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‘So the Gorgon let you off this morning?’
Nancy giggled. ‘Don’t let Miss Sharp hear you call her that.’
‘Even if it is very appropriate,’ Tamara said, smiling.
‘What is so amusing?’ Felicia swept into the room looking glamorous in a diaphanous silk dressing robe, tied at the waist with a pink satin sash. Her blond hair was loose around her shoulders and, devoid of face paint, she looked younger than her age, even though she was four years short of sixty. Claude, on the other hand, had always looked more mature than his years, and now his hair, although abundant, was silver, as was his moustache.
‘I was being rude about the girls’ teacher,’ he confessed with a guilty smile.
‘Dreadful woman,’ Felicia said bluntly. ‘Anyway, it’s nice to see you again, Nancy. How is everyone at Rockwood? I didn’t have the time to enquire last evening.’
‘Very well, as far as I know, ma’am. I’ve been in London for the past four months and the end of the course is still four or five weeks away.’
Felicia shrugged and sat down in a comfortable chair by the window. ‘I doubt if they can teach you much in that time. What you need is some town polish. Don’t you agree, Claude?’
He gave her a searching look. ‘What have you in mind, my love? I know that tone of voice and you’re plotting something.’
‘How well you know me, my darling.’ Felicia raised her hand to her brow and sighed. ‘You know how busy I’ve been this season.’
‘I do, of course. Where is this leading, Felicia?’
She fluttered her long eyelashes. ‘As you are aware, I’ve been looking for an accompanist for some time, and I really need someone trustworthy to act as my personal assistant.’
‘You have Violet. I thought you were satisfied with her.’
‘Violet does my hair and looks after my clothes, Claude. I’m not talking about another lady’s maid. As I said, I need an accompanist for rehearsals, and that person could handle my appointments, taking some of the work from you, my love.’
‘Have I ever complained, Felicia?’ Claude’s extravagant moustache quivered and Nancy thought for a moment he was going to cry.
‘No, my love. But I need someone young, who will run errands for me. In short I want Nancy to come and work for us.’
Nancy stifled a gasp of surprise. ‘You want me to leave the Academy, ma’am?’
‘You can hardly do what I need if you’re wasting your time at that school for silly debutantes.’
‘But Rosie and Patricia wanted me to undertake the full course, ma’am.’
‘You will learn a lot more from me. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before. You are ideal, Nancy. I’ve heard you play the pianoforte and I know you accompanied Patricia during her attempt to conquer the operatic world. You will come with Claude and me when we attend parties and other functions, and you will fend off would-be admirers, using your youth and charm to persuade them to leave me alone.’
‘That sounds very exciting,’ Tamara said in a low voice. ‘I’d rather do that than attend stuffy deportment classes and listen to lectures on etiquette.’
‘Your friend is right.’ Felicia bestowed a smile on Tamara. ‘You will be out in society, Nancy, but with none of the fuss and bother of becoming a debutante.’
‘Or the expense,’ Claude said drily. ‘I don’t imagine that Rosalind or Patricia intended you to do the season.’
‘No, of course not.’ Nancy looked from one to the other. ‘But perhaps I should ask for their permission before I do anything.’
‘Nonsense,’ Felicia said sharply. ‘I am the head of the family. I am the matriarch and they will do as I bid. What do you say, Nancy?’
‘I suggest you think about it, Nancy.’ Claude sent a warning glance in his wife’s direction. ‘No need for you to decide today.’
‘What will I do without you?’ Tamara’s pretty lips drooped and her eyes filled with tears.
‘Don’t be such a baby.’ Felicia threw up her hands. ‘I’m sure you don’t need Nancy to hold your hand.’
Tamara sank down on the nearest chair and bowed her head. ‘Of course not, ma’am.’
‘Don’t worry, Tamara,’ Nancy said hastily. ‘I haven’t decided yet.’
