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When all the ladies except Miss Desmond looked blank at this, Jack seconded his uncle with the
Lady Jane made a proper show of modest hesitation, then took her place at the pianoforte and trilled out a sharp staccato version of “Barbara Allen” Perhaps she ought to have sung “Green-sleeves” instead, but Lady Jane had toocast off discourteously Nevertheless, her voice did grow a tad more shrill as Lord Berne crossed the roolances upon her
He proved equally deaf to Miss Weh her tones were sweeter and softer than Lady Jane’s By the time Miss Desmond’s turn came, there were several pairs of hostile eyes fixed on her
Colouring somewhat, she demurred
“Come now, Miss Desmond,” said Lady Streetham with excessive condescension “You needn’t be shy There are no harsh critics in this inforroup”
Miss Desh she dutifully lance about her she reloves Then she sat down and struck the first notes of an unfamiliar melody
It was nothing like the old ballads typically heard at such s was Italian, and Jack noted with dismay that the lyrics were not precisely proper for polite colanced about him nervously, but all he saonder in most of the faces about him as Miss Des nuance of the passionate song Evidently few of her listeners ell-versed in Italian He breathed a saze to her
When she’d seedon’s heart had pounded in syht Now, as he listened to her rich, beckoning voice, his heart beat with prideand a longing that made him ache
He glanced at Lord Berne and saw the sas openly displayed upon his friend’s handsome countenance Of course Tony loved her He couldn’t help it, any ht have been a tad more discreet Miss Desmond would surely be the one to suffer for his lapse, as the expression on Lady Jane’s face clearly augured Her eyes were narrowed to two black points like stilettoes aimed at her rival’s heart
When the applause had died away—Lord Berne contributing a solo tattoo for a few seconds after the others had stopped—Lady Gathers sums as well
“Very pretty, Miss Desh to drown out the other coroup to a display of your considerable gifts—though one trusts you plan to share that gift with a wider audience in tie, as yourher perform, but I daresay you have inherited her talents”
Jack heard asp, but his eyes were on Miss Desazed about hihter Though she was rather pale as she rose frolance was inscrutable She turned towards Lady Gathers and smiled
“You are too kind, My Lady,” she said
“Not at all,” said Lady Jane, taking up the gauntlet “Maht not be hoarded for sht the public”
“Ah, you believe one’s skill should be used to the coood”
“Indeed it ation”
“Then I wonder, Lady Jane, why you have not offered the public the benefit of your exquisite taste and elegance by beco a couturiere,” said Miss Desmond sweetly
Before Lady Jane had time to counterattack, Jack leapt into the fray
“Really, it is eably of Benthaood, according to them, the object examined must be useful The object, of course, refers to the matter under discussion, whether it be an abstract quality or a physical fact”