How she missed those steely spectacles and the mesmerizing gray-green eyes that looked through them!
Seated beside her mother with her suitor opposite, Brilliance said yes to nearly everything Lord Redley asked. Thus, by the time he left precisely fifteen minutes later, she had agreed to a concert at Canterbury Hall two nights later. Just across the Thames in Lambeth, the massive venue seated seven hundred people with multiple musical offerings over the course of an evening.
How coincidental — and even a little uncomfortable when she recalled Vincent’s obvious envy — that one of the performers turned out to be Mr. Ambrose Castern. The pianist was charming. He stood on the edge of the stage and chatted with the audience before playing. He gestured to the box at the upper right of the stage and thanked his devoted wife for always beingthere. And then he played, captivating every person to the point of absolute silence, where even breathing seemed too loud.
When he began “The Hummingbird,” his best-known work, Brilliance could feel the swell of joy roll across the audience.
For the first time ever, it made her sad. Vincent had played it just as well, and his cousin had said he’d written something like it. Watching the mesmerizing man on the stage, making so many listeners happy, she couldn’t help but think how it could as easily be Lord Vincent Hewitt, using the gift with which he had been born.
Mr. Castern ended his concert with a new work. While clearly in his same style, leaving her in no doubt it was his composition, it had a delightfully romantic tone.
She sighed. Romance made her think of Vincent. As she walked to the carriage between her mother and Lord Redley, Brilliance knew she would have to tame her wayward desires. She was determined to do so, resolute in her intent to get over her summer romance and move on with her life.
Which was all very well and fine until an invitation arrived from a most unexpected hostess.
Chapter Twenty
“Are you certain you want to go to Lord and Lady Winthrop’s home?” Carolyn Diamond asked her daughter.
“Mother, we have been over this. I was invited, and it would be rude to turn down an invitation when I have no excuse.”
“How about not having your heart wounded by seeing their son again?”
Brilliance couldn’t wait to see Vincent at his parents’ home. It was the only reason she wished to attend the birthday party on Davies Street, a stone’s throw from her eldest sister, Clarity’s home, and a slightly longer throw from Purity’s.
So what if it hurt as long as she laid eyes on him once more.
Brilliance wore pink satin trimmed with pale-gray buttons and piping and pale-gray gloves.
“I wonder if he asked his mother to invite you,” Lady Diamond said. “That would bespeak of his continued interest.”
Privately, Brilliance thought it highly doubtful, given the last time she saw him.
“Good evening, my lord,” she greeted Lord Winthrop, Vincent’s stepfather at the entrance to the drawing room.
“Many happy returns of the day,” Brilliance added when meeting Lady Winthrop. She had the same sage-colored eyes asher son. Instantly, Brilliance’s heart tightened painfully in her chest. Maybe her mother had been right.
“How good of you to come,” Lady Winthrop said.
“I was honored to be invited but puzzled.” Brilliance decided she might as well determine why she was there. “I don’t believe we have ever met, nor are you known to my parents.”
“Oh no, I think not,” Lady Winthrop said, while her husband was already greeting the older man behind Brilliance in the receiving line. “My late husband’s niece, Lady Twitchard, said you got along well with my son at her July country party. I hope you don’t mind, but since Vincent is attending, I thought it a nice surprise for him to have one of his own acquaintances amongst all of us older folk. And from how Alethia described you, you do not disappoint.”
Brilliance felt her cheeks grow warm. Now she was certain that Vincent was unaware of her attendance. Most certainly, he would not think it a “nice surprise” and would have told his mother she was not welcome.
Nevertheless, she was there. And he was ... right beside her!
“Mother, I am sorry I’m late.” Vincent leaned in and kissed his mother’s cheek before taking his place beside her. Only then did he turn toward Brilliance.
If she hadn’t been so anxious, she might have laughed at his utterly stunned expression.
“What good timing,” Lady Winthrop said. “I have only just met Lady Brilliance, a friend of yours, I take it.”
Feeling the line of guests pressing at her side, Brilliance ignored how he remained speechless. Nodding to him, she murmured, “Good evening, Lord Hewitt,” before moving along.
If he didn’t ask a footman to show her out, then there would be time later to speak. Or maybe they would ignore one another all evening.
However, she didn’t have long to wait. As they gathered in the Winthrops’ drawing room, with sparkling wine being handed out to toast their hostess’s health, Vincent approached.
