Page 39 of Needs Must
None apart from her mother, Lady Seymour and Mrs Graves nodded, possibly realising how excessively rude Lady Daventry had been, or perhaps recalling that Lord Arndale had singled her out. They would not, she sensed, want to incur his wrath.
Donna didn’t know him well, but she already knew enough about his character to accept that he was master of his own home, despite the ostentatious display of wealth in his drawing room that had made Donna shudder. She imagined that the countess and Lady Daventry were responsible for that. It was important for them flaunt their wealth for some reason. Lord Arndale probably hadn’t noticed. Men seldom did.
‘Let me put your mind at rest immediately, Lady Daventry. Accepting invitations is not something that I anticipate doing, so happily for us both our paths are unlikely to cross again after tonight.’
A collective gasp went up, but Donna also noticed several ladies struggling to contain smiles. She imagined that they had long wished to put Lady Daventry in her place themselves but had not dared.
Probing questions were shot at Donna from all angles, mostly about conditions in Jamaica, and she answered them without giving away anything about herself. Anything she did say, she knew, would be twisted and exaggerated by many of those present in order to show her in the worst possible light. These people didn’t want to know her and would turn their collective backs but for the fact that she had the earl’s support. What she would have liked to tell them was that their friendship was unwanted and that she was here under sufferance in the first place.
But they would not have believed her.
Apparently accepting that they would get nothing further from her, the conversation became more general, and no one sought to include Donna in it. She could not have participated anyway, since they were criticising neighbours with whom Donna was not acquainted. And even if she had been, she would not have involved herself in their spiteful gossip.
‘I think I can hear the gentlemen approaching,’ the dowager said, cocking her head to one side. ‘Play for us, Melanie dear. That piece that had the earl tapping his foot on the last occasion that you performed it so beautifully for him – I mean us. He was delighted. Oh, unless of course you would like to perform, Mrs Harte.’
‘Thank you, ma’am, but I do not play.’
‘Ah well, I am not surprised to hear it.’
‘Not surprised to hear what?’ the earl asked, coming directly up to his mother and taking the chair beside Donna.
‘My inability, or rather disinclination to play the pianoforte and make an exhibition of myself in front of all these grand people who naturally scare me witless. I know my place, my lord, and if by chance I happen to forget it you can be sure that there are those among your guests who would happily remind me of it.’
Donna stood and moved away to one side of the room without excusing herself. She was amused to see the unhappy faces of many of the younger females when the earl followed her a few seconds later, with his mother scowling at his back.
Cal winced when Melanie Seymour hit a wrong note. ‘You wouldn’t have much competition if you took it into your head to show off your accomplishments, Donna,’ he said with a weary sigh.
Donna wondered if she should raise objections to his casual use of her name, but she never had been one to stand on ceremony about that sort of thing. Besides, it sounded so natural slipping past his lips that the formalities seemed unimportant.
‘Stop being so ungrateful.’ Donna bit her lip to prevent a smile from escaping. ‘Lady Melanie is playing this piece especially because you complimented her performance on a previous occasion, apparently.’
‘Good God! Did I really?’ The earl looked astounded. ‘If so, I was being polite rather than complimentary, I assure you. I shall have to take more care in future.’ He emitted a long breath. ‘The smallest gesture can so easily be misinterpreted.’
‘It must be hard for you, Lord Arndale, being so sought after.’
‘Cal. My friends call me Cal.’
‘I would not dare to include myself amongst such exalted company.’
Cal chuckled. ‘I think there is little you would not dare to do.’
‘I don’t know about that, but I do know that we are being glared at by your mother and sister. And by Lady Seymour as well. As for Mrs Graves, she appears to think that my soul is already blackened beyond redemption. Anyway, you should be enjoying the performance, not engaging me in conversation.’ She made shooing motions with her hands. ‘Go away and bother someone else.’
‘Were they beastly to you?’ he asked, not moving.
‘They peppered me with questions, but I had expected as much and didn’t tell them anything they couldn’t find out easily if they are interested enough in my affairs to instigate enquiries.’ She covered her mouth with her gloved hand. ‘I think I may have mortally offended your sister though.’
‘Good for you! It’s high time someone took her down a peg or two.’ Cal stretched his legs out in front of him. ‘I blame myself for not curbing her highhanded manner long since, but Daventry is the one who should do so now, and since he’s as bad as she is it seems hopeless.’
‘I did not allow their caustic comments to worry me, if that’s what you suppose.’ She turned slightly and gave him her full attention. ‘Why did you ask me to come this evening if you knew I would get such a hostile reception?’ she asked.
‘Has it not occurred to you that I might simply enjoy your company?’
She laughed. ‘You said something along those lines earlier. I didn’t believe you then and am unsure if I do now.’
‘I also enjoy seeing you shine in an environment that is your birthright.’
‘Ha! I have my own suspicions about why you invited me, but I shall keep my thoughts to myself;’ she paused. ‘For now, at least.’
