Chapter 23
Edward was seated next to Lucy during dinner, and following her mama's instructions on how to regain the Duke's interest in her, she was trying to talk enthusiastically about the literary readings which Lady Cynthia would be hosting later that evening.
However when Edward finally managed to get a word in edgewise, and asked her if she would be reading, she stared at him wide eyed as if he had gone completely insane.
The Duke was of course well aware that it was frowned upon in certain quarters for ladies to have an interest in books, but he hadn't expected to receive such a vehement response from her.
Especially when this didn't equate to her having an interest in the rest of the evening, as she had been initially trying to infer.
Lucy said then that she played the piano to a high standard, again according to Mama and the guests who had listened to her recitals at home after dinner.
They had also found her embroidery outstanding.
She did admit then confidentially to the Duke that she had been disappointed by the Duchess' decision to change the theme of the evening from talent to literary.
Since this meant she couldn't take part in it. Nevertheless she would be very happy to sit quietly next to him and listen to the readings. Edward decided not to pursue the matter any further with her, since he was already thinking about Sophia’s reading later that evening.
After dinner, the guests were invited by Jenkins to make their way to the drawing room where the entertainment was to take place.
Once everyone was seated Cynthia announced that Miss Barlow would be gracing them with a poetry reading to open the event.
She also revealed that she had already had the pleasure of a private reading of her companion's delightful verse, so knew that they wouldn't be disappointed.
As she was taking her seat again at the front near the stage, she gave Sophia an encouraging look, but she unfortunately failed to see it as her head was bent low.
Not quite finished however, Lady Cynthia graced the audience with a beaming smile as she turned to sit down.
Congratulating herself then on giving Sophia as much support as she could and still firmly believing that inviting her companion to read her poem would be for the best. Glancing at Edward once she began, the Duchess was heartened even more by the look of admiration on her son's face.
Meanwhile Sophia felt extremely nervous throughout dinner, and as a result had barely eaten anything.
Her legs were quivering when she finally stood up in front of the guests.
Especially when she couldn’t fail to see that some of them were frowning at her.
Not amused that they were apparently about to listen to a servant entertain them, and had been expecting much better from the Duchess of Carlfield who seemed wholeheartedly to support such nonsense.
Sophia had added an extra verse to the romantic poem she read aloud to Lady Cynthia, a couple of days ago, and which no one else had heard.
Wishing to do her best, she hadn't been satisfied that the original version was complete without it.
Thankfully it was still a short poem, so it wouldn't take long to read.
Although it would still seem like a lifetime to her, and there were a couple of places where she knew she might falter.
She had learned the words by heart, so that she wouldn't need to look down at her journal.
Deciding that if she did encounter any bad feeling from the guests, which now seemed highly likely, the only way to get through the reading was to not take any notice of them.
Lady Cynthia had her best interests at heart in asking her to read, and it was an honour to be on the stage at Carlfield in front of her guests.
If the Duchess had confidence in her abilities as a poet, which she clearly now did, it was up to Sophia to do the best that she could.
Also reminding herself of how she had often regarded herself in the past as a bluestocking, and this was proof of it.
Feeling very self-conscious she cleared her throat and began to read her romance poem:
"Capturing her heart in a swoon,
While the stars twinkled high above
The luminescence of the moon,
A Lord and Lady fell in love.
Unable to resist their hearts' desire
On such a beautiful night,
Or the light of the celestial fire,
It was true love at first sight.
Their kiss, warm and tender,
Fate had allowed them to see
What neither could fail to remember,
Or know without doubt, couldn't be.
Yet when Cupid's arrows are shot
The wheel of fate begins to turn,
Who can then resist such a tender plot,
Or true love, dare to spurn?"
Unfortunately halfway through the last verse, she made the mistake of looking at the audience, and quickly discovered Edward staring directly at her.
Sophia felt the heat rising in her face from the intensity of his gaze, and wished for the umpteenth time that she wasn't quite so prone to blushing.
As a result she stumbled over the last lines of the poem, and was highly relieved when she had finished reading it.
However, she had mostly managed to do what she thought would be best, and not look at the audience as she read.
Instead keeping her eyes fixed on the portrait of Ned's grandma at the back of the room, Lady Emma Carlisle.
But it was as she had feared. As soon as she had finished there was a collective intake of breath from some of the older ladies in the audience.
Exacerbated by what appeared to be a synchronised clicking of fans, denoting their obvious disapproval of her words.
Hearing one of them whisper far too loudly that she supposed it could only be expected from a servant, to which the lady seated next to her agreed and flapped her fan even quicker.
Whilst the two youngest ladies dared to titter, before they were firmly reprimanded by their mamas.
Leaving Sophia feeling as if she had bared her heart and soul to them, only to have it torn to shreds, and she was about to run from the room when Edward stood up.
Clapping his hands in obvious enjoyment of the reading and her skill as a poet.
Calling out to the audience, and her, "bravo, Miss Barlow! Bravo!"
He was closely followed by the Duchess whose dulcet tone of voice called on the audience to congratulate her on having found such an accomplished poet, and charming companion.
The steely gaze in her eyes dared anyone present to disagree with her.
Being quickly pushed into it by Amelia, Lucy was by this time also on her feet.
Clapping heartily, but all the while glaring at Sophia.
When the octogenarian Lady Markham began to speak again, to express her opinion that the reading had been quite simply unacceptable, Lady Cynthia interrupted her before she had time to continue.
Sympathising with her that she must have been unable to hear the words of the poem very well.
Much to the amusement of the other guests.
Especially when Lady Markham asked the Duchess to repeat what she had said.
Cynthia knew that she had again only taken issue with the poem because of Sophia's position, and not on its merits.
She had heard a poem last year read by Lady Markham's granddaughter which had not been nearly as well written, yet still received a lot more applause.
Not to be outdone by the Duchess, the Duke of Carlfield had by this time walked up to the makeshift stage which had been erected for the evening by two of the footmen, and said in a voice which was loud enough for the entire audience to hear, "if I may have the honour, Miss Barlow.
" Then he held out his hand, with the intention of escorting her back to her seat next to Cynthia.
His smile, and the touch of his hand, were more than enough to overcome any doubts Sophia had about reading the poem.
Also exactly what he didn't want to happen, she thought now that he did have an interest in her.
When the Duke's sole intention had been to protect her from the unfortunate situation which his mother had put her in, and make sure she wasn't hurt by any of the mean spirited members of the ton.
Although he wouldn't have been entirely honest with himself if he hadn't secretly admitted how right it felt, having her hand inside his own.
Whilst once again neither of them wished to let go of the other.
Sophia hadn't of course been the only person to notice the Duke's interest in her.
Lucy was by this time being consoled by her mother, and the pair were desperately plotting how to regain Edward's attention.
The rest of the room was in quiet uproar, behind a mass of fans moving very quickly contrary to Cynthia who looked on in satisfaction, before she announced the others individually who were also reading in the first part of her literary evening.
When they had finished she caught Jenkins' eye for him to let the guests know that refreshments were being served, if they would be so kind as to adjourn to the other room.
In the Duchess' less than humble opinion, there had been far too many older ladies in the audience who thought of themselves as much too old for love, and were undoubtedly jealous to hear it spoken of by an unmarried girl.
When it really was the most natural thing in the world at any age, which Sophia had expressed in her timeless verse.