Page 84 of A Symphony for the Earl

Fiona didn’t expect Valentina and Lady Amelia to stir until luncheon the next morning, but she could not sleep past ten o’clock. She spent the early morning between excitement that her father was actually alive and impatience to see Richard and give him a piece of her mind.

She had barely admitted to herself that she was in love with the amadán then he makes an assignation with his former mistress? She would teach him how an Irishwoman should be treated. But as the hours passed, her anger receded, replaced by disappointment and worry. She did love him; perhaps Eleanor Davenport was just mean-spirited and cunning. She should at least allow him to explain.

Betty dressed her in pale-green dotted swiss muslin and styled her hair. Fiona fumbled with the buttons of her hunter-green spencer, anxious to find Richard. The diamond on her fourth finger glinted in a swathe of sunlight.

Downstairs, the breakfast room was empty. A footman entered, carrying a silver tray with a letter. “For you, miss,” he intoned.

She recognized her father’s bold scrawl on the envelope, ripped it open, and eagerly unfolded the paper.

Acushla:

I find myself impatient to see my darling girl this morning, so I have sent word to Lord Seldon asking if I might come earlier. We agreed on two o’clock, as he has business in town earlier. This afternoon cannot come soon enough.

Your loving father,

G. R.

“Do you wish to send a response, miss?”

“No, thank you. I wonder if I might have a croissant and some chocolate? I doubt if Valentina or Lady Amelia will be down for breakfast.”

“I will inform the kitchen staff, miss.”

She should have summoned a housemaid. A dhiá, the number of servants and their particular duties was mind-boggling. How on earth was she fit to be a countess?

Things were in such turmoil. Not only was she fighting with Richard again, but what would her father expect? No doubt he would find some risky undertaking to take them far across the world, a wild scheme to serve his thirst for adventure. She had little enthusiasm for such a future and fully intended to marry Richard until her jealousy got the upper hand. But he was worth fighting for, even if he was still attached to Eleanor Davenport. She wouldn’t give up so easily.

Fiona took a seat at the breakfast table, absently unfolding her napkin as a maid brought her breakfast. She had just bitten into a pastry when Valentina appeared in the doorway, covering a yawn. Although her hair was arranged, she wore a velvet dressing gown tied at the waist.

“Valentina, I am amazed. It is not yet eleven o’clock. I didn’t expect to see you or Lady Amelia before noon.”

The same maid reappeared, bearing another china cup and a plate of toast. Valentina sank into the chair beside Fiona.

“I drank far too much champagne last night and needed something to settle my stomach. How can you look so fresh and beautiful this early? I vow, neither of us went to our rooms until four thirty.” She took a sip of chocolate, closing her eyes. “Mmm…this is heavenly. I didn’t take a bite of food last night in all the excitement.”

“I noticed you spent quite a bit of time dancing with Denys last night. Did you tell him how you feel?”

“I didn’t have to, Fiona,” she bubbled. “Because he confessed he loved me. He’s hidden his feelings for the longest time but couldn’t stand the thought of my marrying Viscount Atterbury.”

“That’s wonderful news, Valentina. I’m so happy for you both.”

“Denys thought I deserved more than he could provide. Can you imagine? As if I could want anything else—I’ve worshipped him since we were children. But we’ll need Richard’s permission to marry. Fiona, what shall I do if he says no?”

“Anyone can see how much you care for each other. You and Denys belong together, and Richard will see reason.”

“I hope that’s true, but he is so…so…”

“Overbearing? Inflexible?”

“Oh, never.” She flushed. “At least, not anymore. Since he asked you to marry him, he acts differently. He loves you.”

“But you don’t know the truth.” She refused to meet Valentina’s eyes. “We only became engaged because Mrs. Drummond-Burrell and Lady Sefton discovered us in a compromising position at her party. Richard had no other recourse.”

Valentina smiled. “What nonsense. Do you think anything on earth could make Richard marry you if he didn’t want to? I promise he would have found another way. For heaven’s sake, Fiona, he lost his head in the middle of a soirée.”

“Last night before the ball started, I was sure he loved me. But he had this…intimate conversation with Eleanor Davenport. And later she said he had asked to visit her and inferred horrible things.”

“I wouldn’t put it past that woman to lie outright. She has never accepted Richard’s decision to leave.”