Chapter 16

Sixteen

T he days passed faster than she could count. Finally, Alex could join her for some entertainment. Even if the singer was tone deaf, tonight would be more fun with her sister. Phil stood near the base of a grand staircase with Alex. The music room in the Milburn's townhouse was situated on the floor above. Phil silently communicated her concerns to her sister. What they needed was some gallant gentleman to offer Alex his arm. Between his arm and the banister, Alex could safely ascend the stairs. Phil's help would be more obvious.

Phil searched for an unattached gentleman. Lord Endelton entered and immediately sought out Lady Christina. There would be no help in that quarter. They hadn't been introduced to the several other men waiting to mount the stairs. Aunt Healand chatted with a gentleman. Phil hoped he might have a son in attendance.

At the butler's invitation, guests moved from the entrance hall to the stairs. Phil and Alex stepped back. Lord Endelton tipped his head in greeting, as did Lady Christina, but neither of them paused. Aunt Healand took the arm of the gentleman she'd been conversing with. A younger man followed them. Their aunt introduced them as Lord Murdock and his son.

The son offered his arm to Phil. She stepped aside.

"My sister is the eldest." Phil said in way of explanation.

He glanced at Alex's cane and his lip curled for a moment. Under his father's withering stare, he offered his arm to Alex. Phil took Alex's cane so her sister could hold the banister, and walked as close as she dared, not trusting the young gentleman to support Alex if she needed it. At the door of the music room, the son abandoned them. Phil and Alex found seats near the back of the almost full room.

Directly in front of them sat Lady Christina and her mother. Lord Endelton was seated with them. Phil hoped the mother wouldn't turn to speak with them.

Lady Milburn stood and introduced the pianist visiting from Italy and his sister, who was singing. A hush fell over the room. For a blissful hour, Phil let her mind wander the images the music brought to mind.

A break was announced, and refreshments provided. Phil breathed a sigh of relief when Lady Christina and her mother exited to the adjacent refreshment area with Lord Endelton.

"I suppose we should go see and be seen." Alex rose unassisted from her chair.

They found their aunt still in the company of Lord Murdock and his son, the latter of the two taking the time to introduce the sisters to his friends. Among them was Mr. Newcomb, the same who Lord Endelton labeled "supercilious" and who danced with her at the last ball. Curiosity kept her in conversation with Mr. Newcomb. What exactly made a man not of the clergy supercilious?

"Have you been to see the lions at the Tower yet?" asked Mr. Newcomb.

"We have not had the pleasure." Alex, who stood closer to him, answered.

"You really should endeavor to go. And of course, you have visited Vauxhall."

Phil took her turn to answer. "I'm afraid we have not been there either."

Mr. Newcomb looked from one sister to another. "You go on outings together?"

"Usually. Don't most sisters?" asked Phil.

"I wouldn't know. I have no sisters." Mr. Newcomb raised his brows as if he had never contemplated such a thing.

Phil wondered where his questions were leading, as he didn't seem to be offering to take them to either place. "Do you have brothers?"

"Three younger ones. They're all in school."

Alex opened her mouth to ask a question at the same time the announcement was made the musicians would continue in five minutes.

Mr. Newcomb offered one arm to each sister to escort them back. Because of the crowd, Phil demurred and stepped back. Mr. Newcomb responded with a raised brow but continued to escort Alex to their previous seats. Many people took the opportunity to sit in different locations, among them were Lady Christina and her mother. However, Lord Endelton returned to his previous seat, accompanied by his mother.

He turned in the chair and spoke in a low voice. "You should have warned me."

"Warned you?"

Lord Endelton scowled. "About?—"

Lady Milburn interrupted his next words, announcing the remainder of the program. His mother rapped his knee with her fan, and Lord Endelton gave one more accusatory glare before turning to face the front.

Phil exchanged a look with Alex, who seemed as perplexed as she.

Michael could not focus on the words of the song, so he only caught bits and pieces of Italian, enough to know the women sang of a lost love. Miss Philippa should have been more forthcoming about her objections to Lady Christina. Had he known the woman had witnessed his departure from Richard's ball, he would have been more careful. Instead, Lady Christina's mother had nearly trapped him into admitting Miss Lightwood used a prosthetic. He could only hope his face hadn't betrayed the truth of his knowledge.

The music changed, but his mood did not. Miss Philippa should have been firmer in her objection. And as far as mother being like daughter, Lady Christina shared her mother's knack of pointing out the flaws in others. They had even belittled the Italian soprano for singing in Italian. Italian arias were meant to be sung in Italian. Would they have them performed in German? A thought he had shared with Lady Christina and offended her in some way.

Good riddance. Another name gone from his list. He could have spent the evening cultivating another introduction if it hadn't been for Miss Philippa. Why did any woman agree to help him?

The sharp tap of his mother's fan on his knee reminded him to clap. Around him, people stood. Was the evening over? Michael stood and helped his mother.

"You are still scowling. I was afraid you might scare the soprano with your expression. I'm going to speak with Lady Milburn. I'll meet you in the entry hall to walk home." His mother left him standing between the rows of seats. Behind him, only Miss Lightwood and Miss Philippa remained.

He turned to face them. "Why didn't you tell me the nature of Lady Christina's gossip?"

Miss Philippa's jaw tightened, and she hissed back at him. "Hush, do you want the entire room to hear?"

The room was crowded enough. Michael doubted anyone noticed. Still, he looked around. "She said she saw us leaving and that Miss Lightwood has?—"

Miss Philippa's hand on his arm stopped his next words. "I am aware of what she thought she saw."

"Then you knew and didn't warn me?"

"I only heard her mother's thoughts on the matter. Aunt Healand ended the conversation by asking how the daughter saw us if we left through the garden."

"Why would that stop the conversation?"

"Because she could have only seen if she was in the garden. I looked for others around us and saw no one. A single woman in the garden will cause as much speculation as her accusations against Alex—andra." She stuttered on her sister's name.

What did she say? Lady Christina must have been in the garden. What of their deal? Two things which should have been reported to him were not. "You should have informed me of her being in the garden. I don't want to associate with?—"

Miss Lightwood pointed her fan at him. "You are jumping to conclusions. Which I believe my sister tried not to do. There could have been any number of reasons for someone to be in a garden. Or she could be repeating what a servant told her. Now, will the two of you stop with this?"

Michael wanted to point out it was Miss Philippa's fault, however, Miss Lightwood's plea gave him pause. "Perhaps everyone is correct, and I should have never asked for your help."

"I believe it was a poor choice on both our parts. Good evening." Phil turned away with her sister in tow.

Michael watched them for several seconds before he remembered the stairs. He hurried after them. "Miss Lightwood, allow me to see you down the stairs."

The sisters looked at each other for a long moment before Miss Lightwood disengaged her arm from her sister's. "Thank you, Lord Endelton."

Miss Philippa followed behind them. Even he could tell she was not happy with him. He hadn't done anything. He'd been honest in his opinion of Mr. Newcomb, for example. And she'd chosen to ignore his advice and have a lengthy conversation with the man. In fact, she had paused to speak with him again.

Yes, it was best if their agreement ended. She had been of no help whatsoever. A tug on his arm caused him to look up as they reached the top of the staircase.

"Would you mind slowing down?" Miss Lightwood's face looked slightly pale.

"My apologies. I was thinking?—"

"More like being upset with my sister. Which I understand. We have had our upsets from time to time. I suspect even the closest of friends do. She really wanted to help you."

Michael nodded and paid extra attention to the stairs. Miss Lightwood was the innocent party in all of this. His anger should not cause her any additional harm. They reached the bottom without incident, and Miss Lightwood removed her hand from his arm. It dismayed Michael to realize Miss Philippa still stood near the top of the stairs with Mr. Newcomb. Why exactly that bothered him, he couldn't say.

"Is the invitation still open for tomorrow night?" Miss Lightwood's question reminded him to look away.

"Tomorrow night?"

"The theater?"

"Of course. Moriah will be devastated if you don't come. And I see no reason my disagreement with your sister should curtail your happiness."

"I understand it is very difficult to maintain friendships with the opposite sex during the period of courtship. Or at least the novels I have read give me that impression."

"Are you saying your sister and I would be better off as mere acquaintances?"

"It would be the proper course of action."

Michael felt himself frowning and worked to keep it from showing. "Your sister is one of the few people who seems to understand me."

Miss Lightwood's laugh was not nearly as musical as her sister's. "I believe you understand people better than you think you do."

Miss Philippa and Mr. Newcomb finally descended the staircase. He overheard Mr. Newcomb ask Miss Philippa when their at-home hours were. The man really was wrong for Miss Philippa. He should not be visiting her at all.

Lady Healand finished her conversation and joined their small group. "Nieces, we should go."

Michael leaned close to Miss Lightwood. "Do you require assistance to your carriage?"

"It would be most welcome." Miss Lightwood laid her hand on his arm. Mr. Newcomb escorted Miss Philippa out. Her laughter at something the man said hit Michael like a punch in the breadbasket. She should not be laughing with him. Mr. Newcomb was not the least bit funny.