Page 24 of A Symphony for the Earl

Half broken-hearted

To sever for years,

Pale grew thy cheek and cold…

There was a sudden gasp and a loud moan from behind them.

Lady Amelia’s fan snapped shut. “Don’t bother to look, Fiona. It’s only Priscilla Wentworth. She faints whenever Byron reads.”

Fiona hid a grin and caught Sir William’s eyes, which were bright with laughter. She decided she liked him very well indeed.

There was a brief interruption in the recital as Miss Wentworth was attended to, and then Byron continued, unshaken as if such things were everyday occurrences. Which she guessed was not far from the truth. The celebrated poet read for nearly an hour without further incident and met with an enthusiastic ovation when he closed his book.

As the audience left their chairs in search of refreshment or conversation, Sir William bowed and wandered off.

She turned to Valentina. “And just who is Sir William Denton?”

“A suitor my sister has refused to consider,” the earl answered. “She has rejected four so far. The last was a baron, and Sir William Denton is a veritable pillar of society. Valentina steadfastly refused to entertain either possibility. Why the devil not, I cannot fathom.” He regarded his sister with a mixture of exasperation and amusement.

“Richard…” his mother admonished gently.

“Was the baron corpulent and gouty?” Fiona teased. “Perhaps Sir William has a squint I did not notice?”

Valentina’s color rose. “No, none of those.”

“Sir William is a splendid gentleman: personable, well-mannered, rich, and he holds a handsome estate. But do tell Miss Rafferty your objections, Valentina.”

“He is boring and much too old,” Valentina admitted, unfurling her lace fan.

Fiona stifled a smile.

“Do let us speak of something else, Richard,” Lady Amelia pleaded.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of names and faces. Fiona could barely remember the number of people introduced. She promised two dances at Almack’s to Denys Spencer, whom the earl had introduced later at the refreshment table, and accepted another invitation from Sir William and two young men she hardly remembered.

At one point, she whispered to the earl, standing watch at her side. “I have promised five dances without knowing a single step. You have two days to bring about a miracle.”

“I intend to,” he said, unruffled.

As they spoke, a devastatingly attractive woman, attired in a pale-blue gown with a breathtakingly low décolleté glided toward them. She was of medium height and elegant carriage with perfectly coiffed light curls. On second look, Fiona realized she was past the first bloom of youth, but that did not detract from her beauty.

“Good evening, Mrs. Davenport,” the earl greeted her. “It’s quite a crush, isn’t it? Miss Rafferty, this is Mrs. Davenport. Miss Rafferty is my ward.”

Mrs. Davenport arched her perfectly shaped brows. “Indeed?” Her smile was somewhat forced, though pleasant enough. “A ward…how droll of you, Richard. Welcome, Miss Rafferty. You have recently come to London, I suppose. Is it your first time here?”

Innocent as the question sounded, she sensed a subtle barb. “I arrived from Dublin this week.” Mrs. Davenport’s blue eyes appraised her frankly, and she wondered if she had overdressed after all.

“Ah, Dublin…an interesting city, but nothing compared to London. So, you are Irish. Such a fanciful culture. And what do you think of our Season, Miss Rafferty? A bit overwhelming, I am sure. Do you have connections in town other than the Merricks?”

“Miss Rafferty is known to our family through her father, and we are sponsoring her.” She was relieved at Lord Seldon’s interruption. “I believe Valentina searches for you, Miss Rafferty. She is by the punch bowl.”

As she made her way toward the refreshment table, she glanced back and caught Mrs. Davenport and the earl in close conversation. When she reached Valentina, she took a cup of punch, observing them with frank curiosity. Mrs. Davenport had lifted a gloved hand to lightly touch Lord Seldon’s sleeve.

“What a striking woman,” she remarked.

“She is considered a great beauty, and quite rich after the passing of her husband three years ago. He was a railroad magnate, slightly below her touch, but extremely wealthy. Everyone is amazed that she has not remarried. But I suppose Richard has something to do with that.”

“Lord Seldon? How so?”