Lady Devon looked at her son. “Easton, you shall accompany us.”
Easton looked quite pleased, and he smiled at Miss Parker. “Of course. I’d be delighted, Mother.”
The fact that she smiled back sealed the deal for Jacob. He did not care for the gleam in Easton’s eyes at the prospect of spending the evening with his ward. “There’s no need for Easton to attend, Lady Devon. I’ll be happy to escort Miss Parker,” he said. The last thing he wanted was for Audrey to become more enthralled with the young viscount.
Lady Devon clapped. “That’s wonderful, my lord. Lady Castor will be thrilled to be the first to host the new Lord Fletcher at atonevent. She will be the talk of the town. I shall have my carriage come around to fetch you both, and we can arrive together.”
“Whatever you think is best, Lady Devon,” Jacob said. He had no idea if his presence at a musicale could rise to the importance Lady Devon claimed, but he would do whatever he must for the opportunity to be in Audrey’s company for the evening.
“Good. Now that’s decided, Lady Kathryn, will you play for our guests this evening?” Lady Devon asked her daughter.
222
Audrey was thrilled thatJacob had agreed to accompany her to the musicale, but she felt her friend stiffen beside her at her mother’s request..
She wanted to help her overcome her anxiety. “Lady Kathryn, may I turn the pages for you?”
Kathryn immediately smiled, and it transformed her face. She would never be considered beautiful by theton,but that didn’t matter to Audrey. Lady Kathryn was a lovely young woman, and she was beginning to like her newfound friend a great deal.
“That would be most welcome. Thank you, Miss Parker.”
The two young women walked over to the pianoforte, and Lady Kathryn took a seat on the bench. “I don’t think I can do this,” she whispered. “I don’t know why Mother asked. She knows I get so nervous performing for others.”
“I know you can do it. Pay no mind to anything else. I’m here with you, and that’s all you need to concentrate on.”
“I’ll try.” Kathryn placed her fingers on the keys.
“That’s it. Now focus on the music and nothing else,” Audrey said. “Let the music fill your soul with joy.”
Kathryn nodded and began to play, haltingly at first, until she found her rhythm. By the end of the piece, her confidence was soaring.
“Bravo. You did wonderful,” Audrey said, whispering in her ear while the others exploded in applause.
“You were right. I focused only on the music, and my nervousness lessened,” Kathryn said.
“That’s the secret. Let go of your fears and let the music fill you.”
“Thank you, Audrey.”
“My pleasure.”
The two women had started to walk back to the sitting area when Jacob addressed Audrey.
“Miss Parker, perhaps you’d play for us as well,” he said.
Audrey felt a moment of panic as she looked at him. What was he doing? She didn’t want to upstage her new friend, but the real reason for her hesitation was that she felt the same anxiety that had gripped Kathryn, as she’d never played for anyone besides family before. The only reason Jacob knew she played at all was that he’d heard her play when she’d been deeply engrossed in the melody, and she hadn’t known he was standing in the doorway.
All eyes were focused on her, and her nerves threatened to overwhelm her, but she certainly didn’t want to offend their hosts by refusing. Could she take her own advice and merely focus on the music? “Of course. I’d be delighted,” she said with a slight quiver to her voice.
Kathryn walked back to the pianoforte with her. “Do you require sheet music? I’m sure there’s something here you can use.”
Audrey shook her head. “There’s no need. I know the song quite well. Will you stay with me?”
“Of course.”
She took a deep breath and began. Her fingers flew across the keys, and when she began to sing, there was silence in the room. She let the music carry her away and fill her with joy.
When she played the final note, she looked at her new friend.
