“I think Penelope would like to be rich.”
“I am sure she would,” Cordelia agreed. “I would be only too happy to write letters of introduction for you both to scores of New York hostesses. Just say the word. You could even stay with my mother, if you’d like to.”
The dowager patted Cordelia’s hand. “You’re a good girl. I could almost imagine you were my own daughter if you weren’t an American.”
Cordelia held in her laugh and politely thanked her.
Mr. Perkins finished his last piece, and all the ladies clapped, Blanche the loudest of all. She stood up and said, “My daughter-in-law is also an accomplished pianist. They have pianos in America, you know.”
“Why doesn’t Lady Farnham play for us as well?” Lady Grimsby asked snidely. “Perhaps a duet?”
Her suggestion was met with universal approval. Cordelia loved to play the piano, but she was hoping to be less of the center of attention. She stood and gave a false smile and walked over to the piano bench where Mr. Perkin’s sat.
“Do you have any duet music?” she asked quietly.
“I only have Beethoven’s ‘Sonata for Piano Four Hands in D major, Op. 6,’” he replied. “But it is too difficult for an amateur.”
“I’ve played it before. Would you like to play primo or secondo?”
He scooted over for her on the piano bench and took out the music and placed it on the stand. He’d chosen the base part. Cordelia took off her long blue gloves and laid them across her lap.
“One, two, three,” she whispered, and they started, three staccato notes and then the beautiful trills and runs. Cordelia lost herself in the ethereal music and the pleasure of playing with an accomplished partner. She glanced briefly at Mr. Perkins during the rondo and he smiled at her. They continued to play in perfect precision. Music was truly transcendent. Together they played the last chord. The applause that met it was greater than before. Cordelia turned to see that the gentlemen had entered the room during their duet. Thomas clapped the loudest of all, and Stuyvesant didn’t clap at all.
“Thank you for the duet, Mr. Perkins,” she said, and held out her hand.
“It was truly my pleasure, Lady Farnham,” he said, and took her hand and bent over it. “You are a worthy player.”
Cordelia stood up and found Lady Oxenbury by her side. Thomas resembled his aunt more than he did his own mother. They had the same shade of acorn-brown eyes and brown hair. She was slight like Thomas, but her chin was receding.
“Well done,” she said, and appeared pleased without smiling. “You’ll do for Thomas and for Ashdown.”
Stuyvesant’s offer to run away with him flashed through her mind, and she blushed for even considering it. “Thank you, Lady Oxenbury.”
“I haven’t seen Ashdown look so well since I was a little girl,” she said. “But where is Hibbert? I hope he is not ill.”
Cordelia was put out of countenance a second time. She was not about to tell the duchess that her old butler was in jail, though probably innocent. Or that someone else was trying to kill her. “He’s retired.”
“Ah, well, I shall have to visit him,” Lady Oxenbury said.
“Who are you going to visit, Aunt?” Thomas asked.
“Hibbert,” she said. “It’s strange; I never thought he would retire, but he must be at least seventy.”
Cordelia gave a speaking glance to Thomas, and he responded by putting his arm around her shoulders. “I am sure we could manage that, but Cordelia’s arranged card tables in the sitting room. Shall we lead the way?”
Thomas moved his arm from her shoulders to her waist, leading her away from his aunt and out of the room. She looked over her shoulder and their guests were following them.
“What are we going to do about Hibbert?” she whispered.
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I’ll confess the whole to my aunt tomorrow morning and ask for her advice. She loves to give advice. Whether you ask for it or not.”
She nodded and wondered if he’d put his arm around her to comfort her or to claim her. He led her to a table for four and sat across from her. The Duke and Duchess of Oxenbury joined them, the rest of the guests making groups of four. The only ones that looked uncomfortable were the foursome of unmarried persons: Lucy, Prince Albert Louis, Penelope, and Stuyvesant. Her old love was not watching his partner, Penelope, but her.It would solve all of my and Thomas’s difficulties, she thought,if Stuyvesant would fall in love with Penelope and take her to America, with Blanche in tow. But she saw Penelope’s eyes wander as often to Thomas, her heart shining through them. Penelope’s heart was still taken.
Cordelia played a queen of hearts card.
What a dreadful, romantic tangle they were all in, and she was afraid that it was about to be cut.
36
