Martine nodded, then turned to him.
“Do you paint, my lord?”
He laughed unnecessarily. “No, what a notion!” His tone was derisive, as if he had never noticed that most of the famous painters in the world were male.
“The gentlemen are invited to fish,” Lord Fincham repeated.
Brilliance thought him superior in disposition and wished Martine would switch her interest to the birdlike man.
“My eldest sister and my brother adore fishing,” Brilliance told him. She wondered if Lord Hewitt would fish and whether female guests could eschew the finer arts, of which she had no skill, in favor of the rod and line, of which she also had no skill. At least, with the latter, her lack of prowess was less noticeable.
As more guests arrived, they chatted about the week’s upcoming events, including the final evening’s ball. After Lord Fincham left, Brilliance decided to do Martine a favor by leaving her alone with Lord Patterson for a few minutes as no one else had come to their table.
Unfortunately, as she rose, his lordship quickly stood, too.
“I hope you will excuse me.” She ought to have come up with a reason beforehand. Yet Martine was looking at her with gratitude and understanding.
Rather than retaking his seat, however, Lord Patterson looked as though he was going to escort Brilliance from the room. She would have to be forceful.
“I hope you will keep my very good friend, Lady Martine, company. And I shall see you both outside in a little while.”
His lordship appeared disappointed, but he regained his chair. That settled, Brilliance considered taking a plate of food to Lord Hewitt until she decided she was being presumptuous. Still, a bowl of cherries, already pitted by the scullery maid, could hardly be unwelcome.
With the offering in hand, she returned to the conservatory door.
Sure enough, Brilliance could hear him. Surprisingly, this time, she knew the music he was playing. Not his own, but the work of Mr. Ambrose Castern, of whom everyone was familiar. For a while, this particular piece was played not only at his concerts but at those of other pianists. People clapped when they heard the opening notes, knowing what was to come.
With less hesitancy than the day before, she opened the door.
Lord Hewitt’s back and his same upright posture greeted her. And after a few moments, the same cessation of playing. However, this time, when he turned, he didn’t look nearly as irritated, although perhaps the tiniest bit hesitant.
For her part, she didn’t feel the least unnerved by the fact that when last she’d seen him, they’d had been pressing their mouths against one another’s.
“I brought you some cherries. Without stones,” she added.
He rewarded her with a small smile that tickled her down to toes.
“What a lovely smile you have, my lord.”
It grew broader. “Thank you. It’s very kind of you to say. But why did you bring me cherries?”
“Because I didn’t see any other fruit,” she confessed, hoping he wasn’t embarrassed. “My mother once sent a large basket of fruit to an actor. It seemed to help him tremendously.”
His brow furrowed. Yet in the next instant, he took the bowl from her.
“Again, I thank you.”
Brilliance was thrilled he was willing to try to cure his stage fright. “Is it your habit to skip breakfast?”
If it was, then should they marry, she would have to keep herself company by reading the morning paper while drinking her chocolate.
“Not at all,” he said, “I simply lost track of time. I didn’t intend to play this morning, but somehow, here I am. Have I missed it altogether?”
“I am sure your cousin won’t starve you.” Brilliance went to the large windows where she could see guests gathering on the lawn. “But I believe it is nearly time for the first entertainment. Do you intend to fish?”
“Do you?” he asked.
She spun around with interest. “If you are inviting me, then I will. I am not as good as my eldest sister and my brother, but perhaps not as terrible as my other two sisters.”
