Page 67 of The Affairs of Ashmore Castle (Ashmore Castle #2)

Kitty looked slightly shocked. ‘Oh, I’m sure not!

The pianist is Sir Thomas’s protégée – he’s paying for everything.

I’m sure it was just a friendly gesture on Lord Leven’s part.

It’s going to be very grand, with a reception afterwards, and the newspapers will be sending people, so there’ll be photographs in all the papers and magazines.

’ The hall clock struck the three-quarters.

Kitty glanced at it. ‘Oh dear, I really must go. But I’ll see you at the reception tonight, and we can make a plan.

I’m determined to have a whole day with you, if it can be managed’ She darted a kiss at Nina’s cheek. ‘ Dearest Nina!’ And she was gone.

‘I’m not even to be allowed to turn for her,’ Molly Sands said to Richard, when they met for a moment in the great hall of the Levens’ mansion in Portman Square. ‘Sir Thomas has got one of his students to do it – a young man who is altogether too handsome for a mother’s peace of mind.’

‘Does she need the music?’

‘Not for the solo pieces – only for the quintets.’ She sighed. ‘I suppose he thinks a slender young man in black and white will look tidier in the background than a fussing mother.’

‘You never fuss,’ Richard said. ‘But I agree that you wouldn’t disappear into the background. You are altogether too striking, Mariamne. Sir Thomas is right – you would draw too much attention from Chloe, and it is her night after all.’

‘You say very foolish things,’ Mrs Sands said severely. ‘And if anyone should hear you calling me by that ridiculous name—’

‘There’s no one within earshot. Though it’s not ridiculous,’ Richard said. ‘Is Chloe nervous? Considering all the grand people who will be here, not least the King . . .’

‘She was a little nervous yesterday, but she was quite calm this morning. She says the music is the only thing that matters, not the rank of the people listening. I don’t know how she does it, when so much hangs on it.’

‘Does it?’

Mrs Sands frowned. ‘Sir Thomas has put such a lot into this occasion. If it didn’t go well, I’m afraid he would drop her. His pride, you know – he’d feel she’d made a fool of him.’

‘Hmm,’ said Richard. ‘Oh, it seems people are moving. Can I show you to your seat?’

He crooked his arm for her, but being jostled just at that moment by a general movement of people, she took it rather too high up, and he winced. She gave him a concerned look. ‘Is it still troubling you?’ He had broken his arm and shoulder badly in a motoring accident the year before.

‘Comes and goes,’ he said dismissively. ‘I tried taking a gun out last week and the shoulder didn’t like it.

Oh, look, here are the principal girl and boy of tonight’s pantomime!

And Sir Thomas, too – the Demon King! If he’s popped up, there must be photographers about .

. . Ah, yes, there, just come in behind us. ’

The group had appeared on the landing where the wide staircase branched left and right, a natural stage setting for being photographed from below.

Sir Thomas looked magnificent and important as he always did in evening clothes.

He gently inserted himself between Chloe and the young musician who was to turn for her, pushing the latter backwards out of the way, then stood beaming proudly with a proprietary arm around Chloe’s slender shoulders.

‘He looks like the fond papa at a wedding,’ Richard said. Mrs Sands did not laugh, and he glanced at her.

She was frowning. ‘ How fond, that’s what I worry about,’ she said. ‘I’ve learned recently that he has a – a reputation, where young women are concerned.’

Richard had known about that from his grandmother for a long time.

Having waved genially with his free hand, Sir Thomas now looked down into Chloe’s face, making a pretty vignette for the photographers. He did look particularly fond, Richard thought, and not altogether fatherly. ‘Has she said anything about him in that respect?’

‘No, but I don’t find that reassuring. She has a foolish way of trying to protect me from life’s unpleasantnesses.’

‘Not foolish at all – I would do the same if I was allowed. But I’ll have a word with her, if it would help. She might tell me things she wouldn’t tell you.’

‘Oh, please, would you?’

Chloe played, as far as Richard could tell, perfectly.

He was transported by one or two of the pieces, and even in those he found less engaging, he marvelled at how her fingers danced and rushed over the keys.

How could anyone do that? The audience seemed to receive it all very well, and applause was long and hearty.

In the interval, the King asked for her to be presented, and chatted with her for a few minutes before leaving for another engagement.

He was a connoisseur of female beauty, and Chloe was looking ethereally lovely.

After the second half, everyone went downstairs from the long gallery to the first-floor saloons, which had been thrown together for the occasion. There was a buffet supper, and waiters circulated with trays of champagne.

Richard watched for his chance. Sir Thomas was sticking close by Chloe’s side, talking to various patrons and aficionados, but when Lord Leven came up to speak to him, his attention was diverted enough for Richard to dart in and draw her backwards into the shadow of one of the great red velvet curtains that masked the tall windows.

‘We won’t have long,’ he said, ‘so I wanted quickly to say that you were wonderful – which you will have heard from everybody else tonight already.’

Close up, Chloe looked very tired and rather pale, but she managed a smile. ‘I’m glad you were there,’ she said, ‘to keep Mother calm. She does worry.’

‘She’s not worried about your playing, which we all know is magnificent. She does worry, though, about Sir Thomas. As do I – I don’t like to see him draping himself all over you.’

Chloe gave him a direct look. ‘Richard, what are you saying?’

‘He has a reputation – you may not be aware. My grandmother knows him very well—’

‘Your grandmother, his mistress of many years,’ she said, as unemphatically as if she was talking about bread and butter. ‘Did you think I didn’t know? Everyone does.’

‘Well, they’re more like old friends now,’ Richard said hastily, ‘but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t see what goes on. I just wanted to be sure that he hasn’t – hasn’t upset you in any way.’

She gave a small, tired smile. ‘I won’t pretend not to understand you.

There’s talk in the Academy, too. There was a flautist last year, Sylvia Anderson.

She left in a hurry, and no one’s heard of her since.

And before that there was a violinist. But you needn’t worry about me, Richard. I can take care of myself.’

Richard persisted. ‘Has he made any – er – moves towards you?’

‘He is very kind to me. And, I think, very fond of me. Sometimes it worries me. But he has never behaved improperly in any way. I think,’ she added hesitantly, ‘he’s a little afraid of me.’

‘I can understand that,’ Richard said. ‘You frighten me a bit, when you play. Well, as long as it stays that way – but if there’s ever anything that makes you uneasy, you’ll let me know?’

‘And you’ll ride to the rescue? And slay the dragon with your sword?’

‘If necessary.’

‘And ruin my career.’

‘Your career is not as important as your comfort and reputation.’

She shook her head. ‘Only someone who is not a musician would say that. But, really, don’t worry. He doesn’t mean me any harm. And I can handle him.’ She glanced away. ‘He’s looking for me. I must go. Thank you, Richard – you’re a dear.’

She patted his hand and slipped away. Her hand, as he had noted before, was hard and strong – when he saw her playing the piano, he always thought uneasily that she would have no difficulty in strangling a man with those hands.

It was one reason why he had never been affected by her beauty.

He knew she already had a following of hopelessly love-struck young men at the Academy, but he was immune to her.

He admired her and respected her, but he had always felt there was something slightly inhuman about her.