Chapter Twenty-Nine
W hile not intending to be a shrew, Brilliance added the only reason she could come up with. “I guess Lord Hewitt didn’t think it was important enough to mention.”
Mrs. Castern’s lips flattened into a tight line. She even lifted her head and looked down her nose as if insulted, although Brilliance couldn’t figure out why a married woman would care whether a man who wasn’t her husband spoke of her. Sometimes, people were so befuddling.
Still, Brilliance wished Vincent had mentioned having asked someone else to marry him. It slightly diminished the polish of their engagement. Again, perhaps that’s why he hadn’t told her, not wishing to dim the sparkle of their own betrothal.
Mrs. Castern gave a small shrug. “I suppose he would keep it from you since it is the sole reason he has been persecuting Ambrose. He probably wanted you to continue to think it was due to plagiarism.”
“I do not understand what you mean,” Brilliance said. “Mr. Castern stole Lord Hewitt’s music, and that is why his lordship filed a lawsuit.”
Mrs. Castern shook her head and smiled. It wasn’t a particularly cheerful type of smile, either. Brilliance wished she would stop, in fact, as it was making her skin prickle.
A distinctly uncomfortable feeling.
“Vincent didn’t write any of that music. Has he told you about his perfect pitch? His gift that he calls a curse?”
Brilliance nodded, wishing this particular shepherdess didn’t know so much about him.
Mrs. Castern continued, “And you may have already discovered for yourself what a fabulous memory he has.”
“He does,” Brilliance agreed, having wondered how he could keep so many sonatas in his head. He also had remembered the names of all Lady Twitchard’s guests after that first assembly.
“Thus, he can play anyone’s music if he has heard it a few times. He can even write it down due to his powerful recollection.” Mrs. Castern fluffed the lace at the sleeves of her costume while keenly watching for Brilliance’s reaction.
“You think Lord Hewitt remembered your husband’s music and wrote it down years later. Is that what you’re saying?”
“I don’t know when Vincent set the music to paper. But copying Ambrose’s music does not make it Vincent’s.”
Brilliance didn’t know what to say. She had enough sense and decorum not to come out and tell the woman she thought her to be a liar despite that being precisely what she believed.
“I guess the truth will come out in court,” Brilliance said and made to go around her.
Against all civility, Mrs. Castern stuck out her hand and grabbed hold of Brilliance’s arm, puckering the delicate silk under her fingers.
“It sounds as though Vincent also hasn’t told you that he has retracted any claims to my husband’s music. He sent a letter to my husband declaring he is no longer pursuing the matter in court.”
Brilliance managed not to gasp aloud, but she did feel every muscle in her body tense right up to her jaw tightening, making her clench her teeth. How dare he! He said he had another witness who would suffice.
Wrenching her arm away, she rounded upon her tormentor. “Why would he invent all this?” Brilliance demanded. “Why would he lie?”
“I am afraid that is my fault. When I was Vincent’s betrothed three years ago, I was lucky enough to listen to both men composing. They were the greatest of friends, and together, we would often spend an evening at Mirabel Manor or at his home here in London. Hours would go by with them calling out suggestions and each taking turns at the piano, sometimes playing a duet. Eventually, Ambrose and I were unable to fight the love we felt for one another despite not wanting to hurt Vincent. Alas, it was inevitable.”
She sniffed as if recalling a painful memory. “After I married his friend, Vincent became inconsolable, refusing to speak to Ambrose ever again. I’m afraid his jealousy at losing me got the better of him. He stopped playing and then, it seems, he came up with the lunatic idea that my husband stole his music.”
Mrs. Castern shook her head sadly. “I think Vincent is not really angry about stolen music. He is livid because he thinks Ambrose stole me.”
Unable to think of anything she could possibly say in the face of this woman’s confession and accusation, Brilliance simply turned and left. As she made her way back to the Spencer’s Great Room, she realized, to her dismay, that she was shaking.
“Blast,” she muttered, knowing it was unladylike to swear. From how happy she’d felt only minutes ago to her current disposition, she was practically a different person entirely. A cloak of anger threaded with doubt had settled over her, and the intensely unfamiliar sentiment was sickening. On the night of her engagement, she ought to be nothing but glad.
Peering around the open doorway into the ballroom, she spied Martine and her mother. Vincent stood near them, watching for her. Their gazes locked instantly. Brilliance was of two minds — confront him now in mixed company or wait until they were in the carriage with Belinda.
Her wobbly legs carried her forward.
“Were you engaged to Mrs. Castern?” Brilliance asked him without preamble.
His dark eyebrows slanted as he frowned. Then he sighed. “I was.”
“You ought to have told me.”
“Perhaps,” he conceded with a shrug.
“Perhaps,” she repeated softly. “And did you halt your lawsuit against Mr. Castern?”
Vincent folded his arms, glowering down at her the way he had during his cousin’s house party. That seemed an eon ago, and suddenly, Brilliance felt older than her years.
Everything seemed murky and gray where before it had been all bright and shiny. She was his fiancée, a fancy French word that had just lost its sheen.
Shouldn’t he have told her everything?
At that moment, Brilliance wished more than anything to go home. “Lady Flowers, how much longer do you think you will remain here?”
The woman’s eyes lit up. “I am ready to leave, merely waiting for you two girls to have danced your fill.”
“I have,” Brilliance said, sending Martine a pleading look, hoping her friend would humor her.
“I have, too,” Martine agreed.
With relief, Brilliance took hold of Martine’s arm. “Then I hope it is all right if I accompany you two in your carriage. If there is room for me and my maid?”
Lady Flowers looked toward Vincent with open curiosity, especially as he appeared about to protest.
“Of course we will take you,” she said.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Brilliance told him, deciding not to ask nor to give room for him to convince her, “but I intend to go with them.”
As expected, he gave her a gentlemanly inclination of his head. This was, after all, not the time for another lengthy discussion.
“In that case,” he asked, “may I call upon you tomorrow?”
She didn’t hesitate, for she knew after spending the night with her own topsy-turvy thoughts, she would be ready to speak with him again by then.
“You may.”
Brilliance had been wrong. She didn’t want to see Vincent the following day. She’d spent a sleepless night and got up quite out of sorts. To avoid him, and feeling like a coward, she left early and went to Clarity’s home on Grosvenor Square, where she resided happily with her husband of eight years, Lord Hollidge.
“I am sorry to come uninvited,” Brilliance said. With her eldest sister being round from her latest pregnancy, it was difficult to get close, but they managed a hug, arms outstretched.
Having almost gone to Martine’s home, Brilliance had feared it was too early to impose a visit upon anyone who was not family. In the carriage the night before, she had avoided telling her friend anything about why she was upset in front of Lady Flowers. Besides, knowing Martine wasn’t entirely pleased with Vincent’s behavior since first they’d met, Brilliance had thought it ill-advised to add fuel to that particular fire. Instead, they’d amused themselves discussing the fancy dress costumes they had seen and speculated whether the Queen had been in attendance undetected.
But today, she wanted desperately to unburden herself. Clarity, who was experienced, understanding, capable of making just about anyone feel better, seemed the best choice with whom to do so.
“You never need wait for an invitation,” her eldest sister reminded her. “We Diamonds don’t stand on ceremony.” In fact, Clarity appeared delighted to see her. “Your visit is a good excuse for a trip to Gunter’s.”
Brilliance shook her head at the notion. “It’s a little early in the day for ice cream, but we could take tea there. Although, I am not sure they open for anything on their menu until ten. Besides, Gunter’s is dreadfully drafty this late in the year.”
Clarity laughed. “I lost track of the hour and apparently the month, too. You are out and about early. Let’s go have a cup of warming chocolate instead.
Just then, the drawing-room door opened and Alice Diamond entered, their clever sister-in-law. Brilliance jumped up again, then turned to Clarity who was struggling to rise.
“No, no, don’t get up,” Adam’s wife said. “I didn’t know we would be three, but the more the merrier.”
“Indeed,” Clarity said. “Is it Thursday again already?”
“Yes,” Brilliance and Alice answered together.
Clarity suddenly appeared tearful. “I vow by this time during each pregnancy that I am so forgetful I dare not go out, lest I lose my way home.”
Big, fat tears slid down her face, and she yanked a handkerchief out of her thick woolen sleeve. “I am lucky my husband dotes on me when I am a blubbering bundle, more sentiment than sense.” She dabbed at her cheeks and eyes before blowing her nose loudly.
Brilliance exchanged a concerned look with Alice, who shrugged.
“Please don’t cry,” Brilliance told her sister. To see her thusly was an unusual, and unsettling occurrence, except during her other three pregnancies.
“But I forgot the season and thought we could go to Gunter’s, and then I forgot it was Thursday and that my own dear sister-in-law was coming at any minute. What a ninny!”
“You are not,” Alice protested. “Everything is fine, isn’t it? The three of us can as easily have a nice visit as the two of us.” Then her eyes widened. “Unless Bri had something private to discuss, only between sisters.”
Brilliance knew the right answer. “Then everything would still be satisfactory as you are our sister, too. Hot chocolate for three.” She gave the bell-pull a tug. “In fact, I am the intruder as I came over without asking Clarity first.”
By this time, her eldest sister had dried her eyes and looked more herself.
“Alice and I meet most every week to discuss our lives — mostly our husbands and our children. It is most beneficial to keeping me out of Bedlam.”
Brilliance didn’t know this. “What about Purity and Ray?”
Clarity tilted her head. “Sometimes Purity drops by, too, but she thinks it impolite to bring up our brother in his absence, so that doesn’t help Alice. On the whole, our sister frowns upon gossip, even though I try to explain I am not gossiping about my own dear Alex, just mildly venting. Besides, we often don’t talk about the gentlemen at all.”
Brilliance nodded and then blurted, “I became engaged last night.” And then, like Clarity, she burst into tears.
Alice was the first to reach her while Clarity was rolling back and forth trying to rise to her feet.
“No, don’t move,” Brilliance said, already wiping her face as Alice sat beside her and draped her arm along her shoulders.
“Why is your engagement making you cry?” her sister-in-law asked.
“And to whom have you betrothed yourself?” Clarity asked. Then she raised a hand to each of her rounded cheeks. “Should I know who it is and have forgotten along with every other sensible thought in my head?”
“No, I don’t think you will know him. My betrothed is Lord Hewitt.” Vincent , she nearly added, as his beloved face seemed to come before her eyes.
“He is a member of Parliament, isn’t he?” Alice remarked.
“Yes.” Briefly explaining how she met him, Brilliance told them everything up to the dreadful meeting with Mrs. Lydia Castern. By that time, they were on their second cup of chocolate and also munching on biscuits, although Clarity ate more than her share.
“Then, you have not yet heard what Lord Hewitt has to say in response?” Alice asked.
Brilliance shook her head.
“Is that poor man waiting for you at our home?” Clarity asked, still referring so fondly to the residence she grew up in that it made Brilliance smile at her sister.
“Maybe he is. I don’t know.” What’s more, she wouldn’t classify him as a “poor man,” not feeling particularly generous toward him at that moment. He might be a liar and a scoundrel for all she knew.
“If he isn’t there now, most certainly he soon shall be,” Clarity persisted. “If he cared enough last night to want to marry you, then he will be concerned today to find out your state of mind. Purity would say it is terribly discourteous to give Lord Hewitt permission to call upon you only to fail to keep the appointment.”
Then she shrugged and picked up another sweet lemon biscuit. “However, I would not agree with our dear sister. He kept the truth from you more than once, and he may have lied about Mr. Castern, whom I have enjoyed in concert.” Then she munched on the sweet treat before adding, “Thus you are forgiven for being a little discourteous toward him. I am sure you are bewildered.”
Alice had remained silently listening, but now she spoke, “I had a tangled beginning with your brother, filled with untruths. But nothing that I kept from him was done to hurt him, only to protect him, as well as myself.”
Brilliance knew Alice’s story of deceit, pretending to be a governess to avoid her deceased husband’s brother. “I believe you were dealing with a threatening situation but managed to fall in love with our brother, anyway. But what if Lord Hewitt is only dealing with vengeance over losing Mrs. Castern?”
“You are a good judge of character,” Clarity said. “Don’t you trust yourself to know the person with whom you fell in love?”
Brilliance startled at hearing her sister say it out loud. “I thought I did.”
“If he didn’t write the music, would you still love him?” Alice asked.
“Of course. It makes no difference to me whether he composes or not as long as I know the truth.” She clamped a hand to her mouth as she recalled hearing the “Essence of Brilliance” when it was a rougher piece and then again last night. “I do know the truth. He wrote all that music. He is an astonishing composer.”
Alice smiled. “And would you have wished for him to bring up a prior betrothal while you were still falling in love, or worse, on the same evening as your engagement?”
“No, but in all the discussions we’ve had about Mr. and Mrs. Castern, he ought to have confessed to once having feelings for her.”
“Men, even your dear brother, need some polishing and a little training when it comes to what we women want to know,” Alice said. “Wouldn’t you agree, Clarity?”
But Brilliance’s sister’s mouth was full of another cookie, and all she could do was nod.