Read Online Prelude for a Lord by Camille Elliot - Free Book Online
Authors: Camille Elliot
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where several elderly chaperones sat snoozing. “I remember meeting you in London, my lady,” he said.
“I hardly expected you to. I’m sure I was one of dozens of women at your concert.”
“You were the only one who looked fierce enough to run me through with a sword, had you one at hand, when I mentioned that women should not play the violin.”
She gaped at him for a moment. His handsome face was impassive, and she didn’t know if he was offended or amused byher. Possibly both. “Rest assured I did not take your words to heart. To be sure, the violin became my favourite instrument.”
Especially after he had practically goaded her with his words. I would never allow a woman to play a violin in one of my concerts, for it would be most unseemly. You would do better to attempt to master the harp or pianoforte.
“I am not surprised by that information.” He cleared his throat. “I would be most interested in hearing more about your violin.”
She belatedly remembered that antagonizing him was hardly the way to solicit his help. “It was a gift from a good friend, Lady Arkright, who died three years ago.” What a paltry description for their relationship—Calandra had been the mother she’d never known.
“It belonged to her husband?”
The question irritated her. “No, it was hers. She was trained to play many instruments at the orphanage in Venice where she grew up, the Ospedale della Pietà.”
Lord Dommick’s brows rose. “I have heard of that place.”
“It is most famous for training female musicians. Calandra—Lady Arkright—trained under Vivaldi himself.”
She had his attention now. “Lady Arkright taught you to play?” he asked.
“Violin, pianoforte, and harp, although she was most gifted in violin. She always lamented that it was socially acceptable for women to play the violin on the continent but not in England.”
“How did she acquire the violin?”
“Calandra met her husband, Sir William, in Italy. On their wedding journey, he bought the violin from a peddler in Milan.”
“A peddler?” Lord Dommick looked pained.
“This is why I need help. If it were a simple matter, I could have made inquiries myself.”
“Lady Whittlesby mentioned you thought someone tried to take your violin?”
“A man stopped me on the street and asked if I would sell myviolin. I refused, but I was concerned because there is no reason for anyone to know the particular violin I own. I have never played it in public, not even for my relatives, and I practice in private. A few days later my room was torn apart by someone searching for something.”
“Was anyone injured? Anything taken?”
“No one was injured, although we were shaken since it occurred while my aunt’s niece, the cook, and the housekeeper were all in the kitchen. Nothing was taken.” Alethea again thanked the shade of Sir William for crafting such a clever hiding place for it.
“You are certain it was the violin they were looking for?”
“What else could it be? None of my jewels were taken.” She did not have many, since Wilfred’s wife, Mona, had claimed most of Alethea’s mother’s jewelry and Alethea’s father had never given her gifts, but she did have a fine pearl necklace that Calandra had given to her for her season, which had been at the top of her jewelry case.
“Perhaps the thief was interrupted?”
Alethea stopped and turned to face him. She pitched her voice low, but she said firmly, “Lord Dommick, let us speak plainly. It appears you do not believe me when I say someone wants to steal my violin. And if you doubt me, how can you help me?”
Irritation flashed across his face, quickly masked by politeness. “I apologize if I have made you feel that I am not taking your fears seriously, my lady.”
She supposed she could not completely fault him for being irritated—she had verbally challenged him twice now. She should know by now that men did not take kindly to women with opinions, especially
“I hardly expected you to. I’m sure I was one of dozens of women at your concert.”
“You were the only one who looked fierce enough to run me through with a sword, had you one at hand, when I mentioned that women should not play the violin.”
She gaped at him for a moment. His handsome face was impassive, and she didn’t know if he was offended or amused byher. Possibly both. “Rest assured I did not take your words to heart. To be sure, the violin became my favourite instrument.”
Especially after he had practically goaded her with his words. I would never allow a woman to play a violin in one of my concerts, for it would be most unseemly. You would do better to attempt to master the harp or pianoforte.
“I am not surprised by that information.” He cleared his throat. “I would be most interested in hearing more about your violin.”
She belatedly remembered that antagonizing him was hardly the way to solicit his help. “It was a gift from a good friend, Lady Arkright, who died three years ago.” What a paltry description for their relationship—Calandra had been the mother she’d never known.
“It belonged to her husband?”
The question irritated her. “No, it was hers. She was trained to play many instruments at the orphanage in Venice where she grew up, the Ospedale della Pietà.”
Lord Dommick’s brows rose. “I have heard of that place.”
“It is most famous for training female musicians. Calandra—Lady Arkright—trained under Vivaldi himself.”
She had his attention now. “Lady Arkright taught you to play?” he asked.
“Violin, pianoforte, and harp, although she was most gifted in violin. She always lamented that it was socially acceptable for women to play the violin on the continent but not in England.”
“How did she acquire the violin?”
“Calandra met her husband, Sir William, in Italy. On their wedding journey, he bought the violin from a peddler in Milan.”
“A peddler?” Lord Dommick looked pained.
“This is why I need help. If it were a simple matter, I could have made inquiries myself.”
“Lady Whittlesby mentioned you thought someone tried to take your violin?”
“A man stopped me on the street and asked if I would sell myviolin. I refused, but I was concerned because there is no reason for anyone to know the particular violin I own. I have never played it in public, not even for my relatives, and I practice in private. A few days later my room was torn apart by someone searching for something.”
“Was anyone injured? Anything taken?”
“No one was injured, although we were shaken since it occurred while my aunt’s niece, the cook, and the housekeeper were all in the kitchen. Nothing was taken.” Alethea again thanked the shade of Sir William for crafting such a clever hiding place for it.
“You are certain it was the violin they were looking for?”
“What else could it be? None of my jewels were taken.” She did not have many, since Wilfred’s wife, Mona, had claimed most of Alethea’s mother’s jewelry and Alethea’s father had never given her gifts, but she did have a fine pearl necklace that Calandra had given to her for her season, which had been at the top of her jewelry case.
“Perhaps the thief was interrupted?”
Alethea stopped and turned to face him. She pitched her voice low, but she said firmly, “Lord Dommick, let us speak plainly. It appears you do not believe me when I say someone wants to steal my violin. And if you doubt me, how can you help me?”
Irritation flashed across his face, quickly masked by politeness. “I apologize if I have made you feel that I am not taking your fears seriously, my lady.”
She supposed she could not completely fault him for being irritated—she had verbally challenged him twice now. She should know by now that men did not take kindly to women with opinions, especially
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