Page 43 of Death of a Courtesan
‘Perhaps he just wants to see you.’
Riley shook his head. ‘That I very much doubt.’
‘Could it be that he simply wanted to check upon his daughter’s wellbeing?’
Riley grunted. ‘Not a hope in hell. He barely acknowledges her existence.’
‘Poor Sophia. But at least she is assured of your attention.’
Several carriages already lined the street where Riley’s sister lived. Stout drove as close to the front door as he was able and a footman bearing an umbrella descended upon the conveyance to protect them from the worst of the elements when they alighted from it. The moment they stepped inside and divested themselves of their outdoor garments, Sophia danced up to them in a flurry of pink muslin.
‘Uncle Riley, there you are!’ she cried, beaming.
‘Indeed I am. Good evening Cabbage. How are you?’
‘Oh, exceedingly well. Good evening, Mrs Cosgrove. Thank you so much for coming.’
‘I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.’
‘Papa is here,’ Sophia said in a conspiratorial whisper, ‘and has left Jasper at home.’ Her smile widened. ‘Only imagine.’
‘I barely can.’
But Riley was still suspicious of his brother’s sudden appearance. He disliked London, his visits were always planned well in advance and usually took place after Christmas when the season was at its height and everyone worth knowing was in town. Besides, as Sophia had just implied, he was besotted with his son, fretted constantly about his delicate health and seldom went anywhere without him.
‘Shall we, ladies?’ He offered one arm to Amelia and the other to his niece.
Riley had a great deal of time for his sister Martha and her husband, the viscount Gaston. He greeted them both warmly and then submitted himself to his mother’s not-so-tender mercies.
‘There you are, Riley. Why are you always the last to arrive?’ she asked, offering her cheek for the obligatory peck.
‘I was unaware that I was, Mother,’ he replied.
‘Good evening, Mrs Cosgrove,’ his mother said stiffly. ‘So kind of you to teach Sophia the harp. Decent instructors are so hard to come by nowadays.’
Riley’s entire body stiffened at the insult. Even by his mother’s standards, this was a new low. Amelia’s fingers gave his forearm, upon which they rested, a warning squeeze.
‘Thank you so much for the compliment, ma’am. It means a great deal to me. Sophia is a diligent pupil and a delight to teach, which is why I make no charge for the service.’
‘Yes…well.’
Riley wanted to applaud. Not many people managed to reduce his mother to a stammering wreck. ‘What’s Henry doing here?’ he asked, nodding towards the portly form of his brother, holding court on the opposite side of the room.
‘It would be a sorry state of affairs if you brother could not visit London and his relations whenever the fancy takes him.’
‘Indeed, but the fancy so rarely does. It makes one wonder.’
‘Ah, there you are Riley.’
Henry crossed the room to join Riley. The brothers shook hands and Henry, who’d always had an eye for a pretty lady, greeted Amelia with far greater warmth than his mother had deemed appropriate.
‘Sophia and I will leave you gentlemen to become reacquainted,’ Amelia said, extracting her hand from the crook of Riley’s arm. ‘We must prepare for our recital.’
‘Be kind to us, Papa,’ Sophia said. ‘Mrs Cosgrove is very good but I’m just a beginner.’
‘You will be fine, Cabbage,’ Riley assured her when her father didn’t deem her entreaty worthy of a response.
‘What brings you to the capital?’ Riley asked, strolling across the room at his brother’s side, greeting acquaintances as they went.
