thirteen
ANGELINE WAS FUMING. She was so angry she couldn’t express her frustration with words, only with scoffs.
Closing and opening her fists, she paced in the sitting room. Lord Havisham needed to hear her opinion. Oh, as soon as she was capable again of producing a speech that made sense, she’d give the earl a piece of her mind. Every time she started to say something, her anger blocked her, and a string of gibberish came out.
“Honestly,” Mama said, drinking her tea as if the world weren’t ending. “I don’t understand why you’re so upset.”
“Why?” She skidded to a stop in the middle of the hessian carpet, creasing it. “I don’t know how to play the piano. That’s why. You agreed to invite a bunch of people to listen to me playing an instrument I know nothing about, and I don’t even know why.”
“Pff.” Mama rolled her eyes. “After all these years, after everything we’ve been through, you still doubt me. It hurts. Really.”
“I can’t become a skilled piano player in a matter of hours.”
“Of course you can’t, you silly. Nevertheless, you’re going to play exquisitely and leave the audience in awe. Listen, Iwas shocked as well when Lord Havisham intervened with his preposterous claim, but while you stormed off, the earl and I talked after the concert. He explained to me he didn’t like how Lady Redvers talked to you, so he wanted to teach her a lesson and said you were a great pianist. He admitted the affair went out of control. Never mind. Apparently, your success with the bow impressed him, and I have no problem admitting I was wrong and you were right about archery. Who would have thought? But I digress. Lord Havisham and I came up with the perfect plan.” She grinned. “I would’ve never thought the earl could be so protective of you. His behaviour astonished me. Such a nice behaviour, after all.”
Enough. Angeline gave up. She had to accept the fact her mother wasn’t of sound mind any longer.
“Do you trust me?” Mama asked.
“No.” She stomped a foot on the floor.
Mama glowered. “I truly am hurt.”
“I’m sure you’ll recover soon.”
“Lord Havisham told me Lord Wharton is an excellent piano player,” Mama said as if that clarified the confusion.
Not even a great piano player could speed up time and turn Angeline into a skilled musician in a matter of hours.
“He’ll play on your behalf.” Mama gave a wink.
“I don’t understand.”
“Let me explain.” She walked over to the piano— the piano that Angeline had never touched, not even to dust it —at the end of the room. “We’ll put some thick tea towels here.” She opened the piano panel, revealing all the strings and hammers. “When properly placed, the tea towels will block the hammers, silencing the piano. While in the next room, hidden from view, we’ll set up a proper piano, which His Lordship is going to play.” Mama sat in front of the piano and pretended to play it. “You’ll simply move your fingers as if you were playing while the actual soundwill come from Lord Wharton’s piano, and it’ll be a beautiful sound.” She wasn’t finished. “We’ll open this vent here.” She pointed at a vent underneath the piano. “And add a horn bell like that of a phonograph, I’ll disguise it, of course, and voila! You’ve become a pianist.”
“Ah…”
Angeline didn’t know if Mama had a stroke of genius, or if the whole idea was the most ridiculous thing ever produced after swan-shaped candlesticks because the wax dripped everywhere and the swan looked grotesque… goodness, she was losing her mind.
“We can’t call the whole thing off. Lord Havisham will be humiliated, and Lady Redvers needs to think more carefully before she disparages you.”
Actually, Angeline didn’t care about what Lady Redvers did or said. “I don’t want to do this.”
“I know what you’re thinking,” Mama said.
“I seriously doubt that.”
Mama pretended to play again. “You and Lord Wharton need to be coordinated, otherwise your fingers will keep moving when there’s no music or vice versa, which would be a problem.”
No, she hadn’t thought about that at all. “Mama, this is…” There again. She was at a loss. No word came out. Anger caused her tongue to trip on the words.
“The baron will come here to practise with you.” Mama touched her hand. “As I told you, I’ve thought of everything. I’m not going to let the viscountess win.”
Well, two could play that game. “If I have to do this then I want something in return.” Angeline jutted out her chin. “If I find a man I wish to marry, you won’t do anything to stop me.”
Mama’s expression froze. “I’ll certainly voice my opinion.”
“But you won’t doanythingelse.”
