Read Online Madrigals And Mistletoe by Hayley A. Solomon - Free Book Online

ain’t she?” she remarked. Ancilla, divining her grace was referring to her youngest and dearest, nodded emphatically and declared she was, despite her obvious lack of ability at the pianoforte and other gentler accomplishments.
    At this, her grace chortled and afforded Ancilla a sharp stare. “Some men don’t care a button for such poppycock! By all accounts my son don’t seem to care a tuppence ha’penny for such fandangled nonsense!”
    At last, then, the duchess was coming round to the subject of her visit. The very thought of Rhaz and his appreciative eyes stirred the older Miss Camfrey deeply, but she did not show it, for above clutching the little handle of her teacup overhard, her face remained impassive.
    Seraphina’s eyes sparkled as she nodded vigorously. “Indeed, ma’am, I believe that may be true, for your son, you know, rescued me from a most shocking coil! He seemed not to mind overmuch that my song was off-key and my register sadly flat! I declare if he had not come to my aid the other evening, I would have been quite undone!”
    At this, the duchess nodded her head sagely, stating that most likely she would have been ruined, for a young lady without accomplishments was hardly worth a sou on the marriage mart. Seraphina was inclined to take her up on this, but sank back into her chair, suddenly silenced. Cordelia hoped the duchess’s hasty words would have the unexpected outcome of making Seraphina more reconciled to the arrival of her music master.
    Just as she conceived those thoughts, Pendleton interrupted with an apologetic frown upon his face. It appeared that Captain Argyll had arrived, but without forewarning there was nothing prepared in the servant’s quarters. He had mentioned something about the King’s Arms, but . . .
    â€œNonsense, Pendleton! Admit him at once! His possessions may be deposited in the guest chamber above stairs.” Ancilla turned to the duchess. “I would dislike it excessively if he were forced to kick his heels in the foyer. I interviewed the man yesterday and can vouch that he has breeding, at least, if not birth!”
    The duchess raised her eyebrows a fraction and helped herself to a sugared bun. Mrs. Camfrey looked suddenly uncertain. “That is, if you do not mind . . . ?”
    â€œMind?” Her grace looked querulous. “It is your home, Ancilla! If you wish to admit upper servants to your drawing rooms there is nothing to be said against it!” Deceptively amiable, the barb on the duchess’s tongue was quite lost on Ancilla, who smiled happily and reiterated her orders to Pendleton.
    Seraphina’s face instantly turned mutinous, but under the watchful stare of the duchess, she could hardly vent her spleen. She determined at once that she would be gracious but aloof. If the music master saw immediately that she was not a mere chit out of the schoolroom, he might revise his treatment of her.
    Seraphina, indeed, hoped that he would instantly hand in his notice, for it was one thing to engage to tutor a schoolroom miss, quite another to tackle a young lady of the first stare. Seraphina knew she was that, for she had been offered numerous rides in the park and particular attentions by gentlemen of quite superior rank. The experience was quite heady for one of her youth and innocence. Cordelia just hoped that the novelty would not turn her head, because for all her frothiness she was very good-natured and an excellent little sister.
    They had not long to wait, for Captain Argyll had been deposited not in the foyer, as Ancilla suspected, but in the blue salon just adjacent to the more formal receiving room. He entered briskly and with a good-humoured smile made his bow. Ancilla made the introductions, the duchess condescending to slightly nod, the only evidence of this being a slight bending in one of the plumes on her turbaned head.
    Captain Argyll looked a little shocked to see her. This