Inside the carriage, he drew her close and glanced down at his timepiece—quarter ‘til six. He’d be back just in time to ring the dinner gong.
“Did you enjoy your tour?” He drew her up against him. The distance between Heart Place and Knight Hall was negligible, so they only had a few more moments alone.
“I did, Mr. Cockfield.” She smiled up at him. “When can we do it again?”
Music and Magic
Violet winced at the dissonant sounds coming from the small stage. Still, Viscountess Fitzgerald sat proudly off to the side as her three daughters performed—a recital featuring two violins and one cello.
“I’m not sure my ears are going to survive this,” Bethany whispered from beside her where the two of them, in addition to her sisters-in-law, sat, fortunate to be in one of the more distant rows.
One of the violins squeaked, and Violet resisted the urge to cover her ears.
“They should be nearly finished. And the next performers must be better than this—a professional quintet, I believe,” Violet said.
“I hope that’s soon; otherwise, I’m going to require an exorcism,” Miss Collette Jones leaned forward to whisper loudly.
“Shhh…” Lady Whipple turned around and held her finger to her lips to shush them. It was known to most that the countess was selectively deaf. Her admonishment merely cemented the fact.
The recital ended to polite applause.
Unfortunately, however, the performance that followed began most inauspiciously when one of the musicians’ strings broke. And although they stopped so it could be replaced, the replacement hadn’t been tuned properly.
The enthusiastic applause at the end was more likely inspired by relief than appreciation.
“Greystone could not have chosen a better night to abandon us in favor of dining with his intended’s family.” Violet smiled at the ladies seated around her.
“Let’s locate the refreshments.” Posy shot to her feet. “After enduring that, we can only hope Lady Fitzgerald hasn’t skimped on the pastries.” The two Miss Joneses joined her as well, giggling as they walked away together, leaving Bethany and Violet to wait as the rows of straight-backed chairs emptied.
“That was… interesting,” Violet commented.
Bethany glanced around and then leaned toward her. “I’ve heard something, and I’m not sure whether or not I ought to tell you.”
Violet’s heart stopped, her first thought being that she and Simon had somehow been discovered. But surely, she would have been given the cut direct by now if they had. Likely, she wouldn’t have even been admitted this evening.
Which was a rather sobering thought.
“You cannot toss out a herring like that and then not tell me,” Violet said.
“Chaswick has heard something. It is about your Captain Thompson.”
A week ago, Violet wouldn’t have expected to feel relief upon such a statement. But seeing as she had an affair to hide now, her panic subsided.
“Have they discovered something conclusive?” she asked.
“Rather the opposite.” Bethany was watching her closely.
“What do you mean?”
“A witness has come forward, one of the soldiers who has been living in Rajasthan…” Bethany touched Violet’s hand. “He’s reported that he may have observed Captain Thompson living there.”
Rajasthan—it was the Indian state he’d disappeared from. Violet had hoped never to hear the name again.
“How long ago?” She had dreaded such news for years. But now, finally knowing her fears could be realized, she didn’t fall to pieces as she’d once imagined she would. That he’d not been captured, though, that he’d defected, was becoming more of a likelihood than a suspicion.
He hadn’t wanted to return to England. He hadn’t wanted to return to her. She blinked, feeling… numb.
“The next time you question your own beauty, remember how I am looking at you now.” Simon’s words from two days ago came to mind. His eyes had been filled with desire, appreciation, and awe.
