Chapter Twelve #3
“I have not made up my mind. He is very nice and a worthy suitor.”
“Is there someone else you are interested in?”
“I cannot say. You will think me a ninny.”
“No, I will not. Who is he? Do I know him?”
“I cannot tell you.”
“Why not?” At Lucinda’s shrug she went onto say, “What are his initials, that way you are not really telling me.”
“A.”
Her eyes grew wide with the excitement of this guessing game. “Lord Allenby?” Marianne asked with a giggle.
By that reaction Lucinda was glad it was not Lord Allenby who had caught her eye. “No. Really, it does not matter. He will not be interested in me anyway.”
Marianne frowned. “Not Allenby then it must be Abacrombie, though I think he is married already.”
She shook her head. “It is not Abacrombie.”
“Why would this person not be interested in you?”
“It does not matter. All I want to say is that if you are interested in Dunstan, I lay no claim to him.”
“Do not be silly. Dunstan is a good match for you, even if you do not love him. I will, however, find out who ‘A’ is. We promised you a husband and a husband is who you will have.”
“What about you? Do you want to marry or are you happy to play the marriage mart for a while longer?”
Clasping her hands over her heart, she declared, “I am waiting for true love. Someone who will love me for who I am.”
“I wish I had such a luxury.”
“Why must you marry so quickly? It is not as though you have been given some ultimatum or timeline.”
“I cannot be a burden to you or the family. I have taken up enough of your time as it is.”
The hostess came to the front of the room to announce her special guests.
“You are a ninny,” Marianne whispered, her brow furrowed. “We will talk more about this later.”
The room grew quiet, yet Lucinda’s thoughts continued to race.
Should she confide in Marianne about her growing feelings for her brother?
She hesitated. What if she disapproved? Lucinda feared it might strain their relationship, of which she was becoming more and more dependent.
If that were the case, Lucinda would not pursue Tony.
However, she couldn’t deny that no other man could compare, and for once, her heart and mind were aligned.
Even though it seemed futile to dream he felt the same way.
Though his kisses showed he did like her, but in what way she was not sure.
Halfway through the evening, Tony turned up, looking dashing in a gray jacket and black pants.
His cravat, a picture of perfection. Lucinda’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him and when he smiled at her, she suddenly could not draw breath.
Marianne nudged her and Lucinda moved so that Tony could sit between them.
The dowager was busy talking to a group of older ladies. She took the last seat in the row.
“What have I missed?” Tony asked as Marianne passed her program to him.
Marianne replied, “Some lively Mozart and we are about to have an aria by a Miss Angelica Catalani. She’s Italian. Word is that our hostess spent a pretty penny to get her to perform tonight. Apparently she has a three-octave range. Can you imagine?”
“Lady Belvedere?”
“No, silly. Catalani.”
“Three octaves you say. Lucky I have not missed it then.”
The other guests started to return to their seats. The dowager sat next to Tony and tapped him on the shoulder with her fan. “It is about time you arrived. You nearly missed the main attraction.”
“How could I miss it? Marianne has filled me in on all the details of the special guest.”
“Even her three octaves?”
“Even that. Let us see if she is as good as everyone is saying.”
The hostess returned and introduced the opera singer in glowing admiration of her talents.
The guest stepped up on stage and nodded to her audience.
The singer’s age surprised Lucinda; she was much older than Lucinda had anticipated, with dark hair streaked with silver at the temples.
However, the singer had a lively, open expression that she used effectively while singing, and Lucinda was moved by her performance.
Catalani had a voice that seemed to lift her spirits and yet set them on fire as well.
Lucinda was quite exhausted and in awe by the time the woman had finished her performance.
Lucinda and Marianne instantly got to their feet to clap once the performance was over.
A standing ovation seemed fitting, and Miss Catalani accepted a huge arrangement of flowers from Lady Belvedere.
The honored guest waved and blew a kiss to the audience before departing the room.
Tony handed Lucinda his kerchief, and it was only then that she realized that tears had escaped.
“She is astonishing, is she not?” the dowager exclaimed. “I saw her a few years back when she played Susanna in Figaro. I had never heard a voice so commanding, so ethereal. It quite overwrought the senses.”
“She was all right,” Tony said.
All three of them turned to stare at him.
“I am joking, of course. She was amazing and I enjoyed her performance very much.”
“Oh, I wish she would come back and sing again,” Lucinda said. She had never seen such a performance and wondered if she ever would again. She did not want the evening to end, but eventually they all got into the coach Tony had arrived in for the short ride home.
She could not stop grinning, so happy a night she had had. Her heart was full, and she was able to admire Tony as he teased Marianne good naturedly about her choice of shoes.
“Tony dear, you should take Lucinda and Marianne to the opera. It is something everyone should experience.”
“If I can find the time, I will most certainly take all of you, but… only if Marianne never wears these shoes again.”
“Oh, Marianne, your brother is too mean. You should wear them to the next ball just to spite him.” Lucinda laughed.
“That is low, Miss Sterling. Are these the lengths you both will go to just to annoy me? Mother?”
“Do not look at me, my boy. I think you are getting off lightly.”
“I am shocked! My own mother.”
Then they all fell about the carriage in laughter. By the time they alighted from the carriage, Lucinda felt like she was floating on air.
Tony bowed to his mother and sister but managed to whisper to Lucinda, “Don’t forget to meet me in the parlor in an hour.”
Lucinda nodded and followed the others upstairs.
May came and helped her get ready for bed.
She ensured that she wore her dressing gown and slippers when she went downstairs.
Her heart was racing as she approached the door.
What did Tony want to give her? She foolishly hoped he wanted to kiss her.
Of course, he had told her no more kisses.