stoutly.
"How kind you are," Horace thanked her, smiling gratefully.
"And have you two decided how you would like to divide up your work? I have more than enough for the three of us, and if we ever finish with Lord Elgin's collection, we should do the same with the Towneley Marbles and the sculptures from Bassae, the comte remarked as he and Lady Frances strolled over to the window where Cassie and Horace were sitting.
"Come, Cassie. John should be here shortly. I instructed him to call for us before nuncheon. I daren't leave Teddy, Ethelred, Wellington, and Nelson alone together for too long a stretch. Cook and Nurse are worth their weights in gold, but neither one of them has the strength of character to resist the blandishments of those four," remarked Frances as she pulled on her lemon kid gloves.
Cassie agreed ruefully. "Nor the resourcefulness or strength of character to rescue them from the scrapes they are likely to fall into."
The butler came in to announce the arrival of the ladies' carriage, and after arranging to come the next day and gratefully accepting Horace's invitation to escort them to a concert at the Academy of Ancient Music, they departed, well satisfied with the morning's outing.
Lady Frances, sneaking a glance at her sister's profile, was pleased to see a happier look than had been on her face for some time, but refrained from any comment. She was correct in her observations. Cassie was delighted. After having endured so many dull and pointless conversations she had found it refreshing and revitalizing to share her deepest interests with someone who could appreciate them. She looked forward with pleasure to the next evening and to the days ahead, which no longer seemed to stretch emptily and endlessly before her.
Cassie's expectations were not disappointed. She truly enjoyed the concert, but what made it even more delightful was having Horace there. He was so attentive to her slightest wish, making certain she was comfortably placed in the most advantageous seat possible. Occasionally during the performance she caught him glancing at her to reassure himself that she was enjoying herself to the utmost. No one, except Ned, had ever paid such attention to her wishes or had seemed to be so concerned for her happiness. She felt immensely touched and flattered by such thoughtfulness, particularly since it provided such a marked contrast to the treatment she had received at the hands of her dancing partners at Lady Delamere's rout. It heightened her enjoyment that much more when in the carriage on the way home he inquired in an endearingly diffident way, "I do hope the concert pleased you?"
"Oh, yes. It was entirely delightful. I do so love music, but I have had little chance to hear anything but ill-rendered pianoforte recitals performed more for the opportunity they afford to demonstrate that the performer would make someone a delightful and accomplished companion than for the sake of the music. Thank you ever so much," she replied gratefully.
He laughed. "You are too critical, Cassandra. That poor young woman undoubtedly has nothing else to show for herself, but I, too, have endured too many similar tedious evenings to be much in sympathy with the performers. It is one of the true delights of the Town to be able to hear pieces as they should be played. I attend many such evenings. They give me such a great deal of pleasure that I am afraid I must admit them to be one of my true vices. My parents often accuse me of neglecting my social responsibilities for such evenings of self-indulgence. I hope I shall be able to convince you to join me again. But what did you think of the Handel?"
"I especially delighted in that. One rarely gets an opportunity to hear it so well performed. But here we are. Thank you so much. I enjoyed myself tremendously." Cassie had been so engrossed in their discussion that she was astounded to find the carriage had come to a stop and the footman was waiting patiently to hand
"How kind you are," Horace thanked her, smiling gratefully.
"And have you two decided how you would like to divide up your work? I have more than enough for the three of us, and if we ever finish with Lord Elgin's collection, we should do the same with the Towneley Marbles and the sculptures from Bassae, the comte remarked as he and Lady Frances strolled over to the window where Cassie and Horace were sitting.
"Come, Cassie. John should be here shortly. I instructed him to call for us before nuncheon. I daren't leave Teddy, Ethelred, Wellington, and Nelson alone together for too long a stretch. Cook and Nurse are worth their weights in gold, but neither one of them has the strength of character to resist the blandishments of those four," remarked Frances as she pulled on her lemon kid gloves.
Cassie agreed ruefully. "Nor the resourcefulness or strength of character to rescue them from the scrapes they are likely to fall into."
The butler came in to announce the arrival of the ladies' carriage, and after arranging to come the next day and gratefully accepting Horace's invitation to escort them to a concert at the Academy of Ancient Music, they departed, well satisfied with the morning's outing.
Lady Frances, sneaking a glance at her sister's profile, was pleased to see a happier look than had been on her face for some time, but refrained from any comment. She was correct in her observations. Cassie was delighted. After having endured so many dull and pointless conversations she had found it refreshing and revitalizing to share her deepest interests with someone who could appreciate them. She looked forward with pleasure to the next evening and to the days ahead, which no longer seemed to stretch emptily and endlessly before her.
Cassie's expectations were not disappointed. She truly enjoyed the concert, but what made it even more delightful was having Horace there. He was so attentive to her slightest wish, making certain she was comfortably placed in the most advantageous seat possible. Occasionally during the performance she caught him glancing at her to reassure himself that she was enjoying herself to the utmost. No one, except Ned, had ever paid such attention to her wishes or had seemed to be so concerned for her happiness. She felt immensely touched and flattered by such thoughtfulness, particularly since it provided such a marked contrast to the treatment she had received at the hands of her dancing partners at Lady Delamere's rout. It heightened her enjoyment that much more when in the carriage on the way home he inquired in an endearingly diffident way, "I do hope the concert pleased you?"
"Oh, yes. It was entirely delightful. I do so love music, but I have had little chance to hear anything but ill-rendered pianoforte recitals performed more for the opportunity they afford to demonstrate that the performer would make someone a delightful and accomplished companion than for the sake of the music. Thank you ever so much," she replied gratefully.
He laughed. "You are too critical, Cassandra. That poor young woman undoubtedly has nothing else to show for herself, but I, too, have endured too many similar tedious evenings to be much in sympathy with the performers. It is one of the true delights of the Town to be able to hear pieces as they should be played. I attend many such evenings. They give me such a great deal of pleasure that I am afraid I must admit them to be one of my true vices. My parents often accuse me of neglecting my social responsibilities for such evenings of self-indulgence. I hope I shall be able to convince you to join me again. But what did you think of the Handel?"
"I especially delighted in that. One rarely gets an opportunity to hear it so well performed. But here we are. Thank you so much. I enjoyed myself tremendously." Cassie had been so engrossed in their discussion that she was astounded to find the carriage had come to a stop and the footman was waiting patiently to hand
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