Awakened by the Melody of Love – Extended Epilogue

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August, 1816

    Benjamin took a deep breath as he waited to see the conductor for the opera house. He had seen a re-emergence on the London stage thanks to the concerto he had composed in Jane’s honour when they had first met. He had sent the finished concerto off to a friend in London, who had then shown it to the conductor. Now, he was waiting with bated breath to see if it would be his ticket to reembarking on his career as a serious musician. 

    “Mr. Fairfax?” A short, slender man came out into the foyer of the grand opera house, his voice echoing off the walls. 

    Benjamin straightened, smoothing down his hair as he climbed the steps to meet him. “Hello, Master Nicolaus. I am honoured that you agreed to see me today.” 

    “Not at all. I have been reviewing the piece you sent us, and I must say, it is genius. We would be happy to have you come and perform the piece very soon.” 

    Benjamin halted in his tracks. “I had thought to sell the piece to you, Master Nicolaus, not play it myself.” 

    “Nonsense. This piece needs you to be a success. No one else knows it as you do and no one can put the same amount of feeling or heart into it as you.” The man was kind, and Benjamin’s mind began to reel.

He shook his head in disbelief. “I never thought I would step foot on this stage again.” 

    “Well, that was only my first proposition. I should like you to come to London to write for the opera. There are so many uninspired musicians these days. We could use a genius of your calibre, Mr. Fairfax.” 

    Benjamin could have been blown over by a feather. “This is certainly not what I was expecting this morning when I set off for the theatre.” 

    “Think about it and let me know what you decide, sir. Now, I must prepare for rehearsals, if you will excuse me?” 

    Benjamin watched him enter the central part of the theatre, waving goodbye as he went. He could hardly believe what the man had said. They wanted him to compose music for the London Opera! 

    However, there was one problem. Jane had always said how much she loved living in their country home. Could he really ask her to give that all up and live in the bustling, noisy, stinking capitol once more? She had always told him how much she hated it. 

    However, they had compromised and gone to the city for a few weeks of the season every year. And what of the children? James was four-years-old now, and Caroline was nearly one. They had space to play and move, fresh air and neighbours who knew them and cared about them. Things were different in the capitol. 

    Benjamin sent the carriage back to his father-in-law’s home, opting to walk so that he might have some time to think. All around him were new sights and sounds just waiting to be discovered. What would a change of scenery do for his compositions? It was true that he also loved the country, but this chance might help him go even further. 

    When he arrived home late that afternoon, Jane was at the front door to meet him as soon as he walked through the door. She was large with child once more, but that did nothing to ease his fears. She had had a bit of a hard time with Caroline’s birth, and he was hoping that this baby would come quickly and smoothly. 

    “Ben, where have you been? The driver arrived home hours ago.” 

    He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, gazing into her beautiful hazel eyes. “I am well, Jane. I only needed some time to think.” 

    The butler took his satchel and put it in His Grace’s study, which he was kind enough to share when they came to town. He sighed heavily, and they walked into the parlour together. For now, they were alone, but soon the parlour would be bustling with people. First his in-laws, and then social callers from all over the city. A part of him wanted to turn the offer down. 

    “Well?” Jane asked, unable to contain her excitement. “What did he say?” Her elation was contagious.

He smiled, placing an arm around her shoulders. “He loved the piece and they want me to be the one to play at the debut.” 

    Jane wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek before he was able to go on. “Oh, Ben, I am so happy for you! Of all the people in the world, you deserve it the most.” 

    Benjamin shrugged. “I am not so sure about that, but that is not all he proposed. He also wants me to move back to the capitol and compose new operas for the theatre.” 

He gazed at her for a moment, watching as the colour drained from her face. 

“That is big,” she replied after a long pause. He wished he knew what was going on in her mind. 

    “What do you think about moving back to the city? I know the children have a nice bit of yard to play in back home. I am not sure I want to change all of that.” Benjamin sighed heavily. They had built a good life together. Perhaps it was selfish to break it up now.

    “Have you gone mad, Ben? Of course you should do it! This is a dream come true,” Jane said, beaming up into his eyes. “Look at me,” she said, holding onto his jacket sleeve. “You deserve this. And your compositions deserve to be heard by everyone.” 

    Benjamin leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. He then pulled her closer and lay back slightly onto the sofa. 

    His in-laws decided to walk in at that moment, and they sat up. The duchess was the first to speak up.

“Who deserves what?” Her voice had only grown more high-pitched as the years passed, but Benjamin had learned to live with it. 

    “I was just telling Jane that the London Opera House has offered me a job. They want me to come and write their new operas for them. They also want me to come and perform the concerto I was telling you about.” 

    The duke and duchess sat down across from them, both of them beaming.

“That is wonderful news! I hope you told him that you would take it?” the duke said, smiling at him. He had become more than just a father-in-law these last few years. They had built a friendship fishing together and even betting on horse races every so often—but it was nothing of the sort of Mr. Harrow, who had squandered his wealth and then tried to marry Jane for her money when he was out.

    A lot had undoubtedly happened. Penny, James’ wet nurse, had married and was now living in the country on the other side of England. She and her husband now had two children, both boys. They would be closer now if they did decide to move back to the capitol. 

    He faltered for only a moment. “I told them that I would think about it. We would have to make London our permanent residence, and I do not want it to be too much strain on Jane.” 

    “I shall be just fine,” she said.

As much as giving birth in the country was a comfort last time, Benjamin had a feeling that this night was about to get even longer. He would tell Jane that there was still so much that they would miss about the country. But before he had a chance, Jane stopped him in his tracks. 

    “It does not have to be forever, Benjamin. These last four years have been a season—a wonderful, difficult, joyous season. Now, it is time for that season to end so you can pursue a dream. I will not stand in your way. Neither will the children.” Jane lay her hands over her swollen abdomen and smiled. “We are all cheering you on, Ben.” 

    He smiled, wishing that there was some way he could repay her kindness. He would spend the rest of his life gladly doing so.

    Tea passed in a celebratory air. When it was time for the children to come down from the nursery, Benjamin took some time to explain things to James. But instead of being upset, he seemed to grow more excited. 

    “It will be fun to live in the same town as Grandmama and Grandpapa.”

Deep down, Benjamin had been hoping for more of a scene—any reason to turn down the position. But everywhere he did turn, there was nothing but open doors. 

    When tea was over, they waited until the children were out of earshot. Jane took his hand, squeezing gently until he looked at her. “What is really weighing on your mind, Ben?” 

    “It’s the expense of living in town. I cannot give you this kind of home.” 

    Jane rolled her eyes. She gave a soft gasp, placed her hand over her belly, and motioned for him to do the same. “Here, feel, the kicking? He is trying to say that you are making up excuses that do not matter. Come to London!” she said in a mock child’s voice. They shared a laugh, and he shook his head. 

    “I suppose that is not really it, either. How come you know me so well? I am not able to lie as good,” Benjamin teased.

He sighed heavily when she did nothing but smile in response.

“Alright then, here is it,” he finally gave in. “I am afraid to have a career in music again. What if they tire of me as they did last time and I am forgotten? I do not mind taking a step back to make room for younger talent, but I do not want to be cast aside. I do not think I could bear that again.” 

    “That will not happen. Soon, everyone across Europe will have heard your name and your concertos. Besides, fame was never the goal, was it? Sharing joy was.” Jane smiled up at him. She was so wise, always knowing what to say to make him feel better.

    “You are a treasure, Jane.” He put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, leaning over to kiss her hair. 

    “Thank you,” she replied humbly. She rested her hands on her burgeoning belly, let out a sigh, and then stood. “I need to walk about the garden to stretch my legs. Will you come with me?”

He followed her with hesitation, and they were soon strolling through the garden in the late afternoon sunshine. They were expected at a party that night and should start getting dressed soon. Still, Benjamin only wanted to enjoy the company for the next few moments. People always asked him to play, leaving Jane standing off to the side in some dark corner. 

    “Do you remember how arrogant and awful I was when we first met?” Jane laughed, reminiscing as they walked about the garden. “I cringe to think of how I treated you. But you were always so patient with me. And look at me now—you are almost as good a pianist as I am.” Her eyes twinkled with mischief, for she had always said that she was only a reflection of his genius, which was not entirely true; Jane had worked hard in her own right to become an accomplished pianist. He was proud of her. 

    “I remember how beautiful you looked. It took my breath away the first time I walked into the parlour here.” He nodded back toward the house. “And then your mother would not stop showing off her skills instead of allowing me to continue with our lesson. It was a blessing that your father allowed you to come to my house to have your lessons with me each week. With Katie in tow, of course.” 

    Jane hung her head. Katie had passed away a few short months before. She had always been a rock for Jane and when she passed away, she left a gaping hole in their world.

“I miss her,” Jane admitted. “She was the only reason we ended up together. If not for her letter, you would have likely read about my demise in the London papers the next day.” 

“Do not be morbid, dearest. Everything happens for a reason. I do not like to dwell on such things as fate.” Benjamin’s forehead drew into a line. Jane leaned her head against his shoulder. 

    “I do not mean to be. But I am still so grateful for the trial you went through. We could have both easily died the day of the fire, but you risked everything. And now look at how far we have come—two brilliant children and a third on the way. I think your parents and Elise would be very proud, do you not agree?” 

    “I do. A fine brood of Fairfaxes we have all become.”

He felt the weight that had settled on his chest start to dissipate, replaced by peace. It was fitting that they move back to London to continue to follow his dream. He would never know how far it would take him unless he was willing to try. 

    “Very well, Jane, I give in. We will start looking for a house as soon as we can, and we will try to move back here by summer’s end. Is that agreeable to you?” 

    Jane let out a squeal of delight and threw her arms around his neck. “Oh, I am so glad! It will be an adventure.” She let go of him and gazed into his eyes. “My husband, the famous composer.” 

    Benjamin rolled his eyes, ever the humble musician. However, he could not lie and say that it did not have a good ring.

“Famous composer,” he said, screwing up his nose. “I would much rather be known for other things.” 

    “Like what?” she asked, smiling. 

    “Like being a good husband and father. I want my children to remember me for the qualities that really matter in a man—honesty, loyalty, love. Fame fades. I know this better than anyone. But character never does. It is what I want our children to learn from this tender age and never forget.” 

    “And they shall, for they have the most wonderful father to show them the way.” 

    Benjamin halted as they came to the house once more. The sun was beginning to set, and they would soon need to go inside to change.

“And they have a mother who will show them what it means to live with passion and joy each day.” Benjamin gathered her into his arms and leaned in for a kiss. His heart still fluttered every time they kissed. He leaned his forehead against hers as their lips parted. “I love you, Jane.” 

    “I love you more.” 

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