The Blackwell Lessons (26 page)

4

I love Tuesdays. It’s the day of my music lecture.

Music doesn’t
exactly
fit with my international relations degree, but my exam results were good. Okay,
very
good. So the university agreed to let me study an extra module.

I can play pretty much any instrument. But violin is my favourite and the one I use for practical exams.

I’m a little early to class as usual. Sumitra, my post-grad mentor, is usually early too. But she doesn’t seem to be here yet. 

Sumitra is a very sweet, clever lady with two grown-up children. Like most post-grad mentors, she’s studying later in life. We get on really well.

Gradually, other students file in and Miss Gabriela, our music teacher, arrives.

Miss Gabriela is forty something with short, frazzled orange hair. Her voice is all warbly like she’s gargling water. She’s crazy, in the best way.

‘Could someone remind me what we did last week?’ she asks, eyes moving frantically around the class.

I raise a hand. ‘Um. We worked with our mentors on using classical music to inspire modern pieces.’

Miss Gabriella turns and points a triumphant finger at me. ‘Yes. But I’m forgetting something. What is it, what is is?’ She twiddles her hair. ‘Oh that’s right. Eve – Sumitra won’t be here today I’m afraid.’

‘Is she okay?’

‘Yes. Better than okay, actually. She’s been offered a place at Birkbeck. Fully funded. So she’ll be leaving us.’

‘That’s … sudden,’ I say, wondering why she never texted me. ‘When does she leave?’

‘She left already. Earlier this week. We have a new mentor arriving for you.’ Miss Gabriella checks her watch. ‘Any minute. Have your notes ready.’

‘No problem.’ I pull notes from my bag.

As I’m getting papers in order, there’s a sharp knock at the door. One of those jaunty, impatient knocks that’s almost like someone banging out a rhythm.

‘Ah!’ Miss Gabriella beams at me. ‘This must be for you Eve. Come in. Come in.’

The door opens.

My eyes widen at the young man in the doorway.

‘Eve,’ says Miss Gabriella. ‘Meet your new mentor. Lucien Burns.’

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