Page 49 of Miss Delancey’s Tragicomedy

A puzzled frown broke across Lady Townes’ brow. “Is there a problem with the lessons?”

“Nooo,” Dessie said, drawing out the word to make it unconvincing. She wrinkled her nose. “Well, maybe. Robin seemed displeased. He implied… No, he didn’t imply. He said quite frankly that Mr. Cameron’s reputation might be disadvantageous to Ophelia’s.”

“But Mr. Cameron reassured us,” Ophelia said, raising the timbre of her voice to a whine. Dessie hoped to get to Trentham’s reputation in a roundabout fashion, by way of Mr. Cameron’s. Ophelia doubted it would work, but Dessie was determined. “You said you’d pay that no mind.”

“I know. And I like Mr. Cameron. Truly. But Daddy will be upset with me if—”

“No one needs to tell him! It’s just silly gossip. Daddy always says not to listen to rumors.” She glowered at her sister. “And certainly not to spread them.”

Dessie shifted position on the davenport to turn imploring eyes to Lady Townes. “Is his reputation so—so louche? Lynch says no, but then, he also said either I or my maid should stay to chaperone when they practice. And I don’t know why Robin would have said something like that about a friend, unless there was some truth to it.”

“Oh, Robin.” Lady Townes sniffed. “He’s turning into a stuffy old bore. Mr. Cameron’s reputation is no worse than one expects of a man in his profession. He has performed all over the Continent! But he’s never been accused of seducing young, unmarried students.”

“That’s what he said.” Dessie sighed with what looked like relief and smiled.

But the words twisted something around in Ophelia’s brain. “Has he been accused of seducing married students?”

Lady Townes exhaled forcefully and tossed her head. “Rumors. And knowing the women, I’d question who seduced whom.” Her eyes sparked with anger and perhaps pain that struck Ophelia as disproportionate to the discussion. “That is all I will say on the subject. Mr. Cameron is perfectly safe for Ophelia. And Robin knows it. I can’t imagine why he would malign him like that.”

“Perhaps he—”

“To be fair,” Ophelia interrupted her sister, “he didn’t say Mr. Cameron could not be trusted. He merely said that I should be wary of his reputation.”

“Perhaps he’s worried about scandal, any scandal, touching too near while he’s courting Lady Elizabeth,” Dessie said, undeterred, dancing closer to the point.

This time, Lady Townes’ reaction was telling. Her mouth drew tight and her eyes narrowed. She started to say something, then stopped.

Dessie pressed, “Do you think that explains it?”

Lady Townes picked up her tea. After a sip, she laid it down and said, “I don’t think the Barringtons would give any thought at all to what Eli is up to.”

Dessie furrowed her brow thoughtfully. Ophelia worried her sister might just overstep the bounds and ask directly if the Barringtons could be concerned about Trentham’s reputation.

She reached for her teacup and knocked it over.

“Oh!” she gasped. “I’m so sorry.” She daubed at the spot on the carpet with her napkin. “I am terribly clumsy.”

“It’s nothing,” Lady Townes assured her. “My housekeeper can clean any stain.” She cleared her throat. “Have you been to see The Magic Flute? Robin has a box at The Gaiety and asked me to accompany him tonight. He’s going alone, I gather, because he told me to bring guests if I liked.”

It sounded like a deliberate change of subject. As deliberate as spilling tea.

“Ophelia and I would be delighted,” Dessie said. “But I’ll have to check with Lynch to see if he’s free. Do you suppose Robin has asked Mr. Cameron?”

“I doubt it. Apparently, he invited Lady Elizabeth and her mother. But they said they’d just been.”

Ophelia and Dessie exchanged glances. Ophelia’s heart dipped. Lady Elizabeth was obviously trying to sidestep Trentham’s courtship. And he was still avidly pursuing her.

Lady Townes tapped her chin. “Eli would make a lovely addition, but I would leave it to my brother to invite him. They may be quarreling, which could explain why Robin would have been insulting. They are still like two schoolboys sometimes.”

“Oh, well. Boys.” Dessie stood. “Thank you. This has been a lovely visit. I hope you will call on me soon. We have to get back to the house before Mr. Cameron arrives for Ophelia’s lesson. But we’ll see you tonight. At least, Ophelia and I will.”

*

Mr. Cameron arrived punctually at three o’clock, dressed severely in a dark gray jacket and trousers, and carrying a thin black case. Dessie offered tea, which he declined with a terse smile.

“I am not a guest, Lady Lynchford. Thank you, but Miss Delancey and I should go straight to the music room. And will your abigail attend us?”

Dessie harrumphed her displeasure. “Yes, I’ll send Milly in straightaway.”