Kristine Kochanski quietly put her violin in its case after practicing for an extended period of time. She flopped down on her bed and opened her book to the page she had marked.

"Ma'am?" a voice called timidly from the hall, tapping on the door. When Kristine said she could come in, the maid quickly walked into the room. "The lady of the house requests your presence."

"Do I look presentable?" she asked, standing up and spinning around. The maid looked her over and shook her head.

"Not for the mum," she said, walking over to the wardrobe. She pulled out a deep green evening gown and set in on the bed. "This should do nicely, bring out the green bits of your eyes."

The maid quickly helped Kristine change into it and then they walked downstairs to find her mother. She sauntered into the parlor and found her mother sitting in a chair across from a young man. She looked the man over as he rose; he had slightly tanned skin and dancing brown eyes. His hair was dark brown and wavy, falling just past his earlobes.

"Kristine," he mother said, rising also. "I would like you to meet David Lister."

"It is a pleasure to meet you," Kristine said softly, holding her hand out to him as she curtsied. He bowed and took her hand in his, kissing it.

"The pleasure is purely mine," he said, smiling at her. They all sat down, David on the small sofa and Kristine and her mother in armchairs. "Your mother tells me that you are an accomplished violinist."

"That is correct," Kristine said with a smile.

"David plays the violin also," her mother said matter-of-factly. "You remember, Kristine, that your father and I were looking for someone to play with you. We were at a concert the other night and saw David play. We approached him afterwards and he said that he would be delighted to play with you."

"Would you care to play a bit today?" David asked. Kristine nodded and summoned one of the maids to fetch her violin.

"I will leave you two be," her mother said, rising and gliding out of the room.

"Are you familiar with the Concerto in D-minor for Two Violins by Johann Sebastian Bach?" David asked as she took her violin out of the case.

"Yes I am," she said, tuning it carefully. "Which part do you play best, first or second?"

"To tell you the truth, on this particular piece I play second better," David admitted, slipping his violin out of the case. "Let's just play the first movement for now."

"That is fine," Kristine said, tightening her bow. They started at a fairly normal tempo and built the speed of the song as they played, each testing the other's abilities.

"David, I must admit, you are quite good," Kristine stated after they'd hit the last note.

"As are you," David said with a smile. "But please, call me Dave. David always sounded a bit stuffy to me."

"Thank you, Dave," she said, smiling. David smiled at her, but his smile faded when the grandfather clock in the room chimed the hour, six.

'I'm sorry to rush out like this, but I must go to the orchestra rehearsal," David said, quickly putting his violin away. "I'll see you tomorrow though, Kristine," he added, kissing her hand before leaving.

"You two sounded wonderful," her mother said, walking into the parlor.

"He seems like a nice chap, and he plays very well," Kristine noted. She carefully put her violin away for the second time that day and carried it up to her room.

There was something about his eyes that caught her interest. They were so deep and seemed to twinkle. She laid down on her bed with a sigh and opened her book to the page she had abandoned earlier.

About a year and a half later, David and Kristine could be found in one another's arms whatever chance they found. The only hindrance to their love was Kristine's mother and father, who believed that she should be betrothed to some nobleman out there. After all, she was technically noble. Of course, her parents knew nothing of the relationship between David and their daughter. To them, David was merely a young musician of the lower class they had brought in to help fill their daughter's time.

"Dave, don't. She always comes down around this time," Kristine protested against the kisses her was trailing down her neck. He looked up at her somewhat sadly as he ran his finger down the side of her face.

"When are you going to stop pretending, Kris?" David asked, picking up his violin from the table. "She's going to find out sometime." He delicately put his violin away and kissed her hand lightly before disappearing out the door. The promise of his return tomorrow was with the ring she wore on a delicate chain around her neck.

David's words echoed through her head as she slowly walked up to her room with her violin. A maid was waiting in her room when she arrived.

"Mum, the lady and lord of the house wish your presence in the dining hall," the maid said, motioning to the somewhat fancy evening gown laying on the bed. With a sigh Kristine let her help change her into it. "Best make haste miss."

Kristine rushed down the stairs and entered the dining hall as gracefully as she could. Her father rose when she entered the room, as did a young man she did not recognize that was sitting in the chair nearest her.

'This, Kristine, is Arnold Rimmer," her father introduced. Kristine curtsied and held her hand out to him. He delicately kissed it and smiled shyly at her. They all sat down and her mother smiled at her reassuringly.

"Please bring us tea," her mother ordered to the maid. The maid quickly brought tea for everyone. While she was serving the tea, Kristine looked Arnold over. He seemed to be the exact opposite of David; sandy blonde hair, pale complexion, and a somewhat harsh tone in his eyes.

"Kristine, your father and I have decided that it's time that you make a life of your own," her mother started.

"You see, you're at the age to be married," her father interrupted. A pit formed in Kristine stomach, almost anticipating what was coming. "Since you don't seem to be interested on this particular idea, your mother and I decided to take matters into our own hands. Arnold here has graciously agreed-"

"No," Kristine said firmly, rising from her chair. "I will not marry this man just because you want me to." Her mother looked at her, appalled, and her father looked at her with disgust. "I would rather marry for love and I do not love him." Dashing out of the room, she paused when she got to the entryway. She heard footsteps behind her and turned to face the person.

"Why are you running away Kristine?" Arnold asked, approaching her. He stood very close to her and rested his hands on her waist. "Don't you want to stay for the fun bits?" As he spoke, he moved his hands up her torso.

"Get away from me," Kristine hissed, pushing him away from her. He smirked at her and stepped closer to her again. "Why don't you take your umbrella and leave?" she asked, stepping back a bit and motioning toward the door.

"I don't think so," Arnold said with a shake of his head. "You see, you're mine whether you want to be or not and-" he said, stopping when Kristine's parents walked into the room.

"Kristine, I don't know where you got that rubbish of marrying for love," her mother said snippishly. "You marry to fall in love, not the other way around."

'You're marrying Arnold next week," her father added. "He's a wonderful chap, perfect for you."

"He most certainly is not perfect for me!" Kristine yelled. "And I shan't marry him, next week or ever!" She pushed past Arnold and ran up to her room, locking the door behind her.

"Kristine!" her father said, glaring at her when he unlocked and opened the door several minutes later.. "There is no way you could disgrace us further. Thankfully, Arnold is willing to forget your actions tonight. That doesn't change the disgrace you've brought on us though."

"Mother, Father," Kristine said softly, pushing her hair out of her face. "There's something you don't know." She cleared her throat and spoke strongly. "I'm in love with David, so I cannot marry Arnold."

"David?" her mother said, clearly appalled. "How could you even joke about becoming anything more than an acquaintance with that...violinist?"

"I'm not joking mother, we're in love," Kristine said, raising her chin defiantly. Her mother stood beside her father. They both looked horrified. "You are not my daughter," her mother said with a frown. "I did not raise my daughter in such a manner that she would fall in love with a member of the lower class. I want you out of this house!"

"Quite right," her father said with a nod, looking at her with disgust. "I'm sure you'll find your way somewhere, but get out of this house and out of England. I think there's a boat leaving for America tomorrow. If you do not want to go, deny everything you have just told us and marry Arnold next week."

"I cannot deny the truth," Kristine said coldly. "And if it takes leaving England to prove I love Dave, I will do so."

"Fine." her father said through clenched teeth. "Pack a suitcase and get out of here first thing in the morning."

David,

Leaving England was the only way for me to rid myself of Arnold. I do not know when I'm coming back, or even if I am coming back. My parents have been trying to find me and I do not wish to be pulled back into the struggles of living with them. If I return to England, that is surely what awaits me. Dave, I love you more than words can express, and I miss you more everyday.

Forever Yours,
Kristine