Not to mention the way he made her sizzle.
Taking a deep breath, Brilliance gave Mrs. Castern the upper hand. “He did not.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
While not intending to be a shrew, Brilliance added the only reason she could come up with. “I guess Lord Hewitt didn’t think it was important enough to mention.”
Mrs. Castern’s lips flattened into a tight line. She even lifted her head and looked down her nose as if insulted, although Brilliance couldn’t figure out why a married woman would care whether a man who wasn’t her husband spoke of her. Sometimes, people were so befuddling.
Still, Brilliance wished Vincent had mentioned having asked someone else to marry him. It slightly diminished the polish of their engagement. Again, perhaps that’s why he hadn’t told her, not wishing to dim the sparkle of their own betrothal.
Mrs. Castern gave a small shrug. “I suppose he would keep it from you since it is the sole reason he has been persecuting Ambrose. He probably wanted you to continue to think it was due to plagiarism.”
“I do not understand what you mean,” Brilliance said. “Mr. Castern stole Lord Hewitt’s music, and that is why his lordship filed a lawsuit.”
Mrs. Castern shook her head and smiled. It wasn’t a particularly cheerful type of smile, either. Brilliance wished she would stop, in fact, as it was making her skin prickle.
A distinctly uncomfortable feeling.
“Vincent didn’t write any of that music. Has he told you about his perfect pitch? His gift that he calls a curse?”
Brilliance nodded, wishing this particular shepherdess didn’t know so much about him.
Mrs. Castern continued, “And you may have already discovered for yourself what a fabulous memory he has.”
“He does,” Brilliance agreed, having wondered how he could keep so many sonatas in his head. He also had remembered the names of all Lady Twitchard’s guests after that first assembly.
“Thus, he can play anyone’s music if he has heard it a few times. He can even write it down due to his powerful recollection.” Mrs. Castern fluffed the lace at the sleeves of her costume while keenly watching for Brilliance’s reaction.
“You think Lord Hewitt remembered your husband’s music and wrote it down years later. Is that what you’re saying?”
“I don’t know when Vincent set the music to paper. But copying Ambrose’s music does not make it Vincent’s.”
Brilliance didn’t know what to say. She had enough sense and decorum not to come out and tell the woman she thought her to be a liar despite that being precisely what she believed.
“I guess the truth will come out in court,” Brilliance said and made to go around her.
Against all civility, Mrs. Castern stuck out her hand and grabbed hold of Brilliance’s arm, puckering the delicate silk under her fingers.
“It sounds as though Vincent also hasn’t told you that he has retracted any claims to my husband’s music. He sent a letter to my husband declaring he is no longer pursuing the matter in court.”
Brilliance managed not to gasp aloud, but she did feel every muscle in her body tense right up to her jaw tightening, making her clench her teeth.How dare he!He said he had another witness who would suffice.
Wrenching her arm away, she rounded upon her tormentor. “Why would he invent all this?” Brilliance demanded. “Why would he lie?”
“I am afraid that is my fault. When I was Vincent’s betrothed three years ago, I was lucky enough to listen to both men composing. They were the greatest of friends, and together, we would often spend an evening at Mirabel Manor or at his home here in London. Hours would go by with them calling out suggestions and each taking turns at the piano, sometimes playing a duet. Eventually, Ambrose and I were unable to fight the love we felt for one another despite not wanting to hurt Vincent. Alas, it was inevitable.”
She sniffed as if recalling a painful memory. “After I married his friend, Vincent became inconsolable, refusing to speak to Ambrose ever again. I’m afraid his jealousy at losing me got the better of him. He stopped playing and then, it seems, he came up with the lunatic idea that my husband stole his music.”
Mrs. Castern shook her head sadly. “I think Vincent is not really angry about stolen music. He is livid because he thinks Ambrose stole me.”
Unable to think of anything she could possibly say in the face of this woman’s confession and accusation, Brilliance simply turned and left. As she made her way back to the Spencer’s Great Room, she realized, to her dismay, that she was shaking.
“Blast,” she muttered, knowing it was unladylike to swear. From how happy she’d felt only minutes ago to her current disposition, she was practically a different person entirely. A cloak of anger threaded with doubt had settled over her, and theintensely unfamiliar sentiment was sickening. On the night of her engagement, she ought to be nothing but glad.
Peering around the open doorway into the ballroom, she spied Martine and her mother. Vincent stood near them, watching for her. Their gazes locked instantly. Brilliance was of two minds — confront him now in mixed company or wait until they were in the carriage with Belinda.
Her wobbly legs carried her forward.
