“I believe it was you who talkedmeinto our little pretense, my heart,” Edward said, and her own heart flipped strangely at the false endearment. “This musicale was too good an opportunity to pass up if we truly wish to appear happy and not at all worthy of gossip.”
Amelia sighed. He was right, of course. And this was such a large gathering, she likely would not even have a chance to play in front of the crowd, so why was she so nervous?
“Why are you so nervous?” Lord Norwich’s low voice sounded in her ear again.
She startled, wondering if she’d spoken her thoughts aloud. Her confusion must have shown on her face, for he smiled and pointed at her hands. They were currently locked in a battle to the death, and it was not clear if either would come out unscathed. She delicately pulled them apart, offering Lord Norwich a tight smile. The crowd around them was loud as everyone mingled and made their way to their seats. The noise and heat pressed in on her.
His brow furrowed, and he leaned even closer. “You are not truly nervous, are you?”
She tried to shrug but couldn’t make her overly tense shoulders complete the relaxed action. Lord Norwich’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“What can you possibly be nervous about? You need not play, but if you do, you are the most accomplished player I have ever heard. If you perform, this crowd will be at your feet. You ought to play that song from three days ago. The one that sounded a great deal like raindrops, so light and carefree. Or perhaps the one from last week that started very slow and low, then turned thunderous. And the one you played just this morning was incredibly moving. I felt as if the music was trying to crawl its way into my chest and live there the remainder of my life. Really, you cannot go wrong.”
At some point her mouth had fallen open, and she hastily shut it.
“What?” he asked, bewildered as he took in her apparently shocked visage. “What did I say?”
“My songs. You have heard my songs?” He had never mentioned listening to her playing, though she was well aware that the music must be loud enough to be heard around the house—she never was very good at tempering the sound.
But still, he had listened—really, truly listened? The thought made her feel strangely vulnerable.
“Oh. Well, yes... I... Do you mind?” Good heavens, he wasblushing. Lord Norwich wasblushing.
She momentarily forgot her nerves regarding the performance.
“No, it is only—”
“Lord Norwich, how wonderful to see you. You simply must introduce me to your wife.” A sickeningly sweet voice spoke over Amelia, and she turned to see an attractive woman standing near her shoulder. She looked familiar, but so did most of theton.
Edward stood—Amelia imagined the action was reluctant—to make the introductions.
“Miss Darby, this is my wife, Lady Norwich, daughter of the Duke of Stafford. Amelia, this is Miss Darby.”
The newly arrived woman curtsied as she looked Amelia up and down, then, dismissing her entirely, she turned to Lord Norwich.
“I have not seen you since the day you escorted me to Miss Addington’s, Lord Norwich, and it has beenpositivelytoo long.”
A warning bell sounded in Amelia’s head as the woman dug her nails into Lord Norwich’s arm. And it had to do with more than this woman’s disturbing attempts at flirtation in the middle of the crowd. To amarried man! Yet, that was not it—something was niggling the back of her mind.
“Indeed, Miss Darby, but as you see, I have been rather busy.”
“Hmph. Too busy, even, to see an old friend?”
When the woman pushed her lower lip out in a pout, Amelia suddenly placed her. This was the woman Lord Norwich was walking with the day Amelia and Mary snuck out for some shopping during Amelia’s very short engagement. Heat prickled down her spine, making her vision swim. Amelia was surprised to find it was not anger she was feeling butjealousy. White-hot jealousy.
“No, I would not say I have been too busy to visit any of my old friends. I assume our hosts will soon wish to begin the evening. If you will excuse us, Miss Darby.” He turned from the woman, and Amelia saw Miss Darby’s expression turn mutinous before she stalked to a seat of her own at the front of the room.
“Absurd woman,” Amelia heard her husband mutter, and she could not stop the foolish smile that pulled at her lips.
Lord Norwich looked sidelong at her. “What?”
“Nothing at all.”
But it was not nothing. Her husband had very firmly set that woman in her place and put an end to her flirtations without a single ounce of charm or flattery. It was monumental.
Their host, Lady Middleton stepped from a group that had included the sullen Miss Darby, and stood in front of the crowd, smiling so broadly Amelia thought her thin, bird-like features may snap. Her husband stood beside her, smiling just as broadly, but with a far broader figure than his wife’s.
“Thank you all for joining us tonight. We are incredibly blessed to be able to host such a refined gathering. The evening is open to anyone who wishes to perform, and then I have asked a few special guests to grace us with their talents. I am certain you will all enjoy yourselves immensely!” The woman looked about the crowd distractedly for a moment, her eyes lighting on Amelia, of all people.
