“You have,” Leonard agreed. He wasn’t about to coat the truth for her comfort.
“Perhaps I should find a reason to leave.”
He shrugged. “Be my guest.”
For all the world, nothing could have prepared him for the next moment of his life. Wherein he watched the flirtatious, confident woman he sat beside while her chin quivered and the whites of her eyes turned a faint shade of pink, shining in the candlelight.
“Yes. That is a good plan. I will leave.” She put a hand to the settee, her fingers trembling, and pushed herself up.
Without thinking, he reached a hand across and placed it over hers. “Wait.”
She paused. “Why? So I can make a fool of myself and you can laugh at me?”
“No.” He jerked his chin, gesturing for her to sit back down. “I have an idea.”
She laughed quietly, but clearly with no true amusement. “Of course you do. I do not blame you for wishing to see me fail. But I do not want to endure it. Therefore, I think it best that I leave.”
He pulled his hand back, belatedly realizing it had still been covering hers. “Can you sing at all?”
She turned her face toward him, her eyes still shimmering, and gave a small nod. “I can sing.”
“And I know how to play. At least, enough to suffice. What if we did a duet?”
Her lip wobbled again before she clamped down on it. “You would do that for me?”
“You are my guest of sorts,” he said, then looked around to be sure no one was watching them. Luckily, everyone had their eyes on Caroline as she played. “What do you say?”
She put her gloved hand tentatively to her lips before placing it back on her lap. “That would be very lovely and generous of you.”
He took that as an acceptance, and then he fretted as the next two ladies played their songs. When it was Mrs. Gillingham’s turn to play, he stood and offered his arm to her.
“What is this?” Sophie asked, smiling as she sat on the edge of her seat. “Are we to have a duet?”
“Yes.” Leonard led Mrs. Gillingham to the piano, leaving her to stand as he flicked his tailcoat behind him before taking the bench. “What songs do you know?” he whispered, trying not to move his lips as he asked.
“Do you know “The Water of Tyne”?”
“I do,” he said, nodding and laying his fingers on the keys. “Are you ready?”
“I am very nervous,” she said instead of the “yes” he had expected.
He looked over his shoulder. “They are not the pompous type that you should worry yourself about. Trust me when I say they will be all grace and adoration.”
She nodded, then took a long breath. “Very well. Then I suppose I am ready.”
Leonard began the intro, the notes soft and soothing, then found himself holding his breath when the vocals were to come in.
Mrs. Gillingham sang the first few bars, her voice sweet but clearly nervous as she wavered on a few words. But as the song progressed, her voice grew stronger and more confident. Soon, Leonard found he was actually enjoying himself. Her lilting voice, the strains of the notes he played. When the song came to a close, his friends all smiled and clapped, with Tristan going so far as to give them a standing ovation.
Leonard stood, took her hand and dipped them both into a bow. When they straightened, he glanced over at her and saw a smile lighting her face.
And strangely, he was smiling as well.
A laugh bubbled out of her, and she squeezed his hand tighter before he slipped his own away and offered his arm to her, leading them back to their seats.
“That was beautiful,” Mrs. Susanna Hartley said, hand to her chest. “Your voice and Leonard’s playing were quite spectacular.”
“A perfect pair,” Caroline chimed in, smiling as she looked at her husband.
