He embarked on the little waltz, a lilting, sentimental confection packed with wistful die-away ascending scales and a turning, sighing secondary melody. “You play good, Mr. Daniels. ” girl Mary Frances approximately whispered this praise, and Matthew may well think her gaze on his arms. “That’s Matthew, if you happen to please. I’ve constantly loved tune, yet there wasn’t a lot demand it within the army. ” Out at the dance flooring, through the gentle night mild coming throughout the tall home windows, 3 grew to become down the room in swish synchrony. Beside Matthew, woman Mary Frances was once buzzing softly and swaying minutely to the triple meter. He comprehensive off the exposition with one other a kind of tinkling ascending scales, which allowed him to lean a ways sufficient to the perfect that his shoulder pressed opposed to the lady’s. “Page, my girl. ” She flipped the web page, and Matthew all started the contrasting part, a extra stately interlude requiring little focus, which used to be lucky. woman Mary Frances had utilized a distinct smell for the night. That clean, cedary base word used to be nonetheless current, however the overtones have been extra complex. complex adequate that Matthew may possibly envision sniffing her neck to raised parse her fragrance. “What smell are you donning, my girl? It’s really beautiful. ” “Just anything I prepare on an idle day. ” Matthew glanced over at her to discover she was once observing the dancers, her expression wistful. “You haven’t had an idle day because you positioned your hair up, and sure now not many earlier than then. ” “A wet day, then. we've got lots of these. Your sisters are comprehensive dancers. ” “As are your brothers. ” for large males, they moved with a lithe grace made extra obvious for his or her kilts. “You should still take a flip, my girl. ” “No, I will not be. I’ve issues to work out to, Mr. Daniels, however it is sweet to monitor my brothers having fun with themselves at the dance flooring. ” “Page. ” She grew to become the web page for him, and Matthew needed to specialise in the recapitulation of the 1st, tender, sighing melody. the ultimate ascending scale trickled approximately to the head of the keyboard, which intended Matthew was once leaning into girl Mary Frances on the end of the piece. and she or he was once permitting it. “Oh, good performed, my boy, good performed. ” Altsax clapped in loud, sluggish routine. “I’d forgotten your fondness for tune. probably you’d oblige us with one other waltz, that i'd have the excitement of dancing with woman Mary Frances? ” “When did he slither into the room? ” woman Mary Frances muttered, resignation in her tone. Matthew rose from the piano bench. “I’m afraid that won’t serve, your lordship. My reimbursement for delivering track for the women is a waltz with my web page turner. probably Hester will oblige on the keyboard? ” Gilgallon grew to become a stunning smile on Matthew’s more youthful sister. “And I’ll flip the pages for her. ” “My girl, could i've got this dance? ” Matthew prolonged his hand to girl Mary Frances, who smiled up at him in a reveal of tooth and thinly banked forbearance. “The honor will be mine, Mr. Daniels. ” He led her to the dance ground, prepared himself and his associate into waltz place, and felt a sigh of popularity as Hester grew to become her awareness to Chopin’s Nocturne in E Minor.