pianoforte fell silent. Blytheland blinked, suddenly released from his imaginings, and drew in a deep breath. He saw Cassandra cast an uncertain glance at Lady Hathaway, and at her mother 's meaningful look, she bit her lip and looked worried. He stood up abruptly.
' Truly masterful, Miss Hathaway! An excellent rendition of the sonata." Before Lord Blytheland could stop himself, he strode to her and lifted her fingers to his lips. He did not need to look up to see Lady Hathaway's smug look—he could well imagine it was there. He mentally cursed himself, but put a smile on his face. "It is not what I would expect a young lady to play, but it was very well done."
Instantly, Miss Hathaway 's look of pleasure at his words faded, and he regretted his words. After she gave another apologetic glance at her mother, she smiled briefly and murmured, "You are too kind, my lord."
An odd, twisting sensation went through his chest for a moment as he looked into her eyes. "No, I am far too moderate. In truth, you are an excellent musician, and I would welcome a chance to play a duet with you." The words came from his mouth before he could stop himself. It does not matter, he told himself, gazing at Miss Hathaway's now sparkling eyes and softly smiling mouth. Besides, it was not as if he were declaring himself by wishing to play a duet with the chit. It was merely that she was an excellent musician. He would want to play a duet with any musician of her caliber.
Miss Hathaway blushed and pulled her hand from his, and he mentally cursed himself again for holding her hand for so long. "Oh, to be sure I—that is to say—you flatter me. I would be pleased to join you in—in practicing music."
He raised his eyes and caught Lady Hathaway 's not- quite-concealed look of triumph. However, it would not do to seem too eager. He smiled coolly at them both and bowed to Lady Hathaway.
" I hope I do not impose, ma'am."
" Oh, heavens, no, Lord Blytheland. Why, you need only say when you wish to practice with Cassandra, and I shall set aside the time." Lady Hathaway's face was wreathed in smiles.
Of course you will, he thought wryly, and ignored her expectant look. Really, it seemed he was digging a deeper hole for himself than he had thought he would. Well, it was not as if he hadn 't got himself out of worse situations. He turned to Miss Hathaway.
" Do you go to Lady Marchmont's ball, Miss Hathaway?"
" Why yes, I believe we do." Cassandra smiled shyly up at him. "Shall we see you there, my lord?"
He picked up his hat, bowed over Lady Hathaway 's hand, and then Cassandra's. "Perhaps," he said, and smiled. There. He had promised nothing, and when he did not appear at the Marchmonts' ball, both the Hathaway ladies would have no one to blame but their own expectations for any disappointment they might feel.
If he had thought Miss Hathaway beautiful before, he was mistaken. The smile that parted her lips also delicately blushed her cheeks and seemed to light her eyes from within, and he could not help staring at her again.
"Oh, Lord Blytheland, I do hope I—we shall see you there."
Her voice made him blink and he hastily released her hand. He really should try not to be so influenced by music. He smiled once more and bowed before he left.
Chapter 4
" Oh, heavens, Cassandra, do hurry and change your dress!" cried Lady Hathaway two days afterwards, waving a calling card at her daughter. Cassandra looked at her mother, startled. "He has come to ask you for a drive in the park—Blytheland!"
" Oh!" Cassandra's heart beat a little faster, and an odd confused feeling came over her.
Lady Hathaway turned to the butler. "And, Thrimble, take Lord Blytheland to the drawing room and offer him refreshment while he waits. I shall be down as soon as I tidy myself." The butler left and Lady Hathaway glanced at Cassandra. "What, are you still here? Silly girl! Go up, quickly! I will be with you directly to see that you dress as you ought."
"
' Truly masterful, Miss Hathaway! An excellent rendition of the sonata." Before Lord Blytheland could stop himself, he strode to her and lifted her fingers to his lips. He did not need to look up to see Lady Hathaway's smug look—he could well imagine it was there. He mentally cursed himself, but put a smile on his face. "It is not what I would expect a young lady to play, but it was very well done."
Instantly, Miss Hathaway 's look of pleasure at his words faded, and he regretted his words. After she gave another apologetic glance at her mother, she smiled briefly and murmured, "You are too kind, my lord."
An odd, twisting sensation went through his chest for a moment as he looked into her eyes. "No, I am far too moderate. In truth, you are an excellent musician, and I would welcome a chance to play a duet with you." The words came from his mouth before he could stop himself. It does not matter, he told himself, gazing at Miss Hathaway's now sparkling eyes and softly smiling mouth. Besides, it was not as if he were declaring himself by wishing to play a duet with the chit. It was merely that she was an excellent musician. He would want to play a duet with any musician of her caliber.
Miss Hathaway blushed and pulled her hand from his, and he mentally cursed himself again for holding her hand for so long. "Oh, to be sure I—that is to say—you flatter me. I would be pleased to join you in—in practicing music."
He raised his eyes and caught Lady Hathaway 's not- quite-concealed look of triumph. However, it would not do to seem too eager. He smiled coolly at them both and bowed to Lady Hathaway.
" I hope I do not impose, ma'am."
" Oh, heavens, no, Lord Blytheland. Why, you need only say when you wish to practice with Cassandra, and I shall set aside the time." Lady Hathaway's face was wreathed in smiles.
Of course you will, he thought wryly, and ignored her expectant look. Really, it seemed he was digging a deeper hole for himself than he had thought he would. Well, it was not as if he hadn 't got himself out of worse situations. He turned to Miss Hathaway.
" Do you go to Lady Marchmont's ball, Miss Hathaway?"
" Why yes, I believe we do." Cassandra smiled shyly up at him. "Shall we see you there, my lord?"
He picked up his hat, bowed over Lady Hathaway 's hand, and then Cassandra's. "Perhaps," he said, and smiled. There. He had promised nothing, and when he did not appear at the Marchmonts' ball, both the Hathaway ladies would have no one to blame but their own expectations for any disappointment they might feel.
If he had thought Miss Hathaway beautiful before, he was mistaken. The smile that parted her lips also delicately blushed her cheeks and seemed to light her eyes from within, and he could not help staring at her again.
"Oh, Lord Blytheland, I do hope I—we shall see you there."
Her voice made him blink and he hastily released her hand. He really should try not to be so influenced by music. He smiled once more and bowed before he left.
Chapter 4
" Oh, heavens, Cassandra, do hurry and change your dress!" cried Lady Hathaway two days afterwards, waving a calling card at her daughter. Cassandra looked at her mother, startled. "He has come to ask you for a drive in the park—Blytheland!"
" Oh!" Cassandra's heart beat a little faster, and an odd confused feeling came over her.
Lady Hathaway turned to the butler. "And, Thrimble, take Lord Blytheland to the drawing room and offer him refreshment while he waits. I shall be down as soon as I tidy myself." The butler left and Lady Hathaway glanced at Cassandra. "What, are you still here? Silly girl! Go up, quickly! I will be with you directly to see that you dress as you ought."
"
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