The Illusion of Deception
Working at the Royal Academy of Music, Emily had never cared for anything but music. It had been her life since childhoodher mother and her piano. At twenty-eight, she was unmarried, having once dated a fellow musician, but their paths diverged; two brilliant souls, each lost in their own world.
For the past three months, however, she had been seeing Daniel, a solicitor. They met by chance in a café near the academy. She hadnt wanted to go homeher mother had recently passed, and the silence of the empty house was unbearable.
“You look troubled,” Daniel said, approaching her. He had been watching her as he sipped his tea. “My names Daniel. And yours?”
Beautiful, but distanthe decided to take the chance.
“Emily,” she replied softly, offering a faint smile.
Since then, they had grown close. Daniel often stayed over, even proposing marriage, but she hesitated.
“I cant say yes yet,” she admitted. “Not when Ive just lost Mum.”
Her mother had raised her alone. Emily had never known her fatherwho he was, where he had goneshe had never asked. Some things were best left unsaid. But now, with her mother gone, grief and loneliness weighed heavily. The thought gnawed at hershould she try to find him?
“I dont even know how to feel,” she confessed to Daniel. “What if I find him, and he doesnt want me?”
Emily had never concerned herself with practical mattersher mother had handled everything, while she lived for the music. Her mother had warned her:
“Darling, you must learn how things work. What will you do when Im gone? Youre too lost in your own world.”
“But you manage everything so well! Why should I bother?” Emily had laughed.
Life, however, was cruel and unpredictable. It had taken her mother without warningan illness that burned through her too quickly.
“Too late for treatment,” the doctors said.
“But she never complained,” Emily wept.
“Perhaps she didnt want to worry you. But illness always leaves signs.”
Daniel was sharp. The first time he visited Emilys London flat, he was taken abackexpensive paintings lined the walls, though Emily had no interest in them. They had simply always been there. But Daniel recognised their worth.
In the evenings, Emily played, preparing for concerts, while Daniel listenedor pretended to. He had already realised Emily had something worth taking. He rummaged through documents, old letters. Her only living relative was an aunt, Margaret, who lived in Cornwall. He decided thenmarry Emily quickly. She was the sole heir.
Her hesitation frustrated him. They hadnt known each other long, and doubts flickered in her heart. But Daniel persisted, pressing for marriage. He knew she wanted to find her father.
One evening, he met her with news.
“We have guests tonight. Lets stop for champagne.”
“Guests?”
“I found your father.”
“Daniel, truly? Is he here in London? I always imagined hed be abroad.”
“Yes. He lives here.”
Half an hour later, the doorbell rang. Daniel answered. Emily saw a tall, dark-haired man.
“My girl,” he rushed to embrace her. “Let me look at you. Youre beautiful.” He introduced himself”Robert Ashton.”
Emilys middle name was, indeed, Roberta.
“Your mother and I parted ways, but she never told me about you.”
Daniel seized the moment.
“Robert, given this wonderful reunion, may I ask for Emilys hand?”
Emily, still reeling, faltered.
“If Daniel loves you, I give my blessing,” Robert said warmly. “Ill expect a wedding invitation.”
From then, Robert became a frequent visitor. Yet, he offered little about his past with Emilys motheronly that they had been together briefly.
Emily sent an invitation to her Aunt Margaret and her husband. They arrived earlyMargaret insisted on helping with preparations.
One evening, the doorbell chimed. Emily opened it, delighted.
“We barely made it,” Margaret said. “The train was dreadful.”
She met Daniel. That night, he left early, so Emily could speak with her relatives.
“Aunt Margaret, I found my fatherwell, Daniel did. He handles everything.”
“Whats his name?”
“Robert Ashton. My middle names Roberta.”
Margaret exchanged a grave look with her husband.
“Trouble,” she murmured. He nodded.
“What trouble?”
“Your father isnt Robert. Hes James. James Whitby. The head of your conservatoire. Your mother invented the middle name. She never wanted you to know.”
“James Whitby? My professor? Then who is Robert?”
“Thats what we must ask Daniel. Why the act? And have you claimed your inheritance yet? Six months since your mothers passingits almost time.”
“No, not yet. Just the flat”
“Good God, child. Youre not some penniless orphan. Your mother had a fortunethose paintings alone are worth thousands. Our parents left us equally. And wewe have no children. Everything will be yours.”
Emily cancelled the wedding.
She had been blind to it all. But now, with Margarets revelations, she wonderedwhy had Daniel been in such a hurry?
“Aunt Margaret, does James know about me?”
“No. His mother orchestrated it. She chose a ‘better match’ for him. Your mother never told him. He saw her once with you and assumed she had married. And this Robertwe must confront Daniel.”
“James gave me my diploma. He never knew I was his daughter.”
That evening, Daniel was met with a cold surprise. Emily had packed his things. With Margaret and her husband present, he dared not protest. He knew hed been caught.
Robert vanished. Emily felt only relief.
“Something always felt wrong,” she admitted.
The next evening, Emily returned from work to find Margaret waiting.
“We have a guest tonight.”
“Who now?” Emily asked warily.
Margaret smiled. “Youll see.”
The doorbell rang. Margaret answered, returning with James Whitby.
Emily froze.
“My God, you look just like me,” the professor said, arms outstretched. “Forgive me. I never knew.”
They talked late into the night. Emily learned of a half-brothera soldier, living far away.
“Only you inherited my love for music,” James said warmly.
Emily laughed. “I always wondered where I got it.”
Time passed. Emily reconciled with her father. They visited her mothers grave together. He introduced her to his wife, Catherinea kind woman.
A year later, Emily married William, the son of Jamess old friend. He had fallen for her instantly. William taught economics at the university.
Margaret and her husband attended the wedding, pleased with their nieces choicea steady, reliable man.
