The Peculiar Lives of Boys & Girls At Plumfield

Chapter Two - Vivace

"I've never heard him played like that."

Nat smiled at Franz as he let down his violin and bow. Franz reclined in Bhaer's chair, running his hands through wheat-golden hair. He was always doing things like that. "You captured the spirit of Haydn, perfectly Nat. And yet it was so different. How did you do it?"

Nat shrugged, blushing at Franz's praise, and coming to sit on the chair by him, delicately placing his instrument to the side, and folding his hands between his knees.

"Don't be so modest," Franz said. "Not with me." He leaned in and touched Nat's knee. "Please, Nat. I'd like to hear what you were thinking as you played. Feeling."

Nat smiled softly to himself, revisited by the sensation of seeing the first ray of sunshine turn the snow to glitter from his window. "Alive," he said. "Awake."

Franz nodded approvingly. "I heard every bit of that," he said, and crossed one leg over the other. "I don't usually like Haydn. Too English (far too English). But you make me want to like him."

Nat chuckled, feeling a tension in his limbs at the praise. He never knew what to do with praise, especially when it kept being lavished on him after he said thank you. The more he spoke, he learned, the more praised he got, so he tried to look grateful, and kept his hands sandwiched between his legs.

"Aunt Jo and Uncle Laurie seem eager to take you to Europe. How do you feel about it?"

"Er, g-good. Grateful. That they believe in me." Nat wondered if it was natural to be asked how one felt by another man so often, but he quickly remembered that this was Franz, so it was perfectly natural to him. It had been a while since Franz had returned to Germany for further studies, so perhaps Nat had forgotten his way of relating.

Nat decided that he'd missed it.

"Oh, you'll love Germany. It's just bursting with color and verve. And the people are a good time, better if you know the language."

"Thank you, Franz."

"But why do you want to pursue music?" Franz continued, pouring himself hot tea from the tray Daisy had left for them earlier. She had wanted to sit and hear Nat play, but had been too busy around the house. Aunt Jo and Uncle Laurie were to be back from Concord soon, and Daisy was fussing over the neatness of things.

Bhaer was out of the house, and most of the boys were still asleep, given that it was a Saturday.

"I'm sorry," Nat said, eyebrows furrowing. "I'm not sure what you mean."

Franz smiled, his pretty, cheerful smile. "There's nothing else I could mean. Tea?"

"No, thank you."

"You are to pursue music because you are good at it, and perhaps you enjoy it. But a pleasure and a career can be separate, and the adults are far too invested in you to tolerate another option or even think of asking you what I have. Do you want to pursue music as a career?" Franz asked, stirring his tea.

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

Nat hesitated. The truth was, Nat's reasons for going seemed obvious to everyone, including himself, until he thought about it. He was a Blake, and his father had always been a musician. It was in their blood. Additionally, he was good at it, and couldn't fathom that he'd be as good in anything else. It was his best shot at success. At impressing everyone. And he loved it. Becoming a famous musician would be his father's legacy, the Blake legacy. It would make Uncle Laurie happy and proud in him. Nat wanted him to be proud.

"I want to perfect my music," Nat said, solemnly. "I don't see another life."

Franz pursed his lips. "You think you have no other options."