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if they were different from their own. She absently rubbed the last two knuckles of her left hand.
    And the truth was that she needed his help, despite his archaic thoughts about women playing violins and his tendency like others of his sex to be dismissive of women, specifically her. “We should agree upon a time when you will call to see the violin.”
    “Perhaps next week—”
    “I doubt my aunt’s temper would survive another intruder in her home. Are you available tomorrow?”
    “Tomorrow?” He stared at her for a long moment before sighing. “Yes, I can call in the afternoon.”
    “Excellent. We are at number six, Queen Square.”
    He nodded and was silent as he walked her back to her aunt, but the stiff set of his head seemed to indicate he was annoyed at the disruption to his schedule. Lady Whittlesby had thankfully left her aunt. Lord Dommick bowed before marching away.
    Alethea sat next to her aunt. The ballroom was hot, for there seemed to be more people than usual attending tonight. Or perhaps she was still upset from her encounter with Lord Dommick.
    “What did he say to you when you first met him?” Aunt Ebena asked with a stern look in her eye. “And do not attempt to deceive me. I know something happened momentous on your part, although probably not on his.”
    Aunt Ebena had a way of aiming for the truth in such a way that it robbed Alethea of any of her dignity. “He treated me as I was then, a silly girl in her first season.”
    “Lord Dommick does not have a reputation for cruel wit. I cannot believe he would slice you to ribbons simply because you were being silly.”
    “I was silly. It was the end of his concert, the largest that the Quartet had given that season. They were wildly popular, and I was not the first nor the last to speak to him after it ended. I was enthusiastic in my praise of the violin concerto he had composed, and then I mentioned that I played the violin. He expressed the opinion that it was unfeminine for a woman to play the instrument.”
    “It is unfeminine. The use of your arms is quite excessive.”
    Alethea remained silent. She had already borne the brunt ofLord Dommick’s disapproval and did not intend to also allow her aunt the pleasure of it.
    “I would wager,” Aunt Ebena said, “that after that encounter, you returned home from London and worked even harder to master your violin over your other instruments.”
    Alethea managed to reply in a conversational tone. “I enjoy the violin very much. And Lady Arkright favoured it as an instrument as well.”
    “But you would perhaps have worked harder at the more socially acceptable instruments had it not been for Lord Dommick. Am I correct?”
    “Your friends do not complain when they ask me to play the pianoforte or the harp at their evening gatherings.”
    “I am not denying your talent. You are better than some of the professional musicians I have heard, which forces me to conclude that you are somewhat gifted.”
    It seemed Aunt Ebena could never deliver a compliment without trying to spoil it at the same time. But her faint praise made Alethea smile to herself, although she didn’t look at her aunt.
    Aunt Ebena nodded. “But now I understand your reaction to Lord Dommick.”
    And his reaction to her had been supremely uninterested, which may have been why she’d spoken so bluntly. She did not care to be the centre of attention, but she also did not appreciate being overlooked.
    She had not truly challenged herself on her violin since Calandra died, but perhaps now was the time to push herself to her limits, especially with her newly healed left hand. She did not know how she would accomplish it, but she would find a way to acquire a copy of Lord Dommick’s latest composition and learn to play it herself, as well as he did.
    He would not overlook her then .

CHAPTER FOUR

    T hat ugly prickle began along the back of her shoulders just as Alethea turned onto Milsom Street.
    She took a deep breath, then