she doing? The girl trying to sing shimmered like a distant mirage. Josette struggled to focus on her.
Again the man beside her shifted in his seat, and she sensed his uneasiness. Good! He deserved his discomfort. Why had he chosen to sit beside her if he found her so wanting? And what made him smell so appetizing? She angrily rubbed her nose. It seemed as if each performance grew shorter the closer it came to Amy's turn. When they were announced, Josette jumped out of her seat and maneuvered out of the row.
The pianoforte was a welcoming diversion. She ignored the ogling and concentrated only on her fingers as they drifted across the ivory keys attuned to the rise and fall of her sister's timbre. She had practiced for it and knew in her heart as the music intertwined with Amy's voice that she was far above competent for the occasion.
A thunderous round of applause punctuated the finale and though she knew it was for Amy, she felt a surge of satisfaction. They had performed as well as any other, if not better.
Her gaze swept the appreciative crowd all at once but it was Captain Carter who caught her eye. He was not smiling although his hands clapped in polite time. It was his stare, of such intensity and directed at her alone, that made her knees wobble in her curtsy. She abruptly took the nearest seat leaving Amy standing alone. The man had the strangest effect on her posture.
≈ ≈ ≈
Caroline Berclair closed the evening with the harp, a selection so beautiful it almost made Josette weep. As the doors on the far side of the drawing room opened into another room laden with refreshments, Josette passed through the throng determined to attach herself to Edward's elbow.
Lady Berclair, with the man in puce, intercepted her. His name was Mr. Millerd, and he was followed by Caroline.
“You have a talent for the pianoforte, Miss Price,” Caroline declared.
Lady Berclair abandoned them for other pressing matters as Amy and Edward joined them.
“And you play the harp as angelically as my sister sings.”
Amy blushed.
Caroline smiled. Her eyes were as green as Captain Carter’s, but cat-like.
“Miss Berclair has a gift,” Edward interjected. He bowed.
The gentleman, Mr. Millerd, said, “I have never seen a finer collection of prettier girls and no better music.”
“Girls?” teased Caroline. “Millerd, really. As if we're children.”
“No, certainly not,” Millerd relented. He tugged at his cravat and smiled anxiously at Josette who could not help but feel bemused.
“And what did you think of my performance, Miss Berclair?” Edward grinned, teeth glowing.
“You know you did well, you beast,” laughed Caroline, and Josette took a sip of her punch to avoid having to join her.
“Edward was magnificent,” Amy declared in a sudden burst. “He will be a tremendous author some day and take London by storm.”
“Why he's already done that,” Caroline insisted.
“He's certainly taken Beddingfield Park by storm,” agreed Josette.
Edward beamed. “My beautiful cousins make it a pleasure.”
“Breathtaking, I say,” added Millerd, and Josette squirmed.
Edward took Amy's hand from his arm and pushed her to the center of their circle. “Take a whirl, kitten, and show them your pretty gown.”
“Oh, Edward!” cried Amy and she blushed furiously.
“I've never seen you so modest,” Josette declared. “It suits you.” At this sisterly betrayal, Amy grew even redder.
The sound of Captain Carter's voice caught Josette off guard. “Your modesty is to be admired, Miss Price. It makes you all the more pleasing.” He bowed to Amy and continued, “I've never seen a room full of lovelier ladies.” Though he managed this without any enthusiasm, the group burst into gales of laughter, and Edward slapped Millerd heartily on the back.
“You were completely right, man!”
“I was just saying so,” Millerd explained to Carter, who colored slightly.
Josette smiled. “How inspirational
Again the man beside her shifted in his seat, and she sensed his uneasiness. Good! He deserved his discomfort. Why had he chosen to sit beside her if he found her so wanting? And what made him smell so appetizing? She angrily rubbed her nose. It seemed as if each performance grew shorter the closer it came to Amy's turn. When they were announced, Josette jumped out of her seat and maneuvered out of the row.
The pianoforte was a welcoming diversion. She ignored the ogling and concentrated only on her fingers as they drifted across the ivory keys attuned to the rise and fall of her sister's timbre. She had practiced for it and knew in her heart as the music intertwined with Amy's voice that she was far above competent for the occasion.
A thunderous round of applause punctuated the finale and though she knew it was for Amy, she felt a surge of satisfaction. They had performed as well as any other, if not better.
Her gaze swept the appreciative crowd all at once but it was Captain Carter who caught her eye. He was not smiling although his hands clapped in polite time. It was his stare, of such intensity and directed at her alone, that made her knees wobble in her curtsy. She abruptly took the nearest seat leaving Amy standing alone. The man had the strangest effect on her posture.
≈ ≈ ≈
Caroline Berclair closed the evening with the harp, a selection so beautiful it almost made Josette weep. As the doors on the far side of the drawing room opened into another room laden with refreshments, Josette passed through the throng determined to attach herself to Edward's elbow.
Lady Berclair, with the man in puce, intercepted her. His name was Mr. Millerd, and he was followed by Caroline.
“You have a talent for the pianoforte, Miss Price,” Caroline declared.
Lady Berclair abandoned them for other pressing matters as Amy and Edward joined them.
“And you play the harp as angelically as my sister sings.”
Amy blushed.
Caroline smiled. Her eyes were as green as Captain Carter’s, but cat-like.
“Miss Berclair has a gift,” Edward interjected. He bowed.
The gentleman, Mr. Millerd, said, “I have never seen a finer collection of prettier girls and no better music.”
“Girls?” teased Caroline. “Millerd, really. As if we're children.”
“No, certainly not,” Millerd relented. He tugged at his cravat and smiled anxiously at Josette who could not help but feel bemused.
“And what did you think of my performance, Miss Berclair?” Edward grinned, teeth glowing.
“You know you did well, you beast,” laughed Caroline, and Josette took a sip of her punch to avoid having to join her.
“Edward was magnificent,” Amy declared in a sudden burst. “He will be a tremendous author some day and take London by storm.”
“Why he's already done that,” Caroline insisted.
“He's certainly taken Beddingfield Park by storm,” agreed Josette.
Edward beamed. “My beautiful cousins make it a pleasure.”
“Breathtaking, I say,” added Millerd, and Josette squirmed.
Edward took Amy's hand from his arm and pushed her to the center of their circle. “Take a whirl, kitten, and show them your pretty gown.”
“Oh, Edward!” cried Amy and she blushed furiously.
“I've never seen you so modest,” Josette declared. “It suits you.” At this sisterly betrayal, Amy grew even redder.
The sound of Captain Carter's voice caught Josette off guard. “Your modesty is to be admired, Miss Price. It makes you all the more pleasing.” He bowed to Amy and continued, “I've never seen a room full of lovelier ladies.” Though he managed this without any enthusiasm, the group burst into gales of laughter, and Edward slapped Millerd heartily on the back.
“You were completely right, man!”
“I was just saying so,” Millerd explained to Carter, who colored slightly.
Josette smiled. “How inspirational
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