He and Catherine were currently standing alone in the morning room, reporting to each other the night’s events in hushed voices.
Hugh looked around the room once more before asking, “So they haven’t pressed her for any personal information or family history?”
“Nothing of that sort. It seems they would often forget that she was even there.”
“What a relief! It is likely we will get through tonight in one piece, then,” he said with a weary smile. “But God knows for how much longer we’ll be able to keep this up.”
“I am as pained and guilt-ridden as you are, dear Hugh. But we need to keep this up until it is proven beyond reasonable doubt that Miss Meyer has successfully guided Lady Cecilia in the right direction.”
They both fell silent as the beautiful sound of exquisite flute-playing floated in from the adjacent drawing room.
* * *
“Bravo! Bravo!” exclaimed Lord Gillianghamshire.
Meredith could not hold back her applause. Never before had she heard or seen something so beautiful. Even the Duke could not hide how impressed he was. Despite his audience being very small, Lord Farellshire had not held back in his performance and had even broken into a sweat.
He straightened from his bow, gleaming with pride and declared, “Thank you! You are all very kind. That was the great Johann Sebastian Bach’sPartita for Solo Flute, Allemande. And I hereby dedicate this performance to my gracious host and merciful friend, Anthony, and of course, to the lovely Miss Meyer.”
Hearing this, Meredith could feel her heart jump and her cheeks flush. She attempted to hide these symptoms by taking a sip of her now cold tea. As Lord Farellshire sat down and wiped the sweat off his forehead, he inquired, “So am I now fully forgiven, Miss Meyer?”
With eager nods, Meredith replied, “Of course! How could anyone turn away such spellbinding music?”
“Now I can’t take all of the credit for the music, Miss Meyer. That particular piece was composed many, many years ago by the musical genius, Bach. All I did was echo his creation.”
“Do you consider yourself a great devotee of Bach, Lord Farellshire?”
Lord Gillianghamshire answered on his behalf, “Oh, undoubtedly, Miss Meyer! Kenny read a biography on Johann Bach during our first year at university, and he has been obsessed with the composer and his musical pieces ever since.”
Lord Farellshire gulped down his water and said, “Yes, that is all true. I remember that the biography was still quite new at the time. One of our professors was commissioned to translate it from German to English, and so interested students were able to acquire copies of the finished product for free. I asked for one simply out of curiosity, but it ended up affecting me quite deeply.”
So beneath the surface of his carefree demeanor is a well-read and intelligent mind. My, my, Lord Farellshire simply continues to astound me!
The Duke spoke up, “Oh, surely Kenneth makes it sound quite romantic now, Miss Meyer. But if you only knew how infuriating it was to have to share a room with him. I remember the first week he acquired printed sheet music for some of Bach’s work—including the piece he played just now—he was on his cursed flute nonstop.”
Lord Gillianghamshire testified to this fact saying, “Indeed, and it got so bad that poor Anthony had to live with me and my roommate temporarily. We would have snapped his pestilential flute in half if it hadn’t been for the fact that it was a gift from his father.”
Lord Farellshire huffed and replied, “Tsk! Tsk! Such hurtful words, and from my closest friends, no less! So I take it that neither of you will be so kind as to play me a flute rendition of “Happy Birthday” at my party next month?”
Rolling his eyes, the Duke said, “Well, I’m already lending you my house as the venue, aren’t I? So have Colin do it.”
Meredith interjected, “Pardon me, Your Grace. But is Lord Farellshire’s birthday next month?”
“Yes, Miss Meyer. And for some reason he thinks it would be a good idea if I hosted an intimate dinner party on his behalf. Naturally, this is still quite a sensitive time for our family, but it has already been a full month since Mother—” he cleared his throat, Yes. And by Kenneth’s birthday two months will have elapsed. So I suppose we may be excused. The audacity of some people…” groaned the Duke jokingly.
“And don’t forget! As much as I miss the hustle and bustle of social life in town, this party isn’t just for me, you know. Think of it as a chance for you to reconnect with old family friends as well as a handful of the most prestigious members of high-class society. In short, you’re welcome, Tony.”
“Ha! Prestigious my right foot! If I had let you have it your way, the guest list would have consisted of no one except unmarried ladies and their mothers and sisters!”
“Conversely, if we went withyourway, it would have consisted of no one except snooty bankers and their equally snooty sons. And you would have spent my entire birthday chatting away with them about the stock exchange and your never-ending paperwork.”
Lord Gillianghamshire stepped in as mediator, “There, there, you two. And that is why we decided to split the difference, remember? So we will have both unmarried ladiesandsnooty bankers—amongst others—at Kenny’s birthday.”
With an almost defensive tone, Lord Farellshire further elaborated, “And what is more, it certainly will not be presented asmybirthday party. After all, who am I to be throwing a fancy birthday party?”
With an eye roll, the Duke sarcastically retorted, “I believe you mean thatIam the one stuck with the task of throwing you a party. But again, it’s not for you, oh heavens, no! It’s just an ordinary, intimate dinner party thathappensto fall on your birthday.”
Meredith ventured to interject just once more, “Pardon me, Lord Farellshire. When exactly is your birthday? Because mine is next month, as well.”
