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Gervase stepped forward and seized Felicia’s free hand. He raised it to his lips. ‘My dear Mrs de Marney. Please forgive me. It was all my fault.’ He flashed a smile at Felicia that would have ignited a bonfire.
‘Who are you, sir? Do I know you?’
‘You know my family, ma’am. My mother was Elizabeth Greystone. I am her son, Gervase North.’
Felicia’s angry expression was wiped away by one of astonishment. ‘Gervase? The last time I saw you was when you were a mere child.’
‘But I remember you, ma’am. How could one forget a beautiful creature like yourself? I have become your devoted admirer over the years.’
‘Gervase, I don’t know what to say. Of course you must come and sit at our table and take some refreshment. Nancy, why didn’t you tell me that you knew Elizabeth’s son?’
‘I – I didn’t know you two were acquainted. I only met Mr North a short while ago.’
‘Call me Gervase, please.’ He raised Nancy’s hand to his lips, but there was a mocking smile in his eyes.
Felicia left them and made her way to a table at the side of the dance floor.
‘What are you up to, Gervase?’ Nancy snatched her hand away. ‘You may think I am a naïve schoolgirl, but this is not my first time in London. When I came here with Patricia I was only fifteen, but I discovered then that people should be judged by their actions, not by their pedigree.’
‘I assume that the burly butcher friend of yours was one of those people.’
‘Don’t look down at Jedidiah Wilkins, he’s a good man. He has not had your advantages in life but he’s honest and trustworthy. Can you say the same for yourself?’
Gervase pulled a face. ‘There you have me, my dear. I admit that I am somewhat fickle in my relations with others, but there are exceptions, and I would like you to be one of them.’
‘I still get the feeling that you are playing some deep game, and somehow I am part of it, which I don’t understand.’
Gervase raised her hand to his lips and brushed it with a kiss. ‘Then it will prove very interesting to discover the truth, won’t it?’
Nancy withdrew her hand. His touch still had the power to send thrills through her body even though she knew he was teasing. ‘What are you after, Gervase? If you think Felicia will give you money, you are completely mistaken.’
‘You insult me, Nancy.’ Gervase laid her hand on his sleeve as he led her through the scented crowd to join Felicia and Claude at their table.
‘Do sit down, Gervase,’ Felicia said, smiling. ‘Claude, darling, will you catch the eye of the waiter? I think champagne is called for. Gervase is a Greystone on his mother’s side, my dear. We are virtually neighbours.’
Claude shook Gervase’s hand. ‘Delighted to meet you, old chap. I’ve only come to know Rockwood fairly recently, but if there’s anywhere I would like to spend my declining years, it would be in that area. I say that even though I’m a Londoner born and bred.’
Gervase smiled and nodded. ‘When I was a callow youth I couldn’t wait to escape from the country, but now I’m a man of the world I find myself drawn to a much quieter way of life.’
‘The countryside is all right in very small doses,’ Felicia said dismissively. ‘I belong to the world of opera. Isn’t that so, Claude?’ She glanced at her husband, who had just managed to attract the attention of a waiter bearing a tray of champagne.
‘Absolutely, my love. A talent like yours needs to be shared.’
‘I am a fanatic when it comes to opera, Mrs de Marney, but I confess I haven’t seen your latest triumph on stage.’
‘Oh, but that’s terrible, Gervase.’ Felicia turned to Nancy. ‘You must make sure that Gervase receives tickets for the best seats whenever convenient.’
‘But surely there is a show tonight,’ Gervase said innocently. ‘How can they go on without you?’
‘My understudy is taking my part. A young woman called Carlotta Corvi. She has a decent voice, but she has much to learn before she gets to my standard.’ Felicia lowered her voice. ‘I am supposed to be at home resting from nervous exhaustion. However, you will be able to see my performance next week, whenever it suits you.’
Nancy met Claude’s amused look with a wry smile. Felicia made up her own rules and everyone else had to abide by them.
‘Are you listening to me, Nancy?’ Felicia demanded impatiently.
‘Yes, ma’am. I’ll make sure that Gervase has a really good seat.’
‘I need two tickets, if that isn’t being greedy, Mrs de Marney.’
