Page 35 of Murder at Madame Chambon's
In fact, when she tried to recall what Lord Dunstable looked like and what he made her feel, everything faded into insignificance compared with the tumult brought on by the man next to her.
The indistinct murmur of the audience as the orchestra tuned the instruments provided the perfect foil for Evelina and William to build on the intimacy that had received such a boost in the broom cupboard near Lady Gilray’s ballroom.
William turned his head and smiled.“I hope you enjoy the programme.I think Mozart will never sound sweeter than when I hear it with you.”
“He’s my favorite composer,” said Evelina.“I’ve always enjoyed music and never minded practising, unlike the other girls.”
“And I can’t wait to hear you play.I’d wager you were the most gifted of students.”William squeezed her hand and Evelina smiled at the warmth that washed through her, though she said, “I don’t know how I’ll feel when I’m put to the test.It’s been a while since I was at the pianoforte.”
“You’ll not be found wanting, just as you weren’t when speed and urgency were required.You know how to rise to the occasion, my love.”He was serious now.“What’s more, you put your faith in my hands without a second thought so I could lower you into the train carriage to rescue that child.That took courage.I knew then that I’d met someone incomparable.”
As the lights went down, Evelina clung to his fingers, the clandestine thrill sending tingles up and down her spine as she kept her gaze deliberately on the stage so as not to excite rumors.
She responded in a whisper.“When I saw how single-minded and commanding you were, helping people who needed help, my admiration was immense.After I was hustled away by some well-meaning people to tend to my scratches, I wanted to leap out of the carriage and search for you.I thought I’d never see you again.”
“But here we are.It’s fate that you should cross my orbit.God knows, I wouldn’t have wished ill upon Dunstable, but nothing now stands between us—”
At his hesitation, she glanced at him and saw in the gloom that his expression was tense, almost nervous, as he continued, “--getting to know each other properly.”
The music launched into the first overture as the curtain rose and the audience clapped.
Conversation was effectively halted, but Evelina imagined what she might have said in response.Another warm glow suffused her as she continued to grip William’s hand under the cover of darkness.
She’d never been happier.
And as she and Lady Perry waited for William to fetch them refreshments during the interval, the warm glow of happiness remained undimmed in his absence.For William had declared himself hers.For the first time in her twenty years, Evelina had a companion, a like-minded friend, and a stalwart champion.He was going to ask her to marry him, and she had no hesitation in saying yes for now she knew what her heart was supposed to feel for so important a matter as a lifelong union.
“Oh, I beg your pardon!Why… it’s you!”
Evelina was at first dismayed to find she’d stepped on the train of another young woman who’d turned around but was now suddenly smiling with recognition before she extricated herself from the two older women and a gentleman who continued conversing near the stairs.
“I must thank you again for the other evening,” said Lily, suddenly feeling nervous before realizing by the guileless look on the girl’s pretty face she was not of the nature to trade upon Evelina’s disadvantage.
“Oh, it was nothing and a pleasure.”The young lady dimpled.“I can imagine the distress of finding your chaperone had deserted you when you came back from the ladies mending room and getting lost in the corridor before that other nice gentleman happened upon you and of course he could not have accompanied you back to the ball alone.”
She said all this as if she truly believed William and Evelina’s deception.
Whether this was because she was young—perhaps still seventeen and only just out—or that she was happy to obfuscate a more savvy understanding didn’t matter at this moment.Evelina was simply happy to make the acquaintance of another London debutante.“And did you enjoy Lady Gilrays’s ball?”she asked.
The girl rolled her eyes.“Mama and I have different opinions on what constitutes a nice young man.”She lowered her voice as she indicated the tall, stately woman nearby who was speaking to a handsome gentleman, his dark blond hair flecked with silver, and an older, stouter gentleman with grizzled gray hair and mutton-chop whiskers whose back was to them.“My decorum is being scrutinized by my parents and godfather, who would all have me dance with such dull fellows when I like a man with a sense of humor.”
“Elizabeth!”
At a command from her mama, Miss Elizabeth rolled her eyes once again.“The voice of authority must be obeyed,” she whispered.“Nice to have made your acquaintance more properly, Miss…?”
“Miss Tarot,” Evelina supplied.“And the pleasure, as I said, is all mine, Lady Elizabeth Craddock, if I recall correctly?”
“Lizzie to you, since you are a friend of Clara.Ooh, this is so unconventional.I do hope we meet again.”
And then she was back in the fold of her family, just as William arrived with refreshments.
Evelina felt the tingle of connection once more as he touched her hand when giving her the glass, his fingers lingering a second longer than necessary.She smiled into his eyes, seeing her feelings reflected there.
At last, in the busy metropolis where she’d initially felt such a stranger, Evelina was finally finding a place of warmth and comfort with friendship … and love.
Only the sudden memory of Lord Dunstable’s murder of a few evenings before could blight the dawning joyous wonder she felt.But how could she feel guilt at her lack of sorrow when she’d hardly known her former husband-to-be?she realised.
And when she’d been spared making what would have been the biggest mistake of her life?
