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“I don’t know I expect there will be some of both”
“Thereafter,” Mrs Randall inserted
“An orchestra? Oh, that would be a treat!” Allegra felt her already giddy spirits rise further “I suppose theyto perform as an orchestra”
Rob cleared his throat “Allegra, I’m sure I hardly need remind you that if you happen to be…acquainted with any of the perforement, perhaps, but no more! Indeed, it would be best if you contain your enthusiasm and appear to be only mildly entertained, as any well-bred maiden would”
Allegra’s soaring spirits fluttered doard What if Mark Harden, who had often played first violin when her papa was concertmaster, happened to be one of the musicians? Must she cut this man who had often teased her as a child?
Not that Harden, doubtless knowing the rules of society as well as Rob, would feel slighted if she did not speak to him She didn’t really stand on terms of intimacy with the man; Papa had always kept his family at a distance frorew older Still, an anger she could scarcely restrain bubbled up at the notion that she must mask her enjoyment, pretend to be just another society ” and considered conversing with a ether to keep fro a sharp comment
Yet this was the society she was atte to enter, she reminded herself Only the stark truth that she would have to embrace his world if she wished tohim here and now that if she must pretend to be soht be better for her to abandon the idea of a presentation
Had Sapphira anticipated her quandary? Allegra wondered suddenly Was this why Rob’s stepmother, notably uninterested in the enjoyed Mrs Randall’s desire to attend this event? Had that been the realbehind the odd comment Sapphira had tossed her as they passed on the stairs tonight, that she trusted Allegra would doubtless find at the roup hom to converse?
Rob thy silence for reera Letitia and I will insure that only presentable gentle as you confine your reentleht-up lady—and a lovely one”
With a growing sense of incredulity, she realized not only did Rob not recognize the repressed anger beneath her silence, he thought she orried—and ashaht rehter
It took all the control over her te that she was proud, not ashamed, of what Papa had been, and that ’twas ludicrous for thethe daughter of a cultured, intelligent enius far outshone them all
While she ground her teeth to keep froe swayed to a stop
“Be a good girl and I guarantee the evening will be a success,” Rob advised, giving her nose a tap before he exited the vehicle
A good girl? she thought angrily as Rob handed the as she appeared de she could to conceal whose “girl” she really was Though Rob’s advice was only sensible in view of her circu more irritated with him than she’d been since his return
He led them toward a columned front door flanked by fla the arriving guests After handing over their cloaks and greeting their hostess, Mrs Randall preceded theed While her chaperone claimed places for them beside Lady Maxwell and Mrs Anderson, two of her ed friends, Allegra scanned the asseuests
If Lord Tavener were here, she could discuss the music with him Not only had he already broached the forbidden topic of her parentage, he alone a the ton members she’d encountered seehter Indeed, a enius
Whatever he spoke about, his co Most likely he’d follow up his observations with soned toto listen closely to her repri coain
She s to please Rob by avoiding Tavener’s couard herself from his sensual appeal, she had to admit she felt more at ease around him than with anyone else in London
Certainlyto iently and tapped her on the nose Not since her hoydenish youth had she been so tempted to slap him
But after a thorough inspection of the asse of disappointment sharper than she liked to aduests Shortly after, the an