Julian collected two plates of food and made his way over to where Carenza sat with her sister and Viscount Chartwell.
“I do apologize for the delay, my lady.” He sat down and took two glasses of wine from the tray of a passing waiter. “I had a business matter to deal with.”
“We managed to entertain ourselves during your absence, sir.” Carenza smiled at him. “Viscount Chartwell was just telling us about the restoration work he is doing on his music room at his town house.”
“How interesting.” Julian turned to the viscount. “I do hope your decor is less extravagant than that in Brighton?”
The viscount chuckled. “Rest assured I have no aspirations to achieve the dizzy heights of His Royal Highness’s pavilion, if that’s what you mean, sir.”
“Thank God for that.” Julian was glad to see the viscount had a sense of humor. “I would be delighted to attend a musical evening when you are ready to show off your new music room to the world, Chartwell.”
“I would be honored, Mr. Laurent. You are known as a great patron of the arts.” Viscount Chartwell looked at the sisters. “And, of course, I include the ladies in my invitation.”
“As you should.” Julian nodded. “Lady Allegra lives up to her name and is an excellent musician.”
Allegra blushed. “I consider myself … competent, and I am always willing to improve.”
“My sister is being modest, my lord,” Carenza said. “She is an exceptionally fine vocalist and pianist.”
Viscount Chartwell bowed his head to Allegra. “Then I shall be imploring you to lend your talents to my first concert, my lady.”
Julian met Carenza’s gaze over her sister’s head and winked. It was pleasant to share a moment of unity when their present relationship was so uncertain. Who would’ve anticipated that? Julian had never experienced a moment’s anxiety about his best friend’s widow. She had always appeared to be the perfect woman to him.
“Would you care to take a turn around the room, Lady Allegra?” Viscount Chartwell stood and offered his arm. “We can ask our hostess what pleasures await us in the second half of the program.”
“I would be delighted.” Allegra rose, too, the blush on her cheeks matching the color of her gown. She placed her gloved hand on his sleeve, and they walked away.
“He is definitely interested in her,” Julian murmured into Carenza’s ear. “Would you like me to find out more about his family and finances?”
“That would be most kind of you,” Carenza said. “If my father bestirs himself to come to town and finds out Allegra has a beau, he will expect a full report on his suitability.”
“Are you expecting your father?” Julian asked.
“Why would you wish to know that?”
He raised his eyebrows at her sudden change of tone. “Not to tell tales, I can assure you.”
She fiddled with the lace on her shawl. “I suppose you expect me to be grateful for your forbearance.”
“I expect—” He bit back what he had intended to say and shrugged instead. “I expect you to do as you wish.”
She raised her chin. “I intend to.”
“Have you finalized your list of acceptable scoundrels yet?” he asked idly after a long, rather uncomfortable silence.
“I’m hardly going to tell you if I have, am I?”
So much for the cessation of hostilities. It appeared they were at war again.
“I suppose not.” He reached for her plate. “May I tempt you to some dessert?”
“No, thank you.”
“Then shall we return to the music room?”
She rose to her feet and looked down at him. “Of course.”
Julian peered out from behind the corner of the Wheatsheaf public house on Charing Cross Road and saw Simon coming toward him. It was a chilly day with a hint of rain in the air, but there was more than a hint of excitement in the crowd milling around in the stable yard ahead of him. He recognized several of the most depraved individuals in society, who were only tolerated because of their family connections or wealth. There was also a scattering of the press.
