Music of the Heart

Mme. Faye de Volanges sat in her setting room sipping her tea. The one thing she had to give to the English was that they truly did know how to make a cup of tea. She watched her dear Cecile as she stitched a flower in to what would soon be a cushion. Cecile had never seamed happy scene her coming to England. She only hoped that these music lessons would in proved her mood. It was horribly dull to have to spend so much time with a depression. She would send her back to a convent if not for the fact that she was to be married soon. Faye�s only wish on that subject was not she could have found some one with more money to marry her daughter, some one who was not the second son. But with no money and no title, it was not likely she could find such a man.

But her thought on this were soon lost with the entries of her maid telling her that a Mr. Danceny had come. Faye nodded and the maid left to bring Danceny in to her mistress. �Put away your work Cecile your music teacher has come.�

When the maid and Danceny come back Volanges told her maid to have Miss Volanges�s harp brought out. She then turned to Danceny. �Please sit and tell me what your history is? I know some of it my self. That is to say I remember meeting you in Paris a few years back.� She did not care, she ask only to pass the time. She had forgotten to have the harp brought out sooner and now was forced to lesson to the thoughts of a mere music teacher.

Not seeing a musical instrument threw him a little, but Danceny smiled and bowed, and tried not to let his worries run away with him. Then Mme. Volanges asked his history.

"If you mean my credentials, Madame, those are easy enough. I was educated at the expense of my Order. For the last several years, I've been a tutor for a young gentleman." He looked away, not wanting to upset the sensibilities of a lady. "But that's not possible now, and I find myself here. I do have a few letters of introduction."

He pulled the much-folded letters from inside his coat. They had done him little good up to now, and despite her invitation he feared he'd be turned away again. Why else had he been reduced to offering his services as a music teacher only, and to a young lady at that?

'I think you'll find everything to your liking, Madame."

If he wanted it to be formal she would be more then happy to help the nerves little man. He seemed nice enough and all his papers were in order. �Well, Le Chevalier Danceny your papers look to be in order.� And you�re far cheaper then any of the English instructors I have seen. There was a bit of silence before the harp was brought in to the room and set up. �Well here it is you can begin your lessons. Cecile�s maid will stay and watch I have to make a few calls. Do excuse me.� The truth be know she could not stand the sound of harp music when it was play correctly. And she most definitely could not stand it when Cecile played. All Faye wanted to do was be out if the house before it started.

He nodded again to the lady, still puzzled by her attitude. "I can assure you, Madame, that all will be well when you return."

Then he studied the harp, noting that it was a fine example of its kind, finally turning to do what he'd postponed--study his new student, who'd been quietly waiting all this time. He wondered how advanced the child was, early lessons were always painful to someone with a musical ear. She was a lovely thing, but could she play?

"Mademoiselle, would you mind playing something for me? Just to show what you know already." He smiled and tried not to look overly critical for the poor girl seemed so timid.

Cecile stared to lovingly pluck at the harp. It had been ages senses she had been able to play he mother not being one for music. The nun had always told her she was very talented at the harp, but her mother acted as if it was the worse sound in the world.

Hopefully Monsieur de Danceny would not think it so bad. She found her self looking at him from the corner of her eye. He was a hansom young man. She quit liked him. Soon she couldn�t take her eyes off him. He was a few years older them herself. The first French person one of her own age she had met so far.

He closed his eyes to better listen. Finer details like hand position and technique could be noted and corrected later. First he just wanted to see if she had any musical sense in her soul. And the child did. The melody was delicate and reminded him bitterly of home.

Then as he sensed she was nearing the end of her performance, he smiled at her. "Very good, mademoiselle," he said softly. "I think we can work together. Could you replay the first two bars?"

She looked at him with a bit of happiness in her eyes it was nice to have someone complement her. So when he asked her to replay the first two bars again she did not hesitate to do it. �How was that? I can do it over again if you like.� Her eyes cried out for approval and love.

�No not at all. Do you think it would be better another way? Do show me.�

"If you wouldn�t mind stepping aside, I shall."

Cecile got up from her harp and moved off the side. She could see by the way he touched the harp that he was a man of grace and love. She couldn�t help but smile at him.

He smiled back automatically and a little nervously. He sat down and closes his eyes a few seconds to replay the passage in his mind. "Watch my hands. Try it like this."

Danceny played the two measures more slowly than they were meant to but the speed was to emphasis how his hands and fingers moved. "Can you see it, mademoiselle?"

�Yes, yes like this?� she reached out for the harp, her hands brushed his arm. They were so close now that she could almost feel his breath on her skin. She slid her soft fingers down the strings ever so gently. She stopped for a second and then plucked the sinu just the way he had shown her. She turned her head and meet his eyes. There was a moment that seamed to Cecile to last for hours. She could see his kindness and his humanity. She smiled at him, feeling her checks redden.

It took an effort of will to tear his eyes away, to show no sign that it affected him. "That was exactly as I meant, mademoiselle." He stood to retreat out of touching range. "Repeat it please? I am very impressed with the delicacy of your touch on the strings."

He kept his attention strictly on her hands. It was safer that way. And he prayed that he'd survive having such a bewitching student.

An hour had passed since Faye de Volanges had left her daughter to her music lessons. She felt that it might finely be save to come back in to the house. When to door man open the front door Faye was met by a blissful sound. Yes the house was once again quit. She removed her cloak but retained her purse and headed in to the parlor.

�How was my daughter�s lesson?� She didn�t wait for answer to this question. �Here is your payment. And please do take my carriage home as well. It looks like rain, as it dose every day.�

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