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‘Freddie’s a nice chap, but he’s not exactly sparkling company, Nancy. You can do much better for yourself than a viscount whose ambition is to be a country squire, even if he is disgustingly rich.’
‘You don’t know what you’re talking about, Gervase. I am not looking for a wealthy husband.’
‘Come now, my love. All young women are on the lookout for a moneyed suitor. But I’m afraid Freddie is already spoken for, in case you’re interested. His mama has arranged a match for him with the Duke of Brocklebourne’s daughter, Lady Letitia. She looks a bit like a horse and all she’s interested in is hunting and shooting, but she’s the ideal partner for our Freddie with his st-st-stammer. What normal heiress would want to be tied to such a boring fellow?’
‘Why do you have to spoil everything by saying horrid things, Gervase? It was a pleasant evening until now.’
Gervase proffered his hand. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. Of course Freddie is a fine fellow. I was just teasing you.’
Nancy had no answer to this but she allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. As they whirled around to the strains of a waltz she caught sight of Freddie standing with his mother. Tiny Lady Dorrington seemed to grow in size as she shook her finger at him, and he bowed his head like a naughty schoolboy. Once again Nancy’s heart went out to him. He was too nice and too well brought up to argue with his mama, but perhaps it was time that someone stood up to the small termagant. Nancy had seen this sort of behaviour at first-hand when she was just a child and taken into service by the vicar of Rockwood and his wife. Mr Shaw was too wrapped up in godly matters to pay attention to what was going on in his household, and Mrs Shaw, while paying lip service to her husband, was a tyrant when it came to those who served her. Nancy winced at the memory of the cane that Tabitha Shaw had used with grim satisfaction when a servant displeased her in any way.
‘I have upset you,’ Gervase said apologetically. ‘I am a brute. I apologise humbly, Nancy.’
His comical guilty expression made her laugh in spite of everything. ‘You flatter yourself, Gervase. I wasn’t even thinking of you.’
‘Now I am hurt.’
‘No, you are not,’ Nancy said, laughing. ‘I think it would take a lot more than that to upset you. I remember how you behaved at Rockwood Castle. That’s something I will never forget.’
‘I allowed frustration with my family to get the better of me, Nancy. I bear no grudges against the Careys or anyone at Rockwood.’ Gervase glanced over her shoulder. ‘I think Claude is signalling to us. It looks as if the diva is planning to leave, no doubt exhausted after her performance this evening. You are being summoned, my dear.’
‘Then I’ll say goodbye, Gervase. I doubt if we will be seeing much of each other from now on anyway.’
‘I wouldn’t bet on that,’ Gervase said as she walked away.
Nancy chose to ignore him, but as she joined Felicia and Claude in the splendid entrance hall, she saw Freddie hurrying towards them.
‘I-I just wanted to th-thank you for your performance, Mrs d-de Marney. It was an unexpected treat.’
Felicia moved towards him, smiling and proffering her hand. ‘It was my pleasure, my lord.’
‘J-just Freddie, please, ma’am.’ He bowed over Felicia’s hand, but his gaze travelled to Nancy and his smile was for her alone.
‘It was a wonderful evening, Freddie,’ Felicia said graciously. ‘We would stay but I have to get plenty of rest. I have a performance on Monday evening, I am sure you understand.’
‘Of course, ma’am. Perhaps I m-might be permitted to call upon Miss Sunday one afternoon?’
Claude opened his mouth as if to answer, but Felicia shook her head. ‘Out of the question, I’m afraid. Nancy has work that keeps her busy most of the time.’
‘My love, surely …’ Claude began, but was silenced by a meaningful look from Felicia.
‘The cab seems to have arrived, Claude.’ Felicia picked up her skirts and headed for the entrance where a footman stood to attention by the open door. ‘Come along, Nancy. Don’t dawdle or the cabby might decide to drive on.’
Nancy gave Freddie an apologetic smile as she hurried after Felicia and Claude. ‘It was a lovely evening, Freddie.’
He followed her to the doorway. ‘I would like to s-see you again, N-Nancy.’
She hesitated. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Gervase hovering in the background. ‘I’m taking a cab to Miss Maughfling’s Academy in Regent’s Park tomorrow morning at ten o’clock. Felicia rarely rises before eleven, unless there is a special rehearsal.’
‘I might just be passing your house in John Adam Street at that time.’
‘How did you know where we live?’
He tapped the side of his nose and smiled. ‘I h-have my s-spies.’
‘Nancy, come along.’ Felicia’s irate voice made Nancy turn with a start and she hurried to join Claude and Felicia as they climbed into the hackney carriage.
Next morning Felicia and Claude left for the theatre without Nancy. They had a meeting with Garson Thorne to discuss a new contract, although Nancy knew that Felicia had been receiving offers from other opera companies. It was likely to be a protracted discussion that did not include Nancy, and at precisely ten o’clock she left the house in John Adam Street with Molly in attendance. Nancy had wanted to visit the Academy to see Tamara on her own, but she knew that she would be in trouble if Felicia discovered that she had been out and about unaccompanied by her maid. Molly hailed a cab and it stopped at the kerb, but a brougham drew to a halt behind it and Freddie leaped out onto the pavement.
