Chapter 28

Elizabeth is amazed how hungry she is after their afternoon's activities, and after dinner she doesn't need the shawl anymore to keep warm. As they move to the sitting-room for the evening, Fitzwilliam picks up a book from a cabinet where he has apparently left it for a moment like this, and offers, 'I thought I might read to both of you tonight. I really liked this short story when I was still a boy and had all kinds of romantic ideas about love. After years of lonely adulthood the story soured for me and I forgot all about it. But yesterday I came across it in the library, and since I believe in love once more, I now want you both to hear me read it.'

And before either of them can object or even comment, he starts reading a story of hardship and love, beautifully written and heart-rending. Pierre's story may be entertaining, and rather stimulating, but the romance in this tale has much more impact, never has Elizabeth heard her beloved read better than this, and when she manages to throw a glance towards her sister, she can see Georgiana enraptured by the story and her brother's incredible talent. She looks at him exactly as she looks at Mr Fielding, proof again that she doesn't love her teacher in a romantic way, but merely admires him for stirring her feelings.

Fitzwilliam must have been very romantic indeed to have loved this story, but Elizabeth can also imagine that after waiting to experience love like this for nearly ten years, the story must have palled for him. In a way he must be glad, in hindsight, to have had his heart broken at least once, suppose he had never been lovesick, he would not have understood what this beautiful story was all about.

Does that account for the feeling with which he reads it? It must be, Elizabeth can feel tears rolling down her cheeks as he describes Tom, the main character, leaving England after having been turned down by the woman he loves, boarding a ship bound to the Far East on impulse in his grief.

How can this story ever end well? It's a short story and China is so incredibly far away.

After Fitzwilliam relates the suffering of the hero, trying to forget his loss scrubbing decks and doing other back-breaking chores to earn his keep, strangely enough he is not upper class but a commoner, the story switches viewpoint to Rose, the girl who spurned him.

Her thoughts and feelings don't even sound weird described in a manly baritone, without changing his voice Fitzwilliam makes her totally credible. Hearing what her unwanted suitor has done, she comes to regret her decision, and decides to leave her safe home and middle-class family behind, and sail after the man she refused to even hear out when he proposed.

Of course she cannot take a job on a ship, but she sells all her valuables, and with the proceeds books passage on a transport vessel to the nearest port where Tom's ship is supposed to make a short stop.

Then suddenly, as they have nearly overtaken the trading ship, a big storm comes out of nowhere, both ships go down, the boy and the girl the sole survivors, picked up from the boiling seas by a dubitable vessel flying a flag with a skull and crossbones.

With a big smile, Fitzwilliam concludes the story, saying, 'To be continued, ladies. This was the very romantic start of a tale of two young people becoming pirates, living adventure after adventure in foreign countries, fighting exciting battles at sea and of course loving one another to bits, though very chastely. I loved it. I wasn't completely honest about the story souring for me because I didn't find my own love. I just grew up, I'm guess.'

Not giving the slightest sign of having been taken in by her older brother, Georgiana remarks breathlessly, 'That was the best reading and the best story I ever heard, Fitzwilliam. I can't wait until they reach Africa, I'm looking forward to hearing the lions roar, and the parrots and the monkeys screech. You're better than the theatre, I mean it.'

Elizabeth observes, 'I did wonder how such a short story could end well, love. I'm also looking forward to their first battle, I wonder whether those pirates will see fit to teach poor Rose how to defend herself against their opponents, and her own shipmates. Though it sure was a well-written story for an adventure.'

Pleased with their comments, Fitzwilliam remarks, 'This was the writer's debut, after this he became known for his poetry and historical novels. Though I must admit I enjoyed this story best, it's surprisingly accurate, though I wonder whether the writer's theory of pirates being very egalitarian towards women is altogether true. I'd have guessed a girl could never remain unravaged in a crew of forty hard-bitten seamen, but he writes differently, apparently with anecdotal proof from the colonies. You'll see. Still, the events, the cities, the sea-creatures, life on board ship, they are all very realistic.'

It will be great fun to spend their winter evenings sailing the seven seas with Tom and Rose, Pierre's book is almost finished, him having found his rich widow to marry and raise grandchildren with, sharing his lady's affections with any attractive ladies or gentlemen that pass by their lovely manor in search of advice on the subject of love, or to commission a painting.

This new book they will be able to read in the sitting-room, together with Georgiana, and though it will take some getting used to, for their sister it is a great advantage to have such entertainment. Elizabeth generally likes their quiet evenings at home, talking, reading or playing and listening to music, but she wants the three of them to enjoy the entertainment the city offers as well. It is obviously very easy to live in a large city and not visit any theatres or concerts at all, especially when it is snowing outside. But this spring they will all go back to the country, so if they want to enjoy city-life, they need to do it in winter.

The next day Georgiana is back at Mr Fielding's place, with Elizabeth this time, to learn how to tune a piano. She knows this will not be easy no matter what Eric says, he probably has years of experience with tuning and has forgotten how hard it can be when one is first learning. But Georgiana has mastered a lot of techniques most pianists never manage, and she knows she will learn this skill, too.

Instead of starting straight away, Eric offers them a cup of tea, which they are glad to accept, and as they enjoy a very superior brew he explains the theory and shows them the tools they are going to need.

'I've bought a starter's set for you, you can take these when we are done today and practise. Do you have a second instrument in your London house? For I suppose your main piano is too valuable to risk snapping a string.'

'We have an old instrument in storage in one of the unused rooms, I've had a moderate fire there from the moment we set a date, I hope the wood has settled enough to use that piano to practise on.'

'Great, it will be totally out of tune, a perfect way to start. If it's still drying out that's all for the better, you can tune it again the next day, until it stays true.'

The explanation seems simple enough, and to prove he is a brave man and confident of his teaching skills, Eric lets them practise on his own superior instrument. He has detuned some keys at random, to let them test their hearing. First to test the instrument is Georgiana herself.

Advised to start in the middle scales, she immediately finds a really sour key, and with Eric's help, kneeling before the instrument, she first applies two mutes to the supporting strings of that key in the only correct way. As she prepares to apply the tuning hammer as he has described it should be used, he does not warn her against using too much force, Eric is her teacher and he knows she always starts out 'piano'.

Elizabeth striking the key again and again, Georgiana compares its pitch to the tuning fork and in this case, to the keys beside it that are in perfect tune, and she finds the right pitch for this key easily. Then she removes one of the mutes and repeats the process, and yet another time until the entire key is in perfect tune once again.

Then it is Elizabeth's turn. She finds the next out of tune key perfectly, though it is a lot less obviously sour. Eric helps her place the mutes, then shows her how to apply the tuning hammer. Asking Georgiana, who is now sitting on the stool, to strike the key so she can check whether she has placed the tuning hammer on the right string, gains her a compliment from Eric: 'Great thinking, Mrs Darcy! Always check whether the tuning hammer is placed correctly, or you'll risk snapping the string.'

The tuning fork is of no further use, Elizabeth will have to rely on her hearing to tune this key, and she manages very well. The middle octave is easy, especially since most keys on Eric's piano are in perfect pitch. The higher and lower reach of the piano will get more difficult.

Georgiana understands Eric perfectly as he explains the way the other octaves should relate to the middle one, and she is amazed to hear about inharmonics, understanding instinctively that this is what the person who keeps their instruments at Pemberley in tune cannot compensate for. Eric has soured a few keys in the higher and lower range to illustrate the shift in frequencies that causes the inharmonics, and as he demonstrates, Elizabeth gets it, too. She just lacks the extensive theoretical knowledge of music that Georgiana has picked up in her years of sincere study of the instrument, she does have the hearing and the intelligence to understand.

After tuning sour keys all over Eric's piano, they cannot find anything amiss anymore, and Eric beams with pride over their accomplishment.

'But tuning an entire instrument is a different matter, for you've only tuned separate keys today. Please start on your own piano tomorrow, and try to get beyond the first octave. Then we can take some time to check your work before dinner, and I'll be able to help you along for the next octaves if you need the help. Which you probably will. But though you may have difficulty tuning an entire instrument, I think you can both correct inharmonics now, and adjust the slight sourness of your friend's instrument, so you can enjoy your stay there without losing practise time.

Let me give you this scheme as well, this is how you can remember the correct intervals for each octave. I'm sure Georgiana will not mind explaining it to you, Mrs Darcy.'

At the moment Eric calls her by her first name, Georgiana can see him cringe, what a blunder, he really needs to be more careful if he doesn't want to get caught be Fitzwilliam tomorrow night. But Elizabeth ignores Eric's mistake and says, 'Thank you very much, Mr Fielding, I'll make sure I'll heed her very well, and I really hope we'll manage to tune at least the first octave.

I'm looking forward to hearing your concerto, very much. Fitzwilliam told me you played a delightful little set together as well, with some impressive singing. Will you please let me hear that, too?'

With a very charming, even happy smile, Eric replies, 'If Miss Darcy doesn't mind, we can play those songs immediately. You have both worked so hard and done so well you deserve a little fun.'

Georgiana realises that Eric actually loves playing those simple songs together. Either he is really very much in love with her, relishing the opportunity to be close to her and sing with her, or he has a broader appreciation of music than Georgiana thought. Hopefully it is the last, for she is really still much too young to fall in love, she would hate to break Eric's heart that way.

As they sit on the stool together and Eric carefully chooses the right music sheets, she can clearly feel his body touch hers, and it does not tremble or show any other sign of excitement or nerves. He is totally relaxed, though clearly expecting to enjoy himself very much.

As he counts down from three, they start with the instrumental piece, very fast and technically difficult, but such fun to play together. Then another virtuoso piece, and Eric clearly finds this merely very entertaining. When he changes the sheets of music once more he observes, 'I've always taken music so seriously, I never knew playing could be so diverting. I bought those sheets to show you that music can be simply enjoyed, I thought you needed to learn that, but now I think you already knew, and I needed to learn. Do you ever play simple tunes like these?'

Nearly laughing out loud, Georgiana replies, 'I've just learned a new tune today, let me play it for you while you change the music.' And she plays the folk-song Elizabeth taught her that morning before lunch.

It still simple, and very catchy, and she keeps it short, because Eric is ready to go on.

'That is very catchy,' he remarks, 'and still it seems to have a kind of melancholy theme. I like it, I suppose it is very suitable to dance to as well. Very useful for a wedding. Where did you learn that?'

'Elizabeth taught it to me just this morning. She has a whole arsenal of tunes like that, and I'm going to learn them all, and set all her sisters dancing.'

'I have four sisters, Mr Fielding,' Elizabeth now observes, 'I had to play lively tunes to tire them out before I could get some peace. Miss Darcy will need those tunes to survive a week with my family. My eldest sister is the bride, you see, so they will all be there.'

Eric likes Elizabeth as well, that much is clear, as he laughs and observes, 'I know exactly what you mean, Mrs Darcy, I have three sisters myself, and a few brothers as well. But sadly, we didn't own a piano, and anyway, music wouldn't have helped to quiet the boys down.'

Now they are ready to start on the songs, and Eric plays the intro beautifully, as ever. Frankly, Georgiana cannot wait to hear his entire concerto either. As he starts singing, her heart takes a little leap, as it always does when she hears a truly superior voice. He did admit to having had some singing lessons, when she asked him whether that was all natural.

As she joins in the chorus, she can see her sister completely taken by the quality of the singing, and the emotion of the song. Good, nothing would have been worse than Fitzwilliam marrying someone who was tone-deaf or unable to enjoy music. Except, of course, marrying someone like that herself, but that is a possibility Georgiana prefers not to think about at all.

After their little show together, Eric offers to play a part of his latest work for them, and they just cannot refuse, Elizabeth is also very eager to hear it. Georgiana joins her on the sofa and Eric seems to retreat into a world of his own, then starts to play, very small and like nothing Georgiana has ever heard before.

As the music grows slowly, ever gaining depth and meaning, Georgiana just cannot seem to enjoy it, there is something about it that is not as it should be, something is not right at all. It's still very beautiful, but a little nagging aberration will not let go of her attention, spoiling the mood of the music. Looking at her sister, Georgiana can see that nothing bothers Elizabeth, she is enjoying this music without reservation, is totally enraptured by it, as she was by Eric's concerto.

Ever aware of Georgiana, Eric stops playing and asks: 'You're not enjoying the music as you usually do, Georgiana, don't you like it?'

He did it again, use her first name, Elizabeth will forgive him but Fitzwilliam may not. Still, he was totally appropriate yesterday during their lesson, maybe he knows exactly what he is doing.

'I like it, Mr Fielding, but it feels as if something is not quite right about it. It's beautiful, but somehow I get distracted from letting the music take me along with it. I can't think what it is.' Fortunately he doesn't look disappointed again at her not using his first name. They just cannot risk giving offence, these lessons are too important for Georgiana.

'Mrs Darcy,' Eric now asks Elizabeth, 'did you hear anything amiss?'

Elizabeth replies: 'I did not. It was very easy for me to let the music take me where it would, there was a certain natural flow to it that pleased me even more than your concerto, though this is friendlier, milder, and I actually preferred the wildness of your completed work.

I am absolutely thrilled, Mr Fielding, for being allowed to hear you play this, thank you so much.'

Eric smiles, but not just for being praised, there is something else going on, and he is going to explain straight away, Elizabeth has confirmed something he thought himself, he is very pleased with her comments.

'Let me tell you why I'm pleased to hear that, Mrs Darcy, Miss Darcy. I've used the two of you as guinea pigs, to test a theory I have been forming in my mind. I told you how the music rules me until I write it down, didn't I?'

Georgiana remembers, but he told her in Fitzwilliam's company, Elizabeth doesn't know yet. 'You told my brother and me, Eric, my sister wasn't there.'

'That is true, so I'll tell you, too, Mrs Darcy. The music wells up in my mind, haunting me day and night, preventing me from practising or performing, until I sit at my piano and play it and write down what I play. Once I've done that, I can still hear it but it will make way for a piece I'm studying or for rehearsals for a public appearance or a concert with an orchestra.

After a few days it subsides, and then I play what I wrote down, polishing it and making little changes to conform it to the general rules of composing music to be played on a piano. My concerto has been through this entire process and is ready to be performed in public.'

This really excites him, and when Georgiana thinks about it, it is incredible, music just taking shape in his mind, to be written down and adapted to the traditions of piano music.

'This fragment is exactly as I wrote it down, I have not adapted it to the rules of composition, it's exactly what my mind wanted me to play. The feelings that caused it to come into being are reflected in the music exactly as I felt them, still feel them.

Mrs Darcy could feel them, could feel the flow of the music as it was meant to be. But you, Georgiana, are so educated in the ways of modern music, that you could hear this piece of music not conforming to the rules that have been ground into your very being. You couldn't feel the music because it didn't sound right to you.

Knowing this, that the quite-not-right feeling it gave you has been laid upon you by mere humans, setting up rules how music should sound, would you do me the honour of listening to it once more, and see whether you can enjoy the music now? See whether your mind can dismiss the feeling of wrongness since it is not natural but a habit ingrained by traditions?'

'I'm amazed I should be influenced so strongly by tradition, Eric, I can't wait to hear it again. I want to hear what Elizabeth hears, let the music take me along and tell me what it has to convey.'

Frankly, Georgiana cannot imagine knowing the cause of the wrongness taking it away, no matter how much she wants to hear Eric's music as he felt it.

But as soon as Eric starts playing again, she notices the difference. Incredibly, the itch is totally gone, and soon she is as enraptured as Elizabeth was. This music is so small, but so powerful, it's ever growing without being obvious about it, and though Georgiana has never felt it herself before in this intensity, it is clear that this music speaks to her about love. Georgiana has felt love, she loved her father dearly, and though she hardly remembers the love she must have felt for her mother, she loves Fitzwilliam more than anything. But this music feels differently, there is an intensity in it that makes her flush even more than her usual admiration for Eric's fabulous music. This is about true passion, the burning desire for a fallible fellow human being, this is how Fitzwilliam must feel about Elizabeth, it is very strong and very intense.

And it is probably about her.

That is not a comforting thought for Georgiana, she does not want to inspire such passion in anyone, not until she is ready to feel it herself. For the first time she wonders whether it may in fact be better for both of them to stop being in each other's company until Eric has conquered his attachment.

Still, his unrequited feelings are pushing Eric to make the most beautiful music ever, for she has to admit that this is incredible, such a talent, such a shame to shackle this lovely flow of feelings by forcing it into a traditional arrangement. But if it felt wrong to Georgiana, it will feel wrong to all avid music listeners, how will Eric ever be able to break that bond with tradition?

Unable to answer her own question she lets the music take her with it, enjoying it to the full, tasting intense love for a few moments and looking forward to the time when she will experience it for herself. Part of her wants Eric to retain his feelings for her until she is ready to receive them, who knows whether she will ever be loved like this again? He certainly is a man of feeling and principle, worthy of being loved.

But Georgiana dare not believe Fitzwilliam will adhere to his promise and let his sister marry below her, and allowing herself to fall in love with Eric just to secure a man who will certainly respect her and love her for herself, and not her fortune, seems like a rather foolish thing to do. Better wait another few years and see what happens.

'I felt it this time, Eric,' she observes, hoping he will not mistake the obvious feeling in her voice as encouragement, but she supposes he will not, for Elizabeth shows her feelings, too. He should be used to that, playing for an audience at least once a week.

'Somehow my mind managed to ignore the rules it is used to, and I felt the true impact of this music. I think you should try to work with it, but most audiences will pick up the same wrongness I did. How will you solve that problem?'

'I don't know yet. I was hoping the two of you might have some bright ideas, or at least react positively enough for me to dare play it for my patron. He is very knowledgeable, but I'm afraid very traditional as well, what if he loses faith in me because of this? He appreciates my concerto, I could stay safe and adapt this to the same traditions.'

'Do you still have the original music from the concerto?' Elizabeth now asks, eagerly.

'Actually, I do,' Eric replies, 'I couldn't face throwing it out, I truly love it.'

Elizabeth observes, 'Why not do the same as you did with us, play it first, see how it lands, then tell him, play it again. If he still dislikes it, make two versions, maybe start playing the originals as encore, or to young or progressive audiences. Change things slowly.

But please do not throw these out, this is how the music offered itself to you, this is the direct translation of your feelings, and it will always be more powerful to those who can feel it. Do you feel different playing the other versions?'

'I don't know, I've never played the original again after improving it. And I haven't changed this one yet, so I cannot compare. I will play my original of the concerto this afternoon, after my rehearsal, and I'll let you know tomorrow evening. Thank you very much, Mrs Darcy, and thank you very much, Miss Georgiana. You've both been very helpful.'

Eric is now in a bit of a hurry, and rather affected, Georgiana thinks, it is quite an honour for him to entrust them with his dilemma, he feels strongly about this and decided to let them hear it first, even before his patron.

She shakes his hand warmly, it feels warm, and surprisingly strong and muscular for such a slender man, giving it a tiny extra squeeze to put some heart in him, and his smile proves she did manage to do so. Elizabeth shakes hands too, and says: 'Trust your talent, Mr Fielding, I'm sure it will take you very far indeed. I find it very exciting to think that we may have been the first people to hear a revolution in music today. People who love music are usually very sensitive, and they cannot but appreciate the qualities of your work, I just cannot imagine someone not feeling this. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, Mr Fielding, very much so.'

They part in great spirits, and on their way back they discuss Mr Fielding's new composition with great enthusiasm. 'I really think we may have witnessed a momentous occasion, Georgiana,' her sister says, 'Mr Fielding really tested his surmise on you, had you not been able to ignore the different style at your second hearing, I'm certain he would have spent the afternoon adapting that piece to the traditional rules, and something beautiful would have disappeared, maybe forever.'