Where the Stars Meet the Sea by Heidi Kimball

Author:Heidi Kimball [Kimball, Heidi]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2020-03-01T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Later that afternoon, worn out from our time in the sun, I made my way up to my room. I carried my pelisse, wondering why I’d thought it necessary to bring it along. Lady Ellen stood just outside my door. “Ah, there you are, Miss Graham. I wanted to pass along my mother’s wish to have a musical display this evening. I hope you will be a willing participant. Lady Margaret and I don’t wish to shoulder the burden of tonight’s entertainment alone.”

The thought of performing in front of others made the contents of my stomach heave to and fro. I had practiced the pianoforte only twice in the week since our arrival, including the afternoon Halstead had caught me performing a song that was most assuredly not appropriate in company. But I knew what Aunt Agnes expected of me. Tonight there would be no escape.

“Of course I will, though I do hope your standards are sufficiently low.”

Lady Ellen smiled. “We are not at a musical soiree in London. And I sketch much better than I play, so you need not worry that you are out of your depth.”

I nodded, desperate to find some time to practice before it was time to dress for dinner.

She cocked her head to one side. “Juliet, were you upset by the Wollertons’ arrival?”

“No,” I protested. “Why would I be?”

“I mean no offense. Only once you laid eyes on Lady Margaret, it was as though . . .” She began to nod. “You knew, didn’t you? Somehow you knew the Wollertons were coming. But how—?”

“I confess I did know they were coming.” I dipped my head in acknowledgment. “Your grandmother told me as much. But she made me promise . . .”

Lady Ellen tipped her head back and nodded once more, her lips pursed together. “Ah, I see now.” She huffed. “How like Grandmother, the old fiend. I should have known she’d have something like this up her sleeve. He may not have shown it in company, but Halstead will be furious.” She regarded me closely. “Are you and Halstead—?”

“No,” I said much too quickly, shaking my head. “No.” A soft compassion settled over her face, and I couldn’t bear it. “You’ll have to excuse me, but I fear I must practice before dinner, lest I embarrass myself.”

She let me go, but I felt her gaze upon me as I walked away. I still carried my pelisse, having been deterred before returning to my room, but I had no wish to turn back and face more of Lady Ellen’s searching questions.

There was a large pianoforte in the main drawing room, where we would play tonight, but I could not practice there without being overheard. Instead I made my way toward the room where I’d lost my temper with Halstead. At least there was little chance of anyone hearing me play there. But as I turned down the passageway, I passed the duchess’s sitting room, where I could not miss the heated conversation taking place between Halstead and his mother and grandmother.

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