Chapter Eleven #2
The rest of the meal passed without great incident, and Mrs. Gillingham seemed to be behaving herself as far as conversation went.
She was a bit quieter than she typically was with Leonard, for which he was grateful.
A certain lightness had come over her this evening, and Leonard found himself actually noticing her physical attributes because of it.
Her lips were prone to smile at nearly anything one could find pleasure in, and when not forming her haughty smile, they looked tender—soft.
A rude cough caused Leonard to nearly jump out of his skin. He whipped his head toward Tristan, who gave him a wide, wry grin. Luckily, Leonard was saved from having to answer for himself as Caroline took the ladies into the drawing room, leaving the men to their port.
Only now, his friends would be able to ask him questions without reservation.
Andrew wasted no time, leaning his hands on the table. “What in blazes is going on, Stanton? Why is Mrs. Gillingham here?”
“I think it is a nice turn of events,” Tristan said, taking his port as he leaned further into his seat.
“You already lost the wager,” Ambrose pointed out, always one to follow the logic. “So I have to believe this is borne of actual feelings.”
“It is borne of nothing,” Leonard said, wrapping his fingers around his glass. “Nothing more than trying to introduce Mrs. Gillingham to some society, that is.”
“I don’t believe it.” Ambrose watched Leonard over his glass. “It does not add up. How did you even meet this woman?”
“Through me,” Andrew piped in.
“Well done, Andrew.” Tristan set his glass down and gave a few claps for their friend. “Though, you have still lost, Leonard.” He gave him a pitying glance. “Do not worry. We will not rush you about the payment. End of the year will suffice.”
“You all will get your comeuppance.” Leonard took a drink and endured the remainder of their barbs and jabs. Mrs. Gillingham would now owe him even more than she already did after this evening.
As they filtered into the drawing room, Leonard spotted her with the women, her smile unusually tense and forced. Out of sheer curiosity, he headed toward her and took a seat near but not next to her.
“What are you ladies up to?” Andrew asked, standing behind his wife’s seat.
Sophie practically grimaced as she looked up at him. “We are planning a little musicale for you gentlemen to enjoy.”
Andrew gently patted her shoulder, as if consoling her for her predicament. Leonard happened to know that Sophie was not one who loved such things. Mathematics was much more her style.
“Wonderful,” Ambrose said, taking a seat on the settee beside his new bride, Susanna. “Sounds like a splendid way to spend our evening.”
Leonard looked at Mrs. Gillingham, who seemed unnaturally excited about the prospect—meaning, her smile was stretched unnaturally across her face.
And when the first woman rose to play, which happened to be their hostess, Caroline, Leonard scooted his way to Mrs. Gillingham.
“What are you going to play?” he asked, his voice hushed as piano notes floated through the room.
Mrs. Gillingham’s chest rose and fell much quicker than Leonard thought normal—or healthy. “I do not know.” She looked to her lap, sneaking glances at Caroline as she played, but never holding the gaze, as if she couldn’t bring herself to.
“Do not tell me you don’t know how to play.” What young woman did not play some sort of instrument?
She pursed her lips for a moment before lifting her chin. “I do not know how to play.”
“Well, this will be very uncomfortable for you, then.” He crossed his legs in front of him as he did the same with his arms across his chest. How splendid. Now he could witness the confident, frustrating Mrs. Gillingham get a taste of her own medicine.
“You are finding great pleasure in this, aren’t you?” She huffed. “I guess I cannot blame you. I have been quite unpleasant.”
“You have,” Leonard agreed. He wasn’t about to coat the truth for her comfort.
“Perhaps I should find a reason to leave.”
He shrugged. “Be my guest.”
For all the world, nothing could have prepared him for the next moment of his life. Wherein he watched the flirtatious, confident woman he sat beside while her chin quivered and the whites of her eyes turned a faint shade of pink, shining in the candlelight.
“Yes. That is a good plan. I will leave.” She put a hand to the settee, her fingers trembling, and pushed herself up.
Without thinking, he reached a hand across and placed it over hers. “Wait.”
She paused. “Why? So I can make a fool of myself and you can laugh at me?”
“No.” He jerked his chin, gesturing for her to sit back down. “I have an idea.”
She laughed quietly, but clearly with no true amusement. “Of course you do. I do not blame you for wishing to see me fail. But I do not want to endure it. Therefore, I think it best that I leave.”
He pulled his hand back, belatedly realizing it had still been covering hers. “Can you sing at all?”
She turned her face toward him, her eyes still shimmering, and gave a small nod. “I can sing.”
“And I know how to play. At least, enough to suffice. What if we did a duet?”
Her lip wobbled again before she clamped down on it. “You would do that for me?”
“You are my guest of sorts,” he said, then looked around to be sure no one was watching them. Luckily, everyone had their eyes on Caroline as she played. “What do you say?”
She put her gloved hand tentatively to her lips before placing it back on her lap. “That would be very lovely and generous of you.”
He took that as an acceptance, and then he fretted as the next two ladies played their songs. When it was Mrs. Gillingham’s turn to play, he stood and offered his arm to her.
“What is this?” Sophie asked, smiling as she sat on the edge of her seat. “Are we to have a duet?”
“Yes.” Leonard led Mrs. Gillingham to the piano, leaving her to stand as he flicked his tailcoat behind him before taking the bench. “What songs do you know?” he whispered, trying not to move his lips as he asked.
“Do you know “The Water of Tyne”?”
“I do,” he said, nodding and laying his fingers on the keys. “Are you ready?”
“I am very nervous,” she said instead of the “yes” he had expected.
He looked over his shoulder. “They are not the pompous type that you should worry yourself about. Trust me when I say they will be all grace and adoration.”
She nodded, then took a long breath. “Very well. Then I suppose I am ready.”
Leonard began the intro, the notes soft and soothing, then found himself holding his breath when the vocals were to come in.
Mrs. Gillingham sang the first few bars, her voice sweet but clearly nervous as she wavered on a few words.
But as the song progressed, her voice grew stronger and more confident.
Soon, Leonard found he was actually enjoying himself.
Her lilting voice, the strains of the notes he played.
When the song came to a close, his friends all smiled and clapped, with Tristan going so far as to give them a standing ovation.
Leonard stood, took her hand and dipped them both into a bow. When they straightened, he glanced over at her and saw a smile lighting her face.
And strangely, he was smiling as well.
A laugh bubbled out of her, and she squeezed his hand tighter before he slipped his own away and offered his arm to her, leading them back to their seats.
“That was beautiful,” Mrs. Susanna Hartley said, hand to her chest. “Your voice and Leonard’s playing were quite spectacular.”
“A perfect pair,” Caroline chimed in, smiling as she looked at her husband.
“I quite agree, dear,” Tristan said, putting an arm about her shoulders. “A handsome couple indeed.”
Mrs. Gillingham laughed along, taking her seat. But when they sat and she looked at Leonard, eyes sparkling, he forgot about the men’s teasing. For a moment, it was as if Mrs. Gillingham was a young lady, just like the rest, being polite, lovely, and charming. And he found her quite . . . pretty.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling. “That was just . . . wonderful. Thank you.”
“Well, it was either help or let you run off.”
“And you very well could have done the latter. But you didn’t.”
No. He didn’t. And that fact was more than slightly worrisome.