It’s not like having our own staff who know what we like. But I couldn’t see taking a whole house and finding servants just for one season. Would you care for some marzipan, Lord Randolph?”
Randolph refused without visibly shuddering. He couldn’t bear the sweetness of the confection. Turning, he found Miss Sinclair’s blue-green eyes fixed upon him. “I feel we must make some preparations for this concert,” he told her. “It can’t be impromptu, even though our first…collaboration was successful.” He saw his vivid recollection of that occasion mirrored in her gaze, and he couldn’t look away.
Lord Randolph had managed her mother in a truly masterful manner, Verity thought. The subtlety of it might have been lost on some, but she was impressed.
“Do you agree?” he said.
“What?”
“Do pay attention, Verity,” said her mother, nibbling on her sweet.
Which was quite unfair. But Verity couldn’t complain. She’d gotten what she wanted; she was going to Carleton House. The prince’s fete would be stuffed with interesting people, perhaps the very ones she’d have found at the Travellers Club. And as the central attraction, she’d be in a position to meet whoever she pleased. Lord Randolph had done her a service by getting her mother to agree, and very neatly, too. “Yes,” Verity said firmly. “We should plan and rehearse.”
“Shall I tell the prince the performance must be, say, two weeks from now?”
That wasn’t a great deal of time, but probably enough. Verity nodded. “I have no pianoforte here.”
“We can work at Langford House,” Randolph answered. “There’s a fine instrument in the music room.” He smiled at her mother. “You must both come, of course.”
Verity watched that enchanting smile take effect. She’d never seen Mama flutter and dither in quite that way before.
“My mother will be delighted to welcome you,” Lord Randolph added.
Verity didn’t understand the wry expression that accompanied this assurance. Was he amused or concerned?
“Tomorrow afternoon perhaps? I could send a carriage for you.”
“We’ll get ourselves there,” Verity replied before her mother could accept. She was grateful to him, but she wouldn’t be managed. The coming duet was enough. She wasn’t going to be taken over by a handsome parson.
“A charming man,” said her mother when Lord Randolph had taken his leave.
“Umm,” said Verity noncommittally.
“So very handsome, too. And the son of a duke. I daresay he’ll go far in the church.”
Verity ignored her mother’s sidelong glances. If she became engaged, Mama would pack up and drag her back to Chester the following day. Not that Lord Randolph and engagements had anything to do with each other. The point was: she meant to accomplish her goals, and she wouldn’t let her London season be cut short.
* * *
When Randolph returned to Langford House, he found Flora deep in conversation with his mother. To no one’s surprise, these two had taken to each other at once, finding common ground in their charitable works. The duchess had established several schools for poor girls over the years. Robert’s new wife oversaw a refuge for street children in rather the same vein. Plans were already in motion to funnel some of Flora’s charges into the schools.
“But we shouldn’t neglect the boys,” Flora was saying when Randolph entered the drawing room.
“Life is not quite so hard for them,” said the duchess.
“I don’t agree. They may not be dragged into prostitution, but they often see no choice but crime and drink.”
Another thing these two had in common, Randolph thought. They didn’t mince words.
“There are charity schools for boys…” his mother began.
“Not enough. At the least I would like to be able to offer the same opportunities to the boys at my refuge as to the girls.” Flora’s fiery blue eyes glowed with conviction. She showed no consciousness of their difference in rank.
Smiling in appreciation, the duchess nodded. “We must see what we can do then. Hello, Randolph.”
“Mama. Flora. Don’t let me interrupt your plotting.”
“We are down to matters of detail,” said Flora.
“Which I intend to leave to you, my dear, because I know you will be thorough and relentless,” the duchess said.
Flora gave her mother-in-law a wry glance. “Is that how you see me?”
“It was a compliment,” said the duchess.
The younger woman laughed. “Thank you. I believe I do know how to organize that effort,” she said. “There’s something else, however, on which I’d like your advice.”
“Of course.”
“I’m trying to help a young lady I met at Salbridge.”
“Miss Reynolds?” said Randolph.
“Yes. She’s here for the season,” Flora told the duchess. “Staying with a relative who isn’t much interested