The duke sauntered over to their party and Patience stared meaningfully at him. He would have to go along with the crwth idea or the story would fall apart.
“Stanford, Radler,” he said, “and this must be the famed Lady Alice.”
Lady Alice curtsied. “Your Grace.”
“Your Grace,” Lord Radner said, “Lady Patience was just telling us that she plays the crwth and it has been unfortunately left behind at home.”
The duke’s brows raised just the slightest bit.
“You see, Papa, this is a musical evening where all the young ladies are meant to play,” Patience said, looking at him meaningfully.
“Ah, yes of course,” the duke said, instantly perceiving the situation. “And you’ve left your crwth behind in the Dales.”
“Just so.”
“Well, a disappointment all round,” the duke said. “We’d better let Lady Jenner in on the situation.” The duke turned round and saw the lady on the far side of the room. “Lady Jenner,” he called, “if you will.”
Lady Jenner heard his call and made her way to them forthwith, likely concerned there was some musical question to be settled. Which there was.
“Is there a piece of music you are looking for?” Lady Jenner asked. “I have quite the wide selection.”
“No, nothing of that sort. My daughter and I only wished to express our regrets. We’d entirely forgot this was a musical evening. Patience plays the crwth, I’d wonder if you’ve ever even heard of it, but she’s very fond of it. Sadly, it has been left behind at home, I’m afraid. Very careless on our part.”
“Very careless,” Patience confirmed.
She had expected Lady Jenner to react with some sort of disappointment or resignation. Or perhaps confusion as to how they’d forgot it was a musical evening. Why did she look like the sun had just come out on a cloudy day?
“Lady Patience, you are in luck. The earl owns a crwth, they are so rare these days, are they not? It is in the library in a glass case. Goodness, he shall be very tickled that somebody knows how to play it. Come, come—follow me!”
Patience could feel the blood drain from her face. Why did Lady Jenner own a crwth? Now she would have to play the crwth? She had not the first idea how to even begin—she’d only seen a drawing of it.
She looked toward her father, whose brow was decidedly wrinkled.
“Come now, Lady Patience, let us not tarry,” Lady Jenner said, taking her by the arm. “Goodness, this is exciting.”
She was led away and the duke followed, though Patience had not the first idea what they were to do now. Should she pretend to faint?
Lady Jenner hustled them down the hall to the library, leaving go of Patience’s arm to throw open the doors and hurry to the glass case.
While Lady Jenner’s back was turned, the duke tapped Patience on the shoulder. He pointed to the door, and then to her hand.
She thought she understood his meaning.
With no time to lose, the duke shut the door with a thump and then cried, “My dear, are you all right? I have caught your hand in the doorframe.”
Patience cried out as if in pain and then scratched at her fingers to make them red.
“Oh dear, Papa, that does hurt!”
Lady Jenner came running back to them. “What’s happened?”
Patience held her hand gently, as if every bone in it was broken. “It was just an accident. My papa shut the door and my hand was caught.”
“Gracious,” Lady Jenner said, peering down at the hand in question. “Oh dear, it is very red. I hope there is not a bone broken.”
“Likely not,” the duke said, “but I’ll have my physician have a look at it on the morrow. For now, I think the most sensible course is to get it wrapped and keep it still.”
“Yes, of course, oh dear I feel as if this is my fault, our butler is fond of forever oiling the door hinges so they do not creak, but I really feel it makes the doors rather unpredictable.”
