stayed in one place long enough to meet his wife,” said the duchess. “And then they were off together.”
Verity’s imagined life as a rover fell about her ears. Some other girl had snapped up Lord James before she had the opportunity. It was cruelly unfair. “Oh.” She came fully back to her mundane surroundings with a bump.
Lord Randolph looked irked, her mother perplexed. And it felt as if the duchess’s acute blue eyes could see straight through her, into nooks and crannies that Verity didn’t even understand herself. She needed a diversion. “Shall we see you at the Mellons’ this evening?” she blurted out.
“No.” Lord Randolph sounded a bit curt. “I promised to escort Sebastian’s young sister-in-law, and her new friend, to a play.”
“Beatrice and Hilda?”
“Yes. You’re acquainted with them?”
“I met them at Olivia’s house. I expect you’ll have a…lively time.”
“If I can keep Hilda from disrupting the action onstage, I’ll be satisfied.”
“Or Beatrice from joining it,” Verity said. She’d heard about her friend’s sister’s ambitions.
“I hadn’t thought of that.”
Verity was aware of the older women watching them. “You’ll miss Herr Grossmann. He’s putting on another demonstration.”
“I do not understand why anyone would allow a stranger to run his fingers over their skull,” said Verity’s mother.
“I think it’s rather like going to a fortune-teller,” replied the duchess. “With another form of divination.”
Lord Randolph cocked his head. “An interesting idea, Mama.”
“People love to hear about themselves. And to have their…foibles dissected. As long as the report is mainly favorable, of course.”
“I do not,” said Verity’s mother. “I see it as pure flummery.”
“I should have said some people,” the duchess said. “I don’t intend to submit to Herr Grossmann’s attentions either.”
“He told Robert all sorts of flattering things,” said Lord Randolph.
“And I’m sure Robert enjoyed it. But even so.”
“What about you, Miss Sinclair? Will you be volunteering?”
He smiled at her—that devastating smile. Verity’s pulse jumped, and she found she was glad he seemed over his pique.
“Of course not!” said her mother. She put down her teacup with a click and consulted the mantel clock. “We should be going, Verity. It’s nearly five.”
“So late! I had no notion.”
In the bustle of departure, Verity managed to avoid meeting Lord Randolph’s eyes. She did not evade a searching gaze from his mother.
Eight
The date of the Carleton House performance came all too soon for Randolph. Indeed, the last few days before it seemed to rush past in a blur. He wasn’t worried about singing. He knew their program was well crafted. But after this, he would have no more excuses to spend hours practically alone with Verity Sinclair. He’d come to cherish those times, and to dream of their singular…harmonies at night. He’d even wondered if they could find more occasions to sing together. But he knew that was unlikely. To perform at a prince’s command was one thing. It couldn’t continue.
As agreed, Randolph arrived early to check on the arrangements and the pianoforte provided. There was no real question; the prince would have the best of everything. But ever since the ram, Randolph had made a point of being thorough.
“Mama is adjusting her hair,” said Miss Sinclair when she entered the music room a few minutes later. She looked stunning in a gown of pale blue-green that echoed the color of her eyes and clung to her contours in a way that tantalized while remaining perfectly proper.
Randolph was shaken by the desire that surged in him at the sight of her. He hadn’t realized how far his impulses had roamed. She gave him a questioning look. He turned and sat down at the instrument, his fingers on the keys. They tried a few refrains and smiled at each other at the quality of the sound. “We go so well together,” said Randolph, gazing up at her.
His lovely companion, who had been leaning against the pianoforte at his side, bent forward and kissed him.
For an instant, Randolph was startled. But the feel of her lips, soft and tentative, ignited him. He stood and pulled her into his arms. She threw hers around his neck and pressed closer. He reveled in the feel of soft, pliant woman, and in the knowledge that her feelings had been moving in the same direction as his. He let the kiss wander into deeper territory.
A discreet cough at his back made him jerk away. A liveried footman stood in the doorway. “His Majesty is coming to welcome you,” he said, giving no sign that he’d seen anything out of the ordinary.