The Selected Enola Holmes

Chapter 6

Not a lot of people knew this about Enola, but she loved music. She composed it, read it, and played it. She was delighted when she saw, in her room upon her arrival weeks ago, that there was a violin in the corner, as well as a guitar and a gorgeous, sleek piano. She had loved music ever since she was a little girl watching her older brother Sherlock play the violin. She even begged her parents for violin lessons after that. Then the piano. Then guitar. And they capped it at drums. And Enola had mastered the four instruments in a matter of three months.

It was music that helped her cope with the loss of her father, the disappearance of her mother, and the near ostracism from her brothers. Sherlock made continuous efforts to mend his relationship with his sister. However, Mycroft thought her a lost cause, so he didn't even bother. But it was the same music that helped her cope with yet another negative situation. Enola could practically feel the hostility and hatred that radiated off almost every selected girl she came in contact with. She hardly cared, but that didn't mean she wasn't a bit hurt.

But thoughts of that kind slipped away as she joined a band practicing for a birthday ball that Reese had insisted on throwing at the palace later that week. One of the selected, Beatrice Lont, would be the first to celebrate a birthday there. She was a nice enough girl, from what Enola could tell. A lady through and through. She seemed to have what looked like genuine love for Reese. The best way Enola could put it would be...well, she acted like a refined version of a fangirl that finally got to be with her famous crush. So you can imagine how thrilled she was that Reese had graciously wanted to celebrate her birthday. He was kind like that.

But now, the day had come. Beatrice's party would be in full swing in less than an hour, and as Enola chatted with the fellow musicians, she had asked if she could play a few of them. They were mildly stunned as she accidentally let slip that she knew how to play four on a proficient level. They were more than happy to comply. She had even gotten the chance to play some music; she was writing the other day. And then they started messing around with music from really old bands of the past. And that's how she found herself half conducting and half performing 'X&Y' by a band by the name of 'Coldplay' while she sang lead.

***
Enola hadn't expected anyone to be paying much attention to her while she messed around with a few instruments. The party was in full swing, so could you really blame her? Next thing you know-

"Oh, play for us!" Benny begged.

"Please, Enola, it's my birthday!" Beatrice echoed.

"But they've already given you a—"

It didn't matter how she protested. Beatrice and Benny had already shushed the orchestra and made everyone come to the back of the room. Some girls fanned their dresses out and sat on the floor, while others pulled a few chairs toward the corner. Beatrice stood in the middle of the crowd, clutching her hands with excitement, as Lorica stood by, holding the crystal glass she had yet to take a sip from.
As the girls settled themselves, Enola mentally decided which instrument she'd have her fun with next. The sleek piano was seducing her, so she let it.
The orchestra of young men and women who had been playing walked over to support her, and the few waitstaff who had been buzzing about the room became still.
She took a deep breath and brought her hands to ready them to slide. She'd heard that Beatrice loved this song that was way before their time called "September Song" by an artist named Agnes Obel. Enola decided that she'd surprise her with a performance of it as her gift to Beatrice.

"For you," she said, looking at Beatrice.

Enola let her fingers hover above the keys for a moment, closed her eyes, and then let the music come.
For a while, there was no wicked Lorica, no secretly jealous girls lurking in the palace, no brothers trying to invade her thoughts. There wasn't anything but one perfect note stringing itself to the next in such a way they seemed afraid they might get lost in time without one another. But they did hold together, and as they floated on, this gift that was meant to be something for Beatrice became something for her too.