Chapter One

Ashford, England

1816

"Argh!" the lady exclaimed in exasperation and dragged her bow harshly across the E-string in a much irritated attempt to play the difficult set of scores laid out before her. She cringed at the loud, resonating screech.

Fair-skinned, with midnight black hair and hazel brown eyes, 17-year-old Victoria Kingsley had been practicing feverishly so that she could get through the audition to join the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She glared at the scores for the audition. The demisemiquavers stared out at her mockingly from the thin, yellowing paper. Gritting her teeth, she tucked the violin under her chin and rested the bow on the strings, ready to tackle the infuriating notes for the umpteenth time.

An unsuccessful hour later, she collapsed onto the settee and stared broodingly at her violin. Her fingers felt sore and numb from gripping the bow too tightly in her frustration. Her neck was stiff and her arm muscles ached from holding up the violin for long hours. She fingered the violin strings lovingly. It was a gift from her grandfather, and one that she deeply treasured. She pondered on how she could improve her playing skills.

Her thoughts then wandered to Tiffany, her best friend, who was currently away in France on a family vacation. Oh, if only her friend were here right now. Tiffany plays the flute and the two girls have often practiced together in Tiffany's house where Victoria could play her violin without worries.

The slam of a door jarred her out of her train of thoughts. Her father! Thankfully, she had ceased her playing. Her father, the Duke of Ashford, abhorred the idea of her playing the violin. Why, it would give you callused finger pads, not to mention sores and blisters! Why could you not pick up something else like sewing or painting or even the pianoforte? She rolled her eyes heavenward as her father's horrified voice surfaced in her mind.

Splendid, she thought grudgingly. Now she would probably have to leave the house to practice, lest he heard the music and spark off another half hour lecture on how the violin could ruin her fingers. She snorted as she heard her father's imaginary voice berating her at the back of her mind.

Banishing that voice, she dragged her opened violin case onto the settee and packed her instrument and all the necessary items in. Picking up the strap of her violin case, she slung it across her shoulder and made her way out of the room. She heard another door slam shut; her father's study. A small grin flitted across her face as she crept stealthily along the hallways and down the staircase. But her joy was short-lived. Swiftly making her way to the main door, she realized yet another obstacle stood in her way: Peldon, the butler.

"Lady Victoria," Peldon greeted formally as he saw her approaching figure. But a frown creased his forehead as he saw the ominous black case slung across her slender shoulders.

"Peldon," She smiled sweetly. "I will be going out for a walk in Hyde Park this afternoon. I will return before dinner is served."

The frown deepened. Peldon was an adoring and fiercely loyal butler, but terribly conventional at times.

"Unaccompanied? And with your violin? You know how His Grace feels about your playing the violin and-"

"Julian will be accompanying me." She blurted out, interrupting the butler in mid-sentence. Her elder brother of two years had stridden casually into the room in time to catch Victoria's last statement. His brows shot up.

"Victoria, I-" Julian began, but got cut off by a swift, dark look from his sister.

"Peldon, Julian will be accompanying me to Hyde Park," Victoria repeated. "We will be taking the carriage."

Peldon turned his head and glanced at Julian, as did Victoria, who sent him a meaningful glance. Understanding began to dawn on Julian as he caught sight of the black case that Victoria clutched so tightly in her grasp.

Shooting his little sister with an exasperated look, he nodded to Peldon. Torn between his loyalty to the Duke and Victoria's happiness, the butler hesitated. Victoria gazed at him imploringly with pleading eyes.

An agonizing moment later, Peldon relented.

"The Duke will have my head." He muttered almost inaudibly, shaking his head as he resigned himself to his fate. Victoria's face lit up with joy as she gently dropped her violin case to the ground and flung her arms around the torn butler, hugging him.

"Thank you, Peldon!!" The butler flushed a crimson red.

"I shall arrange to have a carriage brought around." A flustered Peldon announced, as he straightened up and promptly left the room.

Once alone, Julian rounded on his sister.

"Victoria!" he chastised. "What were you thinking? What if father finds out? You know very well how he dislikes you playing that instrument." His gaze fell onto the black case.

"I do not care. Father will not find out if we return early, he is preoccupied in his study. Now, let us not tarry." Finishing in a voice that brooked no argument, she bent and picked up her violin case. Julian rolled his eyes heavenward as he followed his sister out of the house. That girl was just as stubborn as her father.

Taking hold of Victoria's precious violin case, Julian climbed into the carriage first. Setting the black case on the plush red cushion, he turned around and helped Victoria into the carriage.

"Thank you once again, Peldon! You've been such a kind dear," Victoria crooned. "We will be back before dinner!" she promised, eyes twinkling with joy, as the carriage pulled out of the driveway.

Author's note: Tiffany belongs to my friend Tallie. To read Tiffany's story, you can obtain the link from me (I have no idea why I can't put up the link here) and be swept away by Tiffany and the Flutist - Of Flutes and Roses.

And a big "Thank you!" to Drop Your Oboe, Lalaith and Thessaly!