She pursed her lips. “Are you toying with me, Your Grace?”
“Alonzo,” he said scandalously. “Or Farrington, if you must.”
She raised her hand as if to touch him, but quickly corrected herself. “Why do you encourage me to be scandalous?”
He leaned as close to her as was acceptable, noticing the American and Lady Amelia standing together nearby. “Anything I do is meant good-naturedly, Lady Julia. Perhaps to tease you a bit and to see how you react to temptation. For any woman that is going to keep company with me, must not only have her wits about her, she must also have an open mind, for I am a man of uncommon tastes.”
“Oh?”
“Yes.”
“I am not sure if I should be frightened or flattered that you wish to know me better.”
“That is a subject better saved for when we are not under the scrutiny of so many people.” He greeted several admirers who waited to speak with him, naturally drifting away from Julia and next to the pianoforte to wait for her to take her seat at the instrument.
“Are you ready, Farrington?” the Duke of Stanhope asked.
“I believe my debt is paid in full after this, Stanhope,” he said.
“Indeed.” The duke smiled and slapped Alonzo’s back. “I hope she was worth it—the invitations.”
Alonzo cast an admiring look at Julia. Yes, she was worth the trouble of singing when he’d had no intention of doing so before.
Stanhope raised his hands to quiet his guests. “As so many of us hoped, the Duke of Pridegate has chosen to honor us with an impromptu performance, with Lady Julia accompanying him on the pianoforte.”
A round of applause brought Julia to the bench, and Alonzo opened the sheet music for her.
She stared at his selection of song in shock. “You wish to sing a Scottish air over something more refined?”
“Does that surprise you?”
“O Waly, Waly, is not something I would have chosen for you.”
“I did not choose it for myself, Julia, I chose it for you. Now, if you please…”
She positioned her elegant fingers on the keys and began to play the lively tune. Alonzo’s throat tightened with tenderness at her earnest style. How much sweeter the notes sounded being played by her. His voice sounded perfect paired with her music, and when he sang the words,The water is wide, I cannot get o’er, And neither have I wings to fly.
Give me a boat that will carry two, And both shall row, my love and I…the fantasy of sharing such moments with her became rather real to him.
The need for it as important as taking a breath.
An expensive brandy wasn’t the only thing that could intoxicate a man.
As they finished performing the first song, the small crowd erupted with enthusiastic applause. Another country tune was played, and then Alonzo was ready for a drink.
He waited for Lady Julia to stand, then encouraged the guests to recognize her contribution. With dignity, Julia accepted their praise, curtsied, and made her way to Lady Willa and her mother. The duke approved immensely of her musical abilities and her courage to do what she normally would have refused.
In essence, he must admit he had never met a woman as compelling as her.
*
“Flattery—that is allit is,” she complained to Willa.
“You are being irrational,” her friend said. “To the point of exhaustion, in fact.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me correctly. I watched how the two of you performed together. There was nothing but happiness in your eyes.”
