"My old friend Dotty," she began. "We went to school together you
understand--when we were children, anyway. Now, Dotty works for Miss
Edna. And Miss Edna thinks the world of her because she's so neat and
organized. Miss Edna herself is a flighty thing--she can hardly paint
her own lips with both hands."
Jurgen laughed, then bent forward and cupped his glass the way Mabel
cupped hers, rolling it between his palms. Mabel had such a way of
expressing herself.
"Now Edna's lover-boy is a man named Lamonte. I don't know what he
sees in Edna--to look at her you wouldn't think she can do anything
right." She winked. "Miss Edna's got something softer than brains;
and it's not in her head."
Only the first part of what she said really caught his attention.
"You're speaking of Laurence Lamonte, the conductor?" He took a quick
sip of bourbon and rolled the glass again between his palms, wondering
where she was leading; almost seeing it.
"That's the man," Mabel replied with a firm nod of her head. "With a
little help from Edna--getting Lamonte in to hear you play--you'll have
something decent in no time." She sipped her bourbon slowly, regarding
him. "It won't be difficult."
"Why not?"
"Oh," she replied, moving closer with narrowed eyes. "I know his
secret--Dotty told me. Our Mr. Lamonte enjoys slipping off discretely
on occasion to hear some... jazz..." Putting both palms on the table,
she whispered. "The way I sometimes slip off to sing... Schubert."
Jurgen laughed and sat back in his chair. "Schubert." He did not feel
particularly surprised; she probably sang all of Schubert's lieder
beautifully. She sat regarding him with a half-smile, and appeared to
be finished with her speech. He thoughtfully tapped on his glass a few
times, mulling over the proposal, gazing at his fingers. Finally, he
looked up to meet her eyes. "You know just what to say."
Mabel smiled and reached out to pat his hand. "Be here tomorrow," she
replied, "with your luggage, and I'll take you to meet my brother."
She raised her glass, and met his in the middle of the table with the
lightest of taps.