Regardless, Lord and Lady Winthrop were not out, and soon, Brilliance and her mother were seated in the drawing room with Vincent’s mother. A splendid tea service was laid before them.
As soon as they all had a cup in hand, Brilliance got straight to the meat of the matter. “Lord Hewitt asked me to marry him last night.”
His mother leaned forward, nearly spilling her newly poured tea.
“Why, that’s marvelous!” Lady Winthrop declared. “I am utterly thrilled for you both. I knew he would make a smart match after the last disaster.”
Brilliance decided not to bring Mrs. Castern into the conversation.
“I can scarcely believe it was only last night,” she said. “Since then, I have visited with my sister early this morning and then with Lord Hewitt by midday. Now, here I am with you.”
She knew her face reddened as the two married ladies exchanged a glance.
“We’d had a misunderstanding that needed clearing up, you see. But my maid was with me the entire time.”Oh dear, that was a lie. “Except for when I confronted Lord Hewitt in his conservatory.”
Lady Winthrop’s eyes rounded. “You bearded him in his den. How brave!”
Brilliance shook her head. “No, my lady, in his music room.”
Lady Winthrop laughed as did her own mother, although Brilliance had no idea why.
“In any case, I promise that shortly” —after a few sizzling kisses,she recalled silently — “we were in the drawing room. He actually moved the furniture, so my maid had a place to sit.”
“Bri,” her mother said. “I believe Lady Winthrop wishes to speak, dear one.”
“My son has not yet had a chance to tell me of his engagement, but I surmised you were exceedingly special to him during my birthday party. It was a shame you had a megrim and had to leave.”
Brilliance decided to let that little white lie stand. She blew out a sigh. Life was complicated when one was in love.
“About that party, my lady, I was thrilled yet surprised when he gave the abbreviated concert. Lord Hewitt seems reluctant to play in company —”
“Oh, yes,” her ladyship agreed. “My son finds performing to be somewhat demeaning.”
“That is a shame,” Lady Diamond said. “I had the pleasure to hear him at our home, and I think a great talent like his is a gift from God, intended to be shared. Unfortunately, none of our family, except my second oldest daughter, is particularly musical.”
Before her mother bemoaned the rest of her offspring’s distinct lack of ability to play anything, Brilliance got on with her request.
“I noticed that Lord Hewitt brought the printed copy of his sonata. Has he always given you a copy as a present every year?”
“Ever since he was a boy. He used to give his father music, too, and then also for his stepfather. We have quite a collection, although the others are handwritten.”
Brilliance swallowed and looked at her mother who nodded.
“Have you saved every one?”
“Of course.” She looked at Lady Diamond. “I am sure you have kept mementos from all your children, too, be it a lock of baby hair or a childish painting or something recently done.”
Brilliance’s mother raised an eyebrow at her, offering a tilted smile. “Yes, I have keepsakes from each of my five children.”
“My mother is too polite to say it, but she could show you one of my recent attempts at oil painting or watercolor, and youwould not be able to tell whether it was from my childhood or last week.”
They all laughed. Brilliance asked the final question that would make this a miraculous day. “By any chance did Lord Hewitt put a date on the sheet music?”
“No,” his mother said, dashing her hopes. “Although, when he was younger, he would write which of my birthdays it was until I kindly asked him to stop at my fortieth.”
The two mothers chuckled about age, but Brilliance was thrilled. “Surely that would be as firm evidence as any date. After all, you only turn each age once.”
“I’ve been turning forty for quite some time,” her own mother said. And the two ladies laughed again.
