lunch, Zara. It's in the kitchen-- what I could bring in—the rest is in the back of my car."

"You didn't have to do that, Grace. Amadeus had thought he'd grill out."

"I know, but I thought since Mary Elizabeth and Daniel can only stay a few hours that it would be nice to do something easy." The entire time she spoke, mother was staring at me.
Was she deliberately attempting to make me uncomfortable?

And she had definitely made the distinction. Amadeus's daughter was now the Elizabeth and I was Mary Elizabeth. No matter, I preferred that, as did Daniel. But I'd never let her know that, though.

"When are you two heading back to New York?" Ashleigh inquired as she rose from her seat.

"Tomorrow morning. We have the closing on the condo the following day." I replied.

"Well, we better be getting lunch ready," Grace announced. "The men are heading back this way. Mary Elizabeth, why don't you help Ashleigh bring in the rest of the food from my car?"

Typical mother, turn the conversation back to my brothers. I said nothing. I got up and looked out at the dock. The four were talking on the ground now, but definitely headed back.

Daniel sat down beside me on the perimeter of the deck, plate in hand. He was windblown from being out on the dock, some of his hair had broken lose and was flying waywardly.

"How are you holding up, sweet?"

"So far, so good," I replied. "And you?"

"I'm fine. Your brothers and I do share some common interests."

"Well, in my case, my mother has determined what is and is not suitable conversation matter for us girls to discuss."

"Just hang on for a few more hours and it'll all be over."

"I am. I'm glad to see you and my brothers getting along."

Just then Amadeus stood before everyone. "We were going to take Daniel out on the boat, but I checked and it seems that storm is heading in." He looked over at us. "We need to keep an eye on it because they'll cut ferry service if it gets too bad, and the last ferry is at ten."

Daniel and I nodded. "Do you want to head back now?" I whispered.

"No, let's wait a while and enjoy our time. If it starts looking bad, we'll leave."

"Okay, just remember there is no ferry service until morning, so we'll be stuck here and might miss our flight."

"Relax, sweet. It will be fine."

Easy for him to say, as he and my brothers took leave of us women, again. That's one thing that's always annoyed me – how the men stick together leaving the women to fend for themselves with the children– like they're too afraid to talk to us in a group.

I stood and began helping Ashleigh clean up. Zara had gone to rescue the baby, who was awake, and mother, well, mother was busy with little Elizabeth.

"Once everything calms down and Danny has some time off, you and Angus need to come visit us in Manhattan."

"I'd love that. I love New York, it's so alive and vibrant," Ashleigh replied as she wiped down a counter.

"That's what Danny loves about it, and part of the reason we're moving there."

"You haven't said much about his family. Have you met them?"

"Oh yes. We went to France while Danny was recovering and spent some time with his folks. I haven't met his brother or sister yet, though."

"Did you have trouble communicating with them or do they speak English?"

"His mother is American and his father speaks English quite well. He's a physician, so I imagine he needs to know the language."

"And they like you?" Ashleigh was next to me now. I could feel her eyes watching me for a response.

"I think so. You have to remember I'm the first woman Danny's ever brought home with him. But I think they like me, because they know I love their son and are appreciative that I took the time to keep them up to date when he was first injured. He was here and they were all the way in France. I called them so they wouldn't find out through the news media." I stopped, shaking my head. "Listen to me rambling like that."

"It's okay, and I'm glad his parents like you."

"Well, his father is a bit gruff, shall we say? But he's a hard working doctor, so I chalk it off to that."

Zara appeared, baby in arms. My, my, the Amadeus genes sure seemed to flow in this family! "I hate to break up the party, but I think we need to find the boys and double check the weather. The storm is approaching."

"Yes, we better," I replied, smiling at Zara. "Do you think Wolfgang here would let me hold him? I think I'd like Danny to see this."

She handed me the baby, who was far less shy than his older sister. I held on to him as I followed Zara to another room where the guys all stood beside a white baby grand piano.

"A, you need to recheck the weather and the ferry for Daniel and Mary Elizabeth. It's looking pretty glum outside."

Amadeus nodded and walked off to a corner of the room where a desk sat. In the meantime, I found Danny and little Wolfgang and I waltzed over to joined.

From the lopsided grin on Danny's face, I knew what he was thinking. A family wouldn't be too far off in our future. "Who have you got there, sweet?" He leaned in and whispered, "You look quite sexy holding a baby. You're a natural."

I smiled at his words. "This is Wolfgang. Care to hold him?"

I was about to pass the baby to him, when Amadeus shot up out of his seat behind his desk.

"Unless you two want to spend the night and risk missing your flight, you need to leave now. The ferry leaves in a half hour. Damien, you’ll need to either stay the night here or stay with Danny and Elizabeth at the condo. You don't need to stay on your boat in this one."

"I think I'll stay here if you don't mind," Damien replied, winking in our direction.

"Okay, sweet, let's go find your mother and say our goodbyes so we can go."

We said our good-byes and left just ahead of the storm. It wasn't the easiest thing to do, leaving my family, again. But I felt that progress had been made, this time, in repairing the ten year gap.
Mother will always be mother, and there is nothing I can do to sway her way of thinking about me. As long as we continue to talk and heal, I guess I'm okay with that. Danny's my future now; and we have a house to purchase and a wedding to attend - our own.

Chapter Eighteen

Two evenings later, we sat on the bare floor in the living room of our new home. Closing went off without a hitch and we were now the proud owners of a Manhattan condo. We had arranged to meet with the designer I had chosen and, when I met her in person, I knew that she had been the perfect choice. She and I would be texting and emailing as she found items for the house. There was so much to be done, and I wanted it ready by the time we returned from wherever it was Danny was planning for us to go after we got married. At least “move in” ready. I was sure I'd be continually working on making it into a home.