Chapter Twenty-Four
B rilliance wished they had spent more time talking about the high esteem in which Vincent held her. Instead, as soon as he’d explained how Mr. Castern had made vague threats, Vincent said he had come because he felt it was his duty to warn her.
“Your duty,” she echoed softly, thinking that didn’t sound very romantic.
“If he tries to pay you a visit, deny him. Or if you do somehow find yourself in his company, make sure your father is with you. Will you promise me?”
“I promise.” She went over it in her mind. No visiting with Ambrose Castern except with her father present.
And then Vincent had left without inviting her to a play or a concert or even dinner at his parents’ home. Disappointed, she ate another custard tart after he left, which cheered her a little.
At the week’s end, she was dressed and ready for a night out with Lord Redley. They were going to his widowed aunt’s home for dinner and dancing, and thus, she wouldn’t need a chaperone except for the carriage ride. Her parents allowed her to take Belinda for the short journey.
Reminding herself that she had prospects, and a good-looking one at that, Brilliance dressed in sapphire-blue velvet and put a smile on her face.
“I have a surprise for you, my lady,” Lord Redley said when they reached his aunt’s mansion on London’s outskirts.
Brilliance perked up. “Do you?”
As soon as they went through Lady Danson’s receiving line and entered the drawing room, she clapped her gloved hands.
“How wonderful of you, my lord.”
“What have I done?” he asked, taking two glasses of claret off a tray and handing her one.
“The surprise,” she said. “Unexpectedly seeing my good friend Lady Martine in your aunt’s home is quite a treat. I hope we are seated close at dinner.”
Upon seeing her, Martine hurried forward, and soon, they were discussing winter festivities.
“My parents are having a Christmas ball, but you must know that,” Brilliance said. “I think invitations have gone out.”
“Indeed they have, and I have received mine already and replied,” Martine said. “We must get together and discuss the latest cold-weather fashions soon. I shall need a new gown for the occasion.”
Brilliance spent more time speaking with her friend than her suitor, until Lord Redley said, “Your surprise is here.”
“I thought Lady Martine was my surprise.”
“In truth, I didn’t know anything about her, but my aunt seems to know everyone this Season. She is a patron of the pianist we saw in concert. I know how much you enjoyed his music, so I asked her to invite him tonight.”
As Brilliance realized whom he meant, a chill passed over her. Turning, she saw their hostess beside Ambrose Castern, who was accompanied by his wife, the lovely blonde woman from the theater box.
The other guests in the drawing room broke out in spontaneous applause when Lady Danson introduced him. Shocked by his sudden appearance, Brilliance refrained from clapping. Her first thought was that she ought to leave. She had promised Vincent she wouldn’t be in Mr. Castern’s company without her father. On the other hand, she was surrounded by other people and escorted by Lord Redley. She didn’t feel in the least threatened.
What she felt was angry. More so when Lady Danson invited them all to toast Mr. Castern’s latest successful run of concerts and his new composition, “An Enchanting Dream.”
After the cheers died down, Brilliance heard herself ask, “Have you spoken to the newspapers yet, Mr. Castern?”
His light-brown eyes flickered over her as did his wife’s cool blue ones.
“About what, dear lady? I don’t believe we have been introduced.”
“Oh, pardon my rudeness,” said Lord Redley’s aunt. “Before any more conversation about Mr. Castern’s fame in the papers or in person, let me bring our honored guest around the room to meet each of you personally.”
Brilliance could hardly wait, tapping her toe as the pianist and his wife went from person to person with Lady Danson making the presentation. Although a flurry of nerves was starting to make her stomach churn at the upcoming confrontation, while standing between Martine and Lord Redley, she felt perfectly safe.
And then he was before her, Vincent’s former friend and current nemesis.
Lord Redley’s aunt said, “This is Lady Martine. Her father is Lord Flowers. And this is Lady Brilliance, the youngest daughter of the Earl Diamond. And this is Lord Redley. He is my nephew.”
Brilliance saw the instant Mr. Castern realized who she was. His smile froze upon his face, giving him an oddly Jack-o’-lantern appearance. His wife also stared, mouth slightly open before she snapped it closed and looked to her husband for his next reaction.
“How good to meet you all. Your aunt has been very kind,” he said addressing Lord Redley.
“Lady Brilliance and I saw you recently in concert. Will you be playing for us after dinner?”
“He will, indeed,” Lady Danson said. “Anyone who hasn’t had the good fortune to make it to one of his concerts will be treated to his latest composition.”
“How thrilling,” Martine said.
“Then you haven’t spoken to The Times or the Morning Herald yet?” Brilliance asked again.
“In fact, I have,” Mr. Castern said, nodding to those around him. “I was interviewed by The Times recently.”
“I read that,” Lord Redley said. “That’s how I knew you were acquainted with my aunt.”
“Yes, he mentioned my patronage,” Lady Danson gushed.
Even though Mr. Castern was trying to make eye contact only with Lord Redley, Brilliance made him look at her with her next words. “It doesn’t sound as though you confessed yet to plagiarizing Lord Hewitt’s music as you were supposed to.”
As if all the guests were listening to the small group rather than merely the few people around Brilliance, the entire room fell silent.
“I beg your pardon,” said Lord Redley’s aunt.
“Bri, what are you saying?” asked Martine, touching her arm. “Everyone knows Mr. Castern is a brilliant composer. No one else knows Lord Hewitt plays the piano.”
“I know,” said Ambrose Castern. “He is an old friend from school. A gifted pianist, but a little jealous of my success.”
Brilliance gave an unladylike snort. “He is not in the least jealous of you. Even if he were, that doesn’t change the fact that you stole his music.”
She heard the gasps but didn’t let it stop her. “You received a letter from his solicitor, and to prevent legal action, you were supposed to confess to The Times .”
She turned to Lord Redley who looked a strange shade of puce, perfectly matched by his aunt’s aghast expression.
“I know for a fact he was supposed to publicly confess,” Brilliance added.
To her astonishment, Mr. Castern laughed. “I must say, considering I came to give a free performance, I find this particular guest to be a puzzling inclusion to our evening.”
“Puzzling and insulting,” said Mrs. Castern. “I think we should leave.”
“No, please don’t,” said Lord Redley’s aunt before looking pointedly at Brilliance.
In the silence that ensued, Brilliance realized the import of her hostess’s stare.
“Are you wanting me to leave?” She was half mortified, but also strangely fascinated. “I have never left any party at its start. I am not sure my parents will approve of my returning home so soon.”
Lady Danson appeared to waver. “I cannot offend Lord and Lady Diamond,” she moaned. “I shall be shunned.”
“Oh, no,” Brilliance said. “They would never shun you. They will, of course, wonder at your choice of a guest of honor, seeing how he is a man without any. And they will be utterly perplexed as to how I could be thrown out of your home before I even got to taste the quality of your pottage.”
When Lord Redley’s aunt groaned with dismay, he became her champion, turning on Brilliance.
“I must insist you apologize to Mr. Castern for disparaging him and to my aunt for frightening her with ... with becoming a social pariah due to your impressive lineage. That is not at all fair.”
His aunt moaned again at the notion.
“I intended to frighten no one,” Brilliance protested. “Nevertheless, I am telling the truth. I have even been deposed on the matter.” She finished with a nod to those who were watching.
Martine squeezed her arm. “I know you thought Lord Hewitt to be most admirable this past summer, but he has filled your head with fabrications.”
Brilliance wished she had spoken to Martine about all that had transpired recently, but she hadn’t had the chance.
“He hasn’t, I assure you. You are my good friend. You ought to believe me over this charlatan.” She looked at Mr. Castern again. “It’s a very fine-sounding word, charlatan, but doesn’t mean anything near as regal as it sounds.”
“I know what it means,” Mr. Castern said, his eyes flickering from her to those around them.
“I do not mean to be harsh with my language,” Brilliance continued, “but you are a thief, after all. ‘An Enchanting Evening’ was composed by Lord Hewitt.”
“That’s nonsense,” said Lord Redley, speaking more harshly to her than he ever had. “You and I went to Cambridge Hall and watched him perform it.”
“We watched and listened, certainly, but what does that signify?” Brilliance asked. “We didn’t see him write it. Did we?”
Appearing exasperated, Lord Redley reminded her, “You loved every minute of the concert. That’s why I thought you would enjoy this evening. Instead, you are behaving like someone who ought to be locked up in Bedlam.”
Brilliance couldn’t help laughing at his dramatic delivery. But Martine didn’t join in, and quite obviously, she didn’t approve.
“I will leave with you,” she offered, holding Brilliance’s arm more firmly.
“Then I shall be two females short at my table,” Lady Danson complained.
“That is true,” Brilliance said, feeling a little sorry for their hostess. Her own mother would not appreciate an uneven number of guests, either. The seating would be a nightmare. “It would be easier if Mr. and Mrs. Castern left.”
“This is outrageous!” said Mr. Castern.
“Outrageous,” repeated Mrs. Castern, taking a hostile step forward. “Do you realize my husband has played for the Queen and her Prince Consort?”
“Sadly, your husband was playing Lord Hewitt’s music,” Brilliance shot back. Pulling her arm free from Martine’s grasp, she, too, took a step closer.
“What’s more, my sister solved a jewelry forgery for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert two years ago, and her husband was granted a barony because of it.” Then she looked at Lady Danson. “So you see, my family and the royal family are as close as this.” Brilliance clasped her hands together, holding them up like a cudgel.
Their hostess took a step back. Brilliance was exaggerating slightly, but she was rather fed up with having to defend herself.
“If you wish to hear the music from Mr. Castern’s concert, then you should send word to Lord Vincent Hewitt on King Street. While he is hesitant to perform in public, I assure you, he does not have stage fright.”
Then she crossed her arms and awaited the fall out of her lengthy diatribe.
Lady Danson remained speechless, Lord Redley shook his head, and Martine muttered, “Bri, we should go.” The rest of the guests around them started to discuss the issue, taking sides over who should remain.
Finally, when the awkwardness was at a boiling point, Mr. Castern spoke.
“I believe we shall take our leave, Lady Danson. I could not possibly play tonight, anyway. Perhaps another time.”
Lady Danson nodded. “I will be in touch. And I do so apologize for what has happened here tonight.”
In the end, the couple left swiftly without saying goodbye to anyone else. And then, as soon as the drawing-room door closed behind them, every eye turned toward Brilliance. Some faces were curious, others hostile.
She considered her older siblings, each of whom would have handled the situation differently. Clarity would have been loath to make anyone unhappy and thus probably have said nothing at all. Purity might have spoken out, but she would have left directly after having made the hostess uncomfortable. Adam would have invited Mr. Castern outside to speak privately upon the matter and maybe come to fisticuffs. And Ray ... she would have already been to the man’s house and somehow made him confess before he could come ruin the party.
Brilliance sighed. “I, too, am leaving.”
Lady Danson pursed her lips and lifted her chin. She was more than a little angry, and Brilliance felt sorry. After all, it wasn’t Lord Redley’s aunt’s fault that she’d been duped the way all of London had.
Leaning close, she whispered to Lady Danson, “Please do not worry. You shall find there are no recriminations from the Diamond family where you are concerned. I simply don’t want to be the recipient of quite so much resentment all evening. I imagine that is bad for one’s digestion.”
When Martine made to go with her, Brilliance stopped her friend. “Stay so our hostess doesn’t have such a hole at her table.”
After a brief hesitation, Martine nodded.
Addressing Lord Redley, Brilliance knew their brief association was at an end. Still, she hoped he would do the gentlemanly thing. “Will you loan me your carriage so my maid and I can go home? I shall send it back directly.”
“Of course. But ... you don’t really have to leave, do you?”
That surprised her. “How sweet of you, but I think it’s for the best.” Once more to her hostess, she added, “You really ought to contact Lord Hewitt to learn the truth.”
Then, head high, satisfied she had done her best on Vincent’s behalf, Brilliance left the party, offering the silent guests a little wave from the doorway and a smile. After all, she was a Diamond.
Reading The Times the following day and the one after that, Brilliance realized Mr. Castern had dug his heels in like a stubborn donkey.
“Father, I believe I will be going to court.”
“You don’t have to,” the earl said, “if you think you might be uncomfortable. However, I believe it is the right thing to do.”
“Especially if you intend to marry the man,” added her mother.
Brilliance raised an eyebrow. “Do you think Lord Hewitt wishes to marry me, after I’ve caused him so much consternation?”
“Unquestionably!” Lady Diamond said, stirring her chocolate. “At least he has come out from the shadows. His talent was being wasted, and now, because of you, he has no choice but to claim his music.” Her mother sipped and then added, “He owes you a debt of gratitude for ensuring that greatness is his only option.”
Brilliance laughed. “I do not think Vincent ... I mean Lord Hewitt sees it like that. He was content to be only a statesman and to allow his music to remain in his head.”
“Except for what was already stolen,” her father said. “Imagine how that must have eaten at Hewitt every day, knowing some rascal was earning money at his expense. I would have had to call him out.”
Brilliance hoped Vincent would come to appreciate having the whole thing brought into the public eye. If he did, then there might be a chance for them to have a relationship again.
Even more of a chance since her other prospect had let her disappear into the night without even offering to escort her home.