“Sorry to intrude, but Lady Jones, I must congratulate you on a beautiful performance.” Mrs.Pine appears behind Mother and Aunt Genevieve with MissPine, whose cheeks are lightly pink.
“You flatter me, Mrs.Pine,” Aunt Genevieve says.
Mother only barely withholds her glower as Aunt Genevieve lets Mrs. Pine and Miss Pine into their circle. Mrs. Pine looksinches taller than she did at the start of the evening. Rosalie can hear people murmuring around them, all in awe of the Pine women. The men in their circle look far too interested as Miss Pine shifts in beside her mother.
“It’s not flattery at all,” Mrs.Pine says to Aunt Genevieve. “I was very moved by your performance. And Lady Tisend, yours was equally impressive.”
Mother manages a polite smile, though Rosalie can tell it’s costing her.
“I must say, Lady Rosalie, I thought yours was by far the most challenging piece of the night,” MissPine says.
Rosalie blinks, surprised. MissPine looks so earnest.
“I quite agree,” Mrs.Pine says. “You must spend hours at the pianoforte every day.”
“Oh, well, I—”
“She barely needs to practice,” Mother cuts in. “It comes so naturally, you see.”
Rosalie stares at her mother, then glances at Aunt Genevieve, whose eyebrows are raised.
“I don’t mind practicing. The challenge of it is what’s most exciting, for me, at least,” Rosalie says, looking back to Mrs.Pine. “MissRaught and MissLinet get sick of it.”
“We do not,” Henrietta says quickly. “It’s always an honor to listen to you practice.”
Rosalie glances at her with a true smile. There’s no guile or artifice in Henrietta at all. Which is charming, and unhelpful.
“I’d love to hear you rehearse someday,” MissPine says.
Rosalie meets her eyes again. Is she being honest, or does she want more information out of her?
“If you’d like to hear more music, Miss Pine, you ought to join myself and Lady Rosalie at the Upper Rooms in twomonths’ time. My father is throwing a most exciting concert, and we would be honored by your company,” Mr. Dean says.
Rosalie nearly gapes. He rarely chimes in at these events. And not only is he engaging now, but he’s inviting MissPine on one of their long-scheduled outings?
Mother’s definitely glowering this time. She looks to Rosalie, opening her mouth, forcing Rosalie to intervene before she’s entirely ready.
“MissRaught and MissLinet will be there as well. I’m sure Mr.Fortes and Mr.Rile are looking forward to escorting them,” Rosalie spits out.
Her friends stare at her, surprised, but she forces a smile, ignoring them to look to both men.
“Of—of course,” Mr.Fortes says quickly. “So looking forward to it. Aren’t you, Rile?”
“Honored!” he says, his voice a little high, brown eyes wide.
Maybe Rosalie’s glaring too.
She looks to MissPine, who’s been watching the entire exchange, biting at her lower lip, withholding a smirk.
“I’m sure Mr.Sholle could be convinced to escort you, MissPine,” Rosalie continues.
“I’m sure,” MissPine says easily. “Thank you for the invitation, Mr.Dean.”
Mr.Dean smiles at her, and then goes back to staring off into the distance, leaving Rosalie to stand essentially alone in the ensuing awkward pause.
Who invites another woman to a previously scheduled event, anyway?
Rosalie catches Aunt Genevieve’s gaze, trusting that she can read the desperation in her eyes.
