Page 40 of How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days

‘Everyone is here,’ she said, ‘and the servants will all be at dinner, now.’

‘Do you intend to entertain us, Lady Morton?’ Sir Waldo said, with a wag of his eyebrows.

‘Oh, you scallywag,’ Lady Morton said. ‘I am far too old for such exertions, as you well know.’

She smoothed her hands coquettishly down the closely fitting bodice of her cerise gown.

‘I cannot allow you to utter such falsehoods, my lady,’ Hesse said dramatically.

‘She did attend your christening,’ Lady Hesse told her son, twisting a smile in Lady Morton’s direction. Lady Morton narrowed her eyes.

‘I think music a famous idea,’ Lady Phoebe interceded hastily. ‘Don’t you think, Ashford?’

‘Perhaps something soothing?’ Ashford said. He was leaning his head against the back of the sofa, uncharacteristically slovenly. At dinner, Lydia had concluded the meal with a lecture on her grandfather’s factory, and he had yet to recover.

‘Cynthia!’ Lady Hesse said. ‘Go and fetch your music.’

Miss Hesse gave a tiny, tired sigh.

‘Miss Hesse has entertained us three nights in a row,’ Mr Brandon pointed out lightly. ‘Is she not fatigued?’

Was anyone going to ask Lydia? This was one scenario in which she could not barge blindly in. When word of this got back to Aunt Agatha, and word would, indeed, travel far, she wished to be able to say, ‘They insisted, I could not refuse again without seeming ungracious!’

‘Oh, she’s used to it, poor thing,’ Lady Hesse said. ‘When one has a voice that sweet, one can’t hide it away.’

‘Are you certain, Miss Hesse?’ Lady Phoebe said. ‘I should offer but—’

‘No, no,’ Sir Waldo protested. ‘You cannot subject us to such caterwauling, it is too cruel.’

Lady Phoebe flushed.

‘Twenty years of lessons, and she cannot hold a note,’ Sir Waldo declared to the room with a fatuous chuckle. ‘Not at all the thing for a Governor’s wife!’

‘I recollect your voice being rather fine, my lady,’ Dacre said, in quiet support.

‘You only say so because yours is even worse!’ Sir Waldo said. ‘Perhaps the two of you should duet! That would wake us all up a bit.’

He slapped his thigh, laughing.

‘Not kind, Waldo,’ Lady Phoebe said, though Dacre – giving an infinitesimal shrug – did not appear to have minded.

‘I am jesting, my dear.’ Sir Waldo patted Phoebe’s knee. ‘You need not take everything so seriously.’

‘Perhaps Miss Hanworth would like a turn?’ Mr Brandon said, smiling at her.

It was perfect. It was horrifying. If this did not cause Ashford to jilt her, nothing else would. She looked to Pip. He took in a deep breath and nodded.

‘I should be honoured,’ Lydia lied, her mouth very dry. She did not, even now, know if she could do it.

‘I do so love to sing,’ she said, and felt herself stand as if she were not quite in control of her own body. ‘I’d sing every day if I could – but you will have to forgive me – my skill is not the equal of Miss Hesse’s.’

Never had a statement been truer.

‘You mustn’t worry,’ Lady Hesse insisted. ‘Cynthia has the privilege of a unique gift and several excellent masters – we should none of us be so unjust as to compare you.’

‘How kind you are.’ Lydia inclined her chin modestly.

‘Splendid!’ Sir Waldo clapped his hands together.