The Illusion of Deception
Working at the Royal Academy of Music, Emmeline had never been interested in anything but music. It had been her life since childhoodher mother and her melodies. At twenty-eight, she remained unmarried, having once courted a fellow musician, but their paths divergedtoo difficult when both were talented and lost in their own worlds.
Still, for the past three months, she had been seeing Oliver, a solicitor. They met by chance in a café near the academy. Emmeline hadnt wanted to go homenot after burying her mother. The house was too quiet, too empty.
«You look troubled, miss,» Oliver had said, approaching her as he sipped his tea. «My names Oliver. And yours?»
She was beautiful, yet distant, and he had felt compelled to speak to her.
«Emmeline,» she answered softly, offering a faint smile.
From then on, they began seeing each other. Oliver often stayed at her flat, even proposing marriage, but she hesitated.
«I cant give you an answer yet, Oliver. Ive only just lost my mother.»
Her mother had raised her alone. She had never known her fatherwho he was or where he had gone. She had never asked, sensing it pained her mother to speak of it. And now her mother was gone. The grief and loneliness pressed upon her. She even wonderedshould she try to find him?
«I dont know what to do,» she confided in Oliver. «Ive never met him. What if he doesnt want to see me?»
Emmeline had lived with her mother and never involved herself in household matters. She didnt even know how to pay the billsher mother had handled everything while she devoted herself to music. Though her mother had warned her
«Emmeline, you must learn these things. What will you do when Im gone? Youre too much in your own world.»
«You manage everything so well, Mother. Why should I trouble myself?» she had laughed.
But life was cruel and unpredictable. It had taken her mother without mercy. She fell ill suddenly and was gone too soon. The doctors had only shaken their heads.
«It was too late when she came to us.»
«But she never complained,» Emmeline said through tears.
«Perhaps she didnt want to worry you. Still, there must have been signs. The body always gives warnings.»
Oliver was a sharp young man. The first time he visited Emmelines flat, he was taken aback. Expensive paintings hung on the walls, though she had no interest in themshe had simply grown up with them. But Oliver knew their worth.
In the evenings, Emmeline played the piano, preparing for concerts, while Oliver listenedor pretended to. He had long since realised there was much to gain from her. He rifled through her mothers documents, her personal letters. The only family she had was an aunt, Margaret, who lived in Scotland. So he resolved to marry Emmeline quicklyknowing she was the sole heir.
It frustrated him that she wouldnt yet consent. She barely knew him, and something in her heart hesitatedwas he truly the right man? But Oliver persisted, always pressing her. He knew she longed to find her father.
One evening, he met her with unexpected news.
«We have guests coming. Lets stop by the shop for champagne.»
«Guests?» Emmeline was surprised.
«Ive found your father.»
«Oliver, truly? Where? I always imagined he lived far awayperhaps abroad.»
«Hes here in London.»
Half an hour after they returned home, the doorbell rang. Oliver answered it, and Emmeline saw a tall, dark-haired man.
«My daughter,» he said, embracing her. «Let me look at you. Youre beautiful. My name is William Hartley.»
Her middle name was indeed Hartley. They spoke at length.
«Your mother and I parted ways, but she never told me about you.»
Oliver seized the moment.
«Mr. Hartley, since fate has reunited you, may I ask for your daughters hand?»
Emmeline, still overwhelmed, faltered.
«If Oliver loves you, Ive no objection,» William smiled. «You have my blessing. Ill expect a wedding invitation.»
From then on, William became a frequent visitor. Yet Emmeline learned little about his past with her motherhe claimed their time together had been brief.
She sent an invitation to her aunt Margaret and her husband. They arrived early, eager to help with the wedding preparations in place of her late mother.
One evening, the doorbell rang. Emmeline answered it, delighted.
«We barely made it,» Margaret said. «The train was delayed.»
They met Oliver, who excused himself so Emmeline could spend time with her family. In conversation, she confessed
«Aunt Margaret, Ive found my fatheror rather, Oliver did. He handles everything for me.»
«Whats his name?»
«William Hartley. My middle name is Hartley.»
Margaret exchanged a troubled glance with her husband.
«Weve a problem, dear,» she murmured.
«What problem?»
«Your fathers name isnt William. Its JohnJohn Edward Reeves. Theres no father listed on your birth certificate. Your mother invented your middle name. Emmeline, I know everythingshe didnt want you to know and forbade me from telling you. Your father is John Reeves, the dean of your conservatoire.»
«John Reeves? Impossible! He was my music professor. Then who is William Hartley? Why would Oliver bring him here?»
«Thats what we must ask Oliver tomorrow. Why this charade? And you havent claimed your inheritance yetsix months after your mothers death, the solicitor will settle it.»
«No, not yet. Just the flat and»
«Good heavens, Emmeline, how can you be so naive? I live too far, or Id have looked after you better. Thank goodness you invited us. Your grandparents were wealthyyour mother had a substantial account, and these paintings are worth a fortune. When they passed, everything was split between your mother and me. Youre not a penniless orphan. And with no children of our own, my husband and I mean to leave everything to you.»
She cancelled the wedding.
Emmeline had been oblivious to it all. Now, with her aunts revelation, she wonderedwhy had Oliver been in such a hurry to marry her?
«Aunt Margaret, does my fatherJohnknow I exist?»
«No. And his mother is to blame. She arranged what she deemed a better match for him and drove your parents apart. Your mother didnt know she was carrying you when they quarrelled. John obeyed his mother and married anothera lie about a pregnancy. They divorced, and he later remarried. He loved your mother, but when he saw her with a child, he assumed shed wed another. She never told him the truth. As for William Hartleywell get answers from Oliver.»
«Aunt Margaret, John handed me my diploma. He never knew I was his daughter.»
That evening, Oliver faced an unpleasant surprise. Emmeline had called off the wedding and packed his things. Before Margaret and her husband, he dared not arguehe knew hed been exposed.
«I feel relieved,» Emmeline admitted. «Something about Oliver always unsettled me.»
The next evening, returning from work, Emmeline was met with unexpected news.
«We have a guest tonight.»
«Who now?» she asked warily.
«Youll see,» Margaret teased.
When the doorbell rang, Margaret answered it, leading in John Reeves. Emmeline froze.
«My God, you look just like me,» the music professor said, arms outstretched. «Forgive meI never knew. Margaret told me everything.»
They talked late into the night. Emmeline learned mucheven of a half-brother, a soldier stationed far away.
«Only you, my daughter, followed in my footsteps. Youre so talented. My son never cared for music.»
«Neither did any of our familyengineers, all of them. It must be you, Father.»
From then on, Emmeline and John grew close. They visited her mothers grave together. He introduced her to his wife, Catherine, a kind woman, and later to her brother when he came home on leave.
A year later, Emmeline married Daniel, the son of Johns oldest friend. He had fallen for her at first sight. A lecturer in economics, he was steady and dependable.
Margaret and her husband attended the wedding, pleased with their nieces choice. At last, Emmeline had found her placeand the truth had set her free.
