Lady Bristol poked her head in the next room, then withdrew and gestured at her husband to keep going. He began playing and singingTo Anacreon in Heavenas a solo. When it came time to repeat the last two lines of the first verse, the tenors and bass joined him.
“No wonder they won last year,” Ashley whispered to Georgia.
Georgia’s only reply was a softharrumpf. Ashley didn’t have time to puzzle out her friend’s reaction, as her own body was buzzing from the joy of hearing talented male voices.
The entire quartet sang the second verse, and when they repeated the last two lines, it seemed all the men in the room joined in:
“And long may the sons of Anacreon intwine the Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s Vine.”
At the end no one raised their glass in a toast, though Ashley had heard the men often did so when they sang this song at the beginning of Catch Club meetings.
Lady Bristol gave her husband a nod, and he and the other members of his quartet bowed amidst the applause andhuzzahs!before taking seats in the audience.
The door from the other room opened and in walked Lord Mansfield, Lord Templeton, a gentleman Ashley had never seen before, and Lord Ravencroft, who carried a violincello. All wore matching neckcloths of dark blue.
Georgia grabbed Ashley’s hand and squeezed. “Nowyou’ll get to hear talent,” she said, practically vibrating with excitement.
On the opposite side of the room from the pianoforte, Georgia’s father, uncles, and the other gentleman clustered around the chair where Lord Ravencroft was settling with the violincello. The unknown man handed the bow to Ravencroft. Under cover of checking its strings, Ravencroft stared at Lady Mansfield and slowly drew the bow in a slashing motion across his throat, one eyebrow arched, the other lowered.
Shocked, Ashley checked Lady Mansfield’s reaction. She had one hand to her bosom, a look of total innocence on her face … until she erupted into quiet laughter, hidden behind her fan. Ravencroft’s severe expression eased to a hint of a smile.
“My brother Parker was supposed to play tonight,” Georgia whispered. “But he cut his finger on his penknife this morning. I’m glad Mother and Uncle Stanley were able to persuade Uncle David to come after all.”
“Who is the fourth gentleman?”
“Mr. Westbrook. I call him Uncle Liam. He and Uncle David have been close friends as far back as I can recall.”
“It is my pleasure to introduce the quartet that may very well offer the best challenge to my husband’s group at this year’s competition next month,” Lady Bristol announced, and sat down.
Mr. Westbrook began singing, a warm baritone. He dropped out after a short stanza and Lord Templeton sang the next phrase, a tenor. Lord Mansfield sang the next phrase, a bass. On the fourth phrase, all four men sang in unison and Ravencroft began to play the violincello. The powerful, deep sound of the instrument and low male voices resonated right through Ashley until her whole body seemed to vibrate.
Ravencroft turned his head to watch his bow on the strings and his hair fell forward, concealing much of his face. As if he didn’t want to see the audience. Or perhaps he didn’t want them to see him? The men’s voices danced along the melody, someone going up into high tenor while another went down to basso profundo, in a glorious harmony that had Ashley’s heart pounding, her breath shallow.
Lady Barbour, a matron sitting two chairs over and one row ahead of Ashley, began fluttering her fan furiously, her cheeks flushed.
The words and tune were familiar but Ashley had never heard this arrangement before. All but one voice would drop out for a phrase, then the others return, highlighting each voice in turn, the plural voices always underscored by the deep tone of the violincello. In all the previous performances of this song Ashley had heard, a tenor sang lead all the way through, accompanied by pianoforte. Hearing it performed by a deeper instrument and deep voices made it an altogether different experience.
Lord Mansfield stayed in basso profundo, his heavy and slow voice filling out the bottom of the tune. At one point he winked at his wife. Ashley heard Georgia snort. Lady Mansfield had a beatific smile, a slight flush to her cheeks.
The men finished with one incredibly long sustained note held in perfect harmony, then bowed amidst applause.
Lady Bristol quickly thanked those who had performed and reminded everyone refreshments were now served.
“Lord Ravencroft acquitted himself well for filling in at the last minute,” Ashley said. Their seats were on the far side of the room from the refreshment table. Given the crowd size, it would be a few minutes before she could fetch herself and Aunt Eunice a cup of punch.
“Of course he did,” Georgia replied absently. “It’s his arrangement.” She scanned the crowd, who had all stood and started mingling as footmen moved chairs to the edges of the room. “I’ve heard him play it better, though.” She grabbed Ashley’s elbow and tugged. “Come,” she said. “Something juicy is afoot!”
Processing the information that Lord Ravencroft could singandarrange musicandplay at least two instruments, Ashley allowed herself to be towed along until they reached Miss Kenyon, who was chatting with Miss Amber Barrow-Smith.
“How romantic,” Miss Kenyon gushed.
“Isn’t it just?” Amber replied, one palm over her heart.
“Tell me!” Georgia demanded, leaning close to them, her voice hushed but urgent.
“But you can’t tell anyone else!” Amber admonished. She glanced at Ashley, who shook her head in a mute promise to keep quiet.
With a look around to see if anyone else was paying attention—her chaperone was over by the refreshment table—Amber lowered her voice. All four women leaned in close. “On Sunday morning I will have a headache and need to stay home. We’re going to elope while Mama and Papa and Mrs. Driscoll are at church. By the time they realize I’m not in my bed, we’ll be hours ahead on the road north.” She glanced over Miss Kenyon’s shoulder, where her beau stood with a glass of punch. He blew a kiss to her. Amber tittered.
