“The poor dear,” said Mrs. Ellery with wide eyes. “That is one of the many reasons I never bothered to hone my musical skills. Once you have them, you are forever pestered to play or sing in public, and I have no desire to do so.”
Nodding, David felt a small pang of guilt for that half-truth. It didn’t seem proper to admit that his attention was divided; looking for one lady whilst speaking with another was hardly conducive to a friendly exchange. But David couldn’t help that his gaze kept drifting towards the crowd.
Shifting his coat, he tried to force his thoughts back to Mrs. Ellery, but his eyes kept searching for Miss Leigh. No doubt she’d been very occupied with concert preparations, and between her absence and Flora’s fretting, he was quite ready to see the evening concluded.
“Do any of your other sisters play or sing?” asked Mrs. Ellery.
“Unfortunately, the majority of my family take after our mother, who, despite her best efforts, hasn’t a jot of musical talent,” said David, swinging his gaze back to his companion as he took another drink. “But as I said, I do enjoy music and am looking forward to seeing what the evening shall bring. I have a friend who is playing several pieces, and I am eager to hear her perform. As well as my dear sister, of course.”
“Ah, and who is the lady?”
“Miss Katherine Leigh.”
Silence met that, and David realized his attention had been diverted away from Mrs. Ellery once more. Turning his gaze back to her, he found her watching him with raised brows.
“Oh, Miss Leigh,” she said with a strained smile. “Yes, I have heard her play many times before. She is an enthusiastic pianist.”
David’s hold on his glass tightened at the lady’s stilted tone. “Enthusiastic is the precise word. Miss Leigh adores music. As I am good friends with the family, I am often at Whitley Court and am blessed to hear her practice quite often.”
“That must be nice,” said Mrs. Ellery, taking another drink from her glass as her gaze drifted away. When her eyes snapped back to him, she quickly asked, “I understand your family owns a mill. That is exciting. Do you assist your father in his work or are you still enjoying your free and easy bachelor years?”
“Oh, that is far too tedious a subject,” he said with a laugh. “I understand you were raised in London. Surely that is far more interesting.”
And needing no further prompt, the lady launched into a description of her childhood, and David nodded at appropriate times, all while his gaze kept scouring the crowd.
***
Organization was not a difficult thing. One simply needed to consider the relative importance of each item, and place it in order from least to greatest. Surely anyone with sense could do so. But as Katherine followed Mrs. Garrison through the sitting room whilst the musicians flew about, gathering music and readying themselves, she couldn’t believe their hostess had not a shred of understanding.
But then, Mrs. Garrison wasn’t a musician—not truly. Most ladies played or sang a little, but their dear hostess was like so many of their ranks, who preferred to sit in silent judgment amongst the audience rather than risk their pride by performing.
“Mrs. Turley must be last in the program,” said Katherine, following on the lady’s heels. If Mrs. Garrison thought to outpace her, she was sorely mistaken.
“Yes, I understand that is what you wish to do, but I am of a different opinion, and this is my concert,” said Mrs. Garrison, giving her a narrowed look over her shoulder. “And that is my final word on the subject.”
Katherine paused at the unyielding tone with which the lady spoke. Even her stubborn pride recognized the battle was likely lost. Anyone with sense knew better than to poke the beast, and it wasn’t her concern, after all. Being all too familiar with social mockery, Katherine wasn’t intimidated by the prospect of having the clearly superior Mrs. Turley perform early on in the program.
But the other young ladies would wilt beneath the pressure, and they didn’t have the fortitude to fight their ferocious hostess. Mrs. Garrison was thoroughly in the wrong—something that was soon to be proven, but not at her expense. For all that she might believe the quality of the program reflected on her as the hostess of the concert, it was the performers that were lauded or criticized.
Katherine couldn’t remain silent if no one else was brave enough to force the issue. Gathering her courage close, she straightened and jutted out her chin before marching to Mrs. Garrison’s side once more.
“It is difficult to perform at the best of times, and Mrs. Turley was a professional singer and is by far the most talented of any musician here tonight. Following her piece would be difficult, to say the least, and invites unfair comparison. There is a reason that concerts place the most talented performers at the end. To do otherwise is to ensure that the evening will be unpleasant both for your performers and the audience.”
Mrs. Garrison pulled to a stop in front of the doors that connected the staging area to the drawing room and turned to face Katherine. “Miss Leigh, you may believe yourself to be the font of all wisdom, but I assure you I am quite done listening to your unsolicited advice. I only included you out of pity, as you are so determined to put yourself forward at every event. Now, let me be.”
The words were like the snap of a whip, and Katherine stood there, blinking after the lady.
Why did no one ever listen to her? If not for Mrs. Garrison’s sharp reprimand, she might believe herself to be invisible, for it seemed as though everyone was quite happy to pretend she did not exist. And why, when they deigned to listen, did they turn it about on her as though she were the source of trouble?
Every word that sprouted from Prudence’s lips was treated as though they were gifted from Athena, Goddess of Wisdom. And no one would dare overlook Rosanna, for the mighty Aphrodite would never countenance a slight against the Goddess of Love and Beauty.
Katherine, on the other hand, had more in common with the goddesses’ cousin Hephaestus. The powerful God of Fire and Volcanoes he may be, but at one look from his mother, the imperfect creature was cast out and despised. Even when he showed more sense than the rest of his Olympic family.
She certainly felt as though a volcano were erupting in her chest, and no one cared.
Mr. Archer would.
That traitorous thought sent fire burning through her, though the entirety of its heat was directed inward. How long would she continue to think of the man who had thoroughly rejected her? Was she so pathetic? Katherine scowled at herself.
