Page 76 (1/2)

The governess looked up at the sound of her name, then back dohen it became clear she need not reply

Iris turned on her sister with soood – Euf! Honoria!"

"Sorry Was thatat Iris that Marcus supposed only she was ave her younger sister a disparaging glance, then rolled her eyes and said, "Fine"

He looked back over at the governess She appeared to be counting spots on the ceiling

"Shall we try it one last tiine what good it ave her a withering stare and snipped, "Practice overness try to stifle a laugh She finally looked up and saw hier to his lips, and she gave a little nod and smile and turned back to the piano

"Are we ready?" Honoria asked

The violinists lifted their instruoverness’s hands hovered over the keys of her pianoforte

Iris let out a roan but nonetheless put her bow to her cello

And then the horror began

Chapter Twenty

Marcus could not possibly have described the sound that came forth from the four instruments in the Smythe-Smith rehearsal room He was not sure there ords that would be accurate, at least not in polite company He was loath to call itelse

In turn, he looked at each of the wo back and forth between the keys and her , as if she were caught up in the glory of the – well, he supposed he had to call it music Iris looked as if she wanted to cry Or possibly murder Daisy

And Honoria

She looked so lovely that he wanted to cry Or possibly murder her violin

She did not look as she had in last year’s loith passion Instead she attacked her violin with griritted, as if she were leading her troops into battle

She was the glue holding this ridiculous quartet together, and he could not have loved her more

He wasn’t sure if they had intended to do the entire piece, but thankfully Iris looked up, saw his

"Marcus!" Honoria exclaimed, and he would have sworn she looked happy to see hier "Why are you here?" she asked