Page 17 of My Devoted Viscount (Brazen Bluestockings #2)

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Sophia forced herself to eat, even though her stomach was still in knots after the close call on the beach.

Fairfax had surprised her mere moments after Mildred had gone into the cave to put away the candles Sophia had brought her.

What a horrible time for Fairfax to experience a bout of nostalgia!

When they passed the junction to the cavern, she was sure her heart was going to beat right out of her chest. She fully expected the light from Mildred’s candle to be visible and catch Fairfax’s attention.

‘Awkward’ did not begin to describe how that conversation would have gone.

Fortunately Sophia had years of experience to draw from in watching young women vying for the attention of eligible bachelors.

Even though he couldn’t see her coquettishly batting her lashes at him in the dark tunnel, he had tried to comfort the frightened maiden she pretended to be as she clung to his arm, without him realizing how much she was hustling him up the path.

She did allow herself a tiny smile at the realization that the toy soldiers she’d found in the cave likely belonged to Fairfax. What had the big, strapping lord looked like as a little boy?

Oh, dear. What if he remembered the toys were there and went looking for them? What if he and his friend Mr. Huntley wanted to explore the cavern for old times’ sake?

She and Theo had to find out about Mildred’s fiancé, Lord Wingfield, soon, and get her home.

Or at least some place safer than hiding in a cave.

Even though, against all logic, Mildred insisted she was having the adventure of her life.

Hadn’t had this much fun and freedom since she was a little girl traipsing across the estate after her big brothers, catching frogs in the pond, and staying out all night hunting for glow-worms. Sophia still hadn’t had a chance to talk to the girl about her late-night walks on the beach that were drawing attention.

Fresh from London, perhaps Mr. Huntley had heard of Wingfield. But what excuse could Sophia give for inquiring about a man rumored to be a drunken, licentious wastrel?

By the time the last course had been consumed and everyone headed for the drawing room, she still had no idea how to broach the subject.

“What song are you going to regale us with first, Matthew?” Mrs. Digby settled in her usual armchair.

Happy to be entertained and rest her hands, Sophia took a seat on the sofa with Mrs. Royston.

“I am uncertain. I’ll have to consult with my accompanist.” Mr. Huntley grinned, even as Fairfax gave him a light smack on the back of his head.

As they sorted through the music books in the cupboard, Sophia took the opportunity to take a closer look at Mr. Huntley.

Like Fairfax, he had to give his head a little shake to get his hair from his eyes after he bent over to get something off the bottom shelf.

Instead of his hair brushing his shoulders, though, his luxurious auburn locks barely skimmed his shirt points in sumptuous waves that her students would surely have sighed over and dreamed of running their fingers through.

Fairfax said they had attended school together, yet Mr. Huntley looked young enough to still be a student.

Having settled on which piece to play first, Fairfax sat on the pianoforte bench, Mr. Huntley standing just behind him to read the music. Fairfax began to play a popular aria. Then Mr. Huntley began to sing, and Sophia struggled to keep her jaw from going slack.

His tenor voice was utterly divine.

As good or better than the professional singers she had heard perform, he hit every note, stayed in the correct key, soared higher than she thought possible for a man past adolescence, and seemed to delight in the reaction he was getting from Mrs. Digby and Mrs. Royston, who sat in rapt attention.

“Bravo, bravo!” said Mrs. Royston when the song ended, vigorously applauding.

Mrs. Digby held her hand over her heart. “My dear boy, it’s been far too long since you visited.” She waved one bony finger at both men. “All right, then, now a duet.”

Fairfax and Huntley briefly consulted each other, turned to the desired page, and began another song. Sophia expected to hear two tenors, but Fairfax was now singing in a mellow baritone that complemented his friend’s higher range. And his voice didn’t sound the least bit strained.

Her head tilted as she took in this unexpected development, from the corner of her eyes Sophia saw Mrs. Digby and Mrs. Royston exchange what she could only describe as a sly smile when they glanced at her before turning their attention back to Huntley and Fairfax.

After they performed two more songs, Mr. Huntley settled in between Sophia and Mrs. Royston on the sofa. Up close, his blue eyes twinkled in the candlelight, his joyful smile contagious.

“Do you play or sing, Miss Walden? I would very much like you to join us.” Before she could answer, Fairfax spoke.

“She does both quite well, but I’m not sure we can convince her to join us.” Fairfax had turned his body on the pianoforte bench, leaning toward the sofa with his palms on his knees.

Huntley stared at Fairfax while he spoke, then turned back to Sophia, his eyebrows raised in delight. “What would it take? You choose the song.”

Fairfax’s gesture encompassed the pianoforte, harpsichord, and harp. “You choose the instrument.”

“Oh, yes please, Miss Walden,” Mrs. Royston said, leaning forward to see around Mr. Huntley. “You three would sound divine together.”

Sophia couldn’t recall the last time she had performed with male voices. Her stomach fluttered with equal parts anticipation and anxiety as she made her way to the harpsichord. “You seem comfortable there.” She waved at Fairfax at the pianoforte. “I wouldn’t want to dislodge you.”

Acknowledging their private joke, he dipped his chin and gave her a small grin.

They quickly agreed on what to play, and Sophia admitted they did sound good together.

Part of her wished she could step back as an impartial observer to simply take it in and enjoy the music produced by two such talented men, but she needed to focus on playing and singing at least as well as her partners.

Once they proved that they did indeed perform well together, Mrs. Royston and Mrs. Digby took turns requesting songs.

Sophia temporarily dismissed her concerns about Mildred and Lord Wingfield, and surrendered to the sheer joy of making beautiful music.

They often coaxed Mrs. Royston and Mrs. Digby to sing, too, and occasionally Henry howled along, making it a sextet.

Perhaps another night she would be able to just listen, as she wanted to give more attention to the men’s voices.

Mr. Huntley sang tenor with a few lower notes tossed in here and there.

Fairfax could not soar quite as high as his friend, but he was a passable tenor, excellent baritone, and several times Sophia could swear he dipped down into bass range.

And he played the pianoforte with talent, not just competence.

If he was not a viscount, perhaps he would have been a professional musician.

* * *

The next afternoon Sophia exchanged her silk slippers for her Grecian sandals, and hurried to the beach as soon as Mrs. Digby went upstairs for her lie-down. Relief washed through her when she saw Mildred chatting with Theo next to the bluff at her excavation site.

“Father said he has not heard anything about a Lord Wingfield, wicked or otherwise,” Theo said as soon as Sophia joined them in their usual conversation circle, seated on chair-sized boulders.

“Mrs. Digby has a new guest, fresh from London,” Sophia said as she slipped the roll and other foods she’d saved for Mildred into the little basket alongside the food Theo had brought.

She tucked the checked cloth back over it to keep out the sand.

“I’ve been trying to think of how to bring up Wingfield in conversation.

See if Mr. Huntley knows anything about your fiancé. ”

Mildred brightened. “That would be ever so helpful!”

“Speaking of helpful…” Sophia glanced to make sure Marshall was at his usual hobby of throwing rocks into the sea, out of hearing.

“You must stop walking on the beach after dark. It’s drawing attention from people inside the house.

At least two maids and Mrs. Digby have seen you, thinking you’re the Grey Lady ghost.”

“At night?” Mildred shook her head, her blonde curls bobbing.

“I never venture out of the cave after dark. Unless I have to visit the privy, and I made sure it’s in a well-hidden spot.

” She pointed to a collection of boulders that had tumbled down the cliff, not far from the entrance to the tunnel.

Too close to the base of the bluff to be seen from the house.

“If it’s not you,” Theo said, her brow furrowed, “who can it be?”

“I’ve heard a few noises,” Mildred said slowly. “I thought it was just the bats. And you know how rushing water can sound like human voices.” She nodded, as though that settled the matter.

“You don’t think it’s an actual ghost, do you?” Theo looked incredulous that Sophia could believe such a thing.

Sophia shook her head. “Mrs. Digby doesn’t think so, and neither does her nephew, Lord Fairfax. In fact, that’s why he came to visit. To investigate the ghost sightings.”

Mildred gasped. “We can’t have him poking about! What if he comes into the tunnel?”

“Are you sure I can’t persuade you to come to the house?” Sophia grasped Mildred’s hand. “Mrs. Digby seems to genuinely enjoy company, even unexpected guests. She was delighted when Fairfax’s friend arrived with little notice.”

Hmm.