ReadingThe Timesthe following day and the one after that, Brilliance realized Mr. Castern had dug his heels in like a stubborn donkey.
“Father, I believe I will be going to court.”
“You don’t have to,” the earl said, “if you think you might be uncomfortable. However, I believe it is the right thing to do.”
“Especially if you intend to marry the man,” added her mother.
Brilliance raised an eyebrow. “Do you think Lord Hewitt wishes to marry me, after I’ve caused him so much consternation?”
“Unquestionably!” Lady Diamond said, stirring her chocolate. “At least he has come out from the shadows. His talent was being wasted, and now, because of you, he has no choice but to claim his music.” Her mother sipped and then added, “He owes you a debt of gratitude for ensuring that greatness is his only option.”
Brilliance laughed. “I do not think Vincent ... I mean Lord Hewitt sees it like that. He was content to be only a statesman and to allow his music to remain in his head.”
“Except for what was already stolen,” her father said. “Imagine how that must have eaten at Hewitt every day, knowing some rascal was earning money at his expense. I would have had to call him out.”
Brilliance hoped Vincent would come to appreciate having the whole thing brought into the public eye. If he did, then there might be a chance for them to have a relationship again.
Even more of a chance since her other prospect had let her disappear into the night without even offering to escort her home.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Vincent read the morning edition ofThe Timeseach day before going to Parliament, and every evening as well. Nothing from Ambrose. He had allowed him to get away with plagiarism for so long, the rascal was not taking him seriously.
After five days, he wrote to his solicitor and told him to move forward by filing with the Court of Chancery. That meant Brilliance would have to be summoned. It shouldn’t worry him, except it did. She was so damnably unpredictable.
It was hard to trust her to maintain the correct amount of gravitas, all the while worrying she wouldn’t talk about trying to cure stage fright with fruit or go on about pitchforks. Shaking his head, Vincent finished the letter, signed and sealed it, and rang for his butler.
He ought to send a missive to Brilliance as well, letting her know he was proceeding with the lawsuit and, thus, a trial. On the other hand, it would be better to contact her after he received a court date and time, which could be weeks, if not months into the future.
Honest with himself, he couldn’t wait that long to see her again. Recalling Lord Redley, however, Vincent didn’t want to poach on another man’s land. He frowned. That wasn’t soundthinking. Brilliance was an unattached, self-governing female. Until Lord Redley proposed, then Vincent could pursue her.
Was that what he wanted to do?Damn right, he did!
Thus, he drew out a fresh piece of stationery.
Dear Lady Brilliance,
Will you come to a play with me this Friday evening? I will see what is being offered at Theatre Royal. Haymarket, of course, not Drury Lane.
Yours,
Hewitt
He looked it over and smiled. The tepid, terse, almost disinterested missive hardly captured the emotions swirling inside him. Regardless, he sent it off to her. In person, he could impart how warm his feelings for her still were.
To his relief, she accepted. With excited anticipation, as if he were escorting her for the first time, he directed his carriage to the Diamond residence. Under her parents’ gaze, he escorted her to his carriage, along with her ever-present maid.
“I never told you what we were going to see,” Vincent said as soon as they were underway to the theater. “What if it is a play you have already attended?” He was suddenly thinking of her heading out for an evening with Redley. Perhaps at its conclusion, they kissed. She was an eager kisser, as he’d experienced.
“I have not been to many plays,” Brilliance said. “The only one I have seen lately, a few weeks ago, wasGuy Mannering. Is that what we’re seeing tonight?”
He sighed with relief. “No.”
“That’s good,” she agreed. “Although seeing it again with you would be different. In any case, as long as we are not seeing a tragedy by Mr. Shakespeare, I am sure I will enjoy it.”
The devil take him!His relief drained from him, but all wasn’t lost. “How about a comedy by Shakespeare?”
“Did he write any comedies?” Brilliance asked. “It seems everything of his I have seen had many bodies piling up on the stage by its end.”
