The Violist

Part II The Private Tutor

Part II The Private Tutor

Juliette was woken up the next morning by a knock on her door. She did not get the chance to tell her father of the great news, as he was asleep when she returned from her meeting with the Opéra owner.  She threw on a robe over her shift and tied it around her waste before opening the door.

"Father, I have wonderful news," she said, clasping her hands together in excitement.  He raised his eyebrows, waiting for his daughter to continue.  "Monsieur Destler has granted me a violist chair in the orchestra.  I played for him last night and he gave me the position!"

Jacques embraced his daughter and spun her around, congratulating her on her success.  "Mon trésor, I could not be more proud."  He brought his lips to her forehead and gave her a soft kiss.  "I came to ask you to accompany me when I go to meet the man, but obviously you have beaten me to it."

Juliette was surprised that her father had yet to meet the owner, despite them arriving so early the previous day.  She did not have the desire to face the masked man again and was displeased when her father told her that he still wished for her to go with him.

"I already met him though, Father," she complained.

He held his hand up to stop her protests.  "I'm afraid this is not debatable. We both must form a good relationship with this man.  He is a powerful figure and it will be good for you to know him once I am gone."

Juliette desperately grabbed her father's hand.  "Where are you going, Papa?"  She briefly reverted back to what she used to call him when she was a young child.  There was no particular reason as to why the way she addressed him had changed throughout the years, but the name brought a sad smile to his face.

"Mon trésor, I'm not going anywhere any time soon. However, I will not be around forever and it is important that you have people to fall back on once I'm gone.  Until you marry, and even throughout marriage, you must make as many connections as possible."  He took her hand in his and kissed it.  "Do you understand me, Juliette?"

She nodded, saddened by the thought of her father not being with her one day.  "Oui, je comprends."

Juliette dressed herself and then left for rehearsals with her father.  They were to meet with Monsieur Destler afterwards. Jacques was astonished to see the new viola that she was given.  It was full sized, larger than the child's viola that he had purchased for her all those years ago.  He was glad she had a new one, for if she used a child's instrument it would surely reflect poorly on both of them.  His concern for his daughter grew when he thought of how she may be treated by the other orchestra members.  She was placed in the third to last viola chair, which would no doubt upset the two men behind her.

Juliette found that the men in the orchestra were more confused than upset by her presence.  She could tell that the violists behind her were not too pleased that she was placed ahead of them, but they said nothing.  Monsieur Reyer had told the entire pit that Monsieur Destler had made the executive decision to hire her as the fifth chair violist and people knew not to question his decisions.  He had a reputation for firing those who gave him the smallest bit of trouble.

"My name is Adam," the man who she shared a stand with greeted her.  Adam seemed to be about her father's age, some of his hair graying.  He was kind and did not seem bothered by a woman being his stand partner.  "I think it's about time orchestras hired women."

Juliette was very grateful towards him.  The entire rehearsal he would give her small pieces of advice for certain parts of the music that she struggled with.  She had to sight-read the entire practice, so her talent was not being displayed at its best.  "Monsieur, you are very kind," she thanked him.