Chapter Thirty-One
When he had been paid for his week’s duties, Alfred had only one purchase on his mind, and Vondell Pianos had offered the most promise. It had taken nearly an hour for the clerk to find a piece that Alfred felt was appropriate, most of which was spent with the clerk performing the compositions for Alfred’s untrained ear until a particular piece stood out. It was a special translation, the clerk had said, originally composed for strings but rewritten to include a piano, and when he heard the piano sing Albinoni’s Adagio in G, Alfred had known it was perfect. He paid nearly a day’s wages for the sheet music.
He had it sent through the post with a simple note, hoping the surprise would brighten Florence’s day if her knees were still keeping her from her daily walks. When
