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.”“No, it’s my fault.I’m a little overwrought at the moment but I shouldn’t have shouted at you; that was unforgivable.”“It was not unforgivable,” he chuckled, “but I do believe that we are now arguing over who gets to apologise.”“Yes, that does seem a little ridiculous.” She smiled.“Sorry.”He was about to assure her that she had nothing to apologise for, when he realised that she had been teasing.He laughed as he held his hand out and when she placed hers in his, he raised it to his lips and kissed her knuckles.He would have liked to kiss her properly, show her exactly how far under her spell she had him but alas, they were visible from the house and he would not risk her reputation like that.Instead, he placed her hand on his elbow as they followed Ella.“I believe I have contrived a reason for us to visit London.”“Oh?”“Yes, there is a performance of Hamlet for the next two weeks at the Piccadilly Theatre.The advertisement says it is unedited which if memory serves, would make the performance four hours long and while I may not know them well, I cannot see your brother being interested in such a long play.Just in case however, while we are away, Mother is arranging a dinner party for Lanford’s brightest and best, which I’m sure will be far more to their liking.”She nodded her approval.“Should your knack for deception worry me?”“Oh, I think your sharp mind could soon find any inconsistencies, but we must just give thanks that your eldest brother does not seem to have the same powers of reasoning.”***The Copleys had a modest, three bay, three storey townhouse in London, just off Grosvenor Street.Until his father’s death, the family had spent every summer in London, enjoying the Season.With his new duties as Justice of the Peace however, Nathaniel hadn’t wanted to commit himself this year, although they had arranged to spend the last two weeks of June in London.They had waited five days before venturing to London, first waiting for a response from the Duke of Wellington, then waiting for the Wednesday.Since Parliament broke early that day, Wellington had invited them to dine with him on the Wednesday night.They thought it best not to arrive any earlier, in case they had to wait a day or two for a response.Nathaniel had worried that the wait would upset Damaris, especially since she had been chomping at the bit from the start to find her father’s killer, but while she was a little agitated by not having any other leads to pursue, she was far more calm than he had expected.She spent part of each day reading through her father’s papers, her detectives findings and her own notes, but then she spent the rest of the day with Ella, Nate, his family or when she had to, her brother.Given that she had a distinct lack of artifice, he was surprised that she could be so civil to her brother but she assured him that she had plenty of practice reining in her emotions around her brothers and mother.She also spent a few hours in the music room, practising on the pianoforte.She wouldn’t allow anyone to listen to her but he had paused outside the door a few times, and could detect nothing wrong with her playing.Nonetheless, he didn’t press her to play publically, nor would he until her brother was gone.Christopher and Hortense seemed quite at home at Copley Hall and thanks to the hospitality that they had received, in no hurry to leave.Thanks to the rather lavish dinner party that Isabelle had planned, they also declined the invitation to accompany Nathan, Damaris and Annabelle to London.When the time came for them to leave, Damaris almost seemed reluctant, unwilling to leave Ella even although she was in good hands.Nathaniel thought it a good sign, that perhaps she was coming to terms with her losses, and her changing priorities were a sign that she was starting to move forward with her life.They and the servants arrived in the afternoon and were able to settle into the house before changing for dinner.Wellington’s home was a five bay red brick building located on Hyde Park Corner.Called Apsley House after the family who built it, the Duke had bought and renovated it, using some of the £700,000 that Parliament had awarded him for his victory at Waterloo.He greeted Damaris warmly, with a kiss on her cheek and after introductions were made, guided his three guests to the Striped Drawing room for an apéritif.“I’m sorry that Kitty couldn’t join us,” Wellington told Damaris.“She much prefers to stay with the children at Stratfield Saye, she says the air is better there.”It was well known that the Duke didn’t much like his wife so even although Nathaniel didn’t know the Duke, he saw the story for the untruth it was.“I’m sorry to miss her.Please, send her my best wishes the next time you write.”“I will,” the Duke assured Damaris, taking a seat now that everyone had a drink.He offered his condolences for her father, whom he had been friendly with, then they made small talk through dinner.Although conversation remained light and Wellington maintained a good-humoured attitude, Nathaniel thought he caught many small glimpses of his politic mind at work [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]