boys. She had promptly started a fistfight with the largest one, and they had all become fast friends.
Aunt Ebena took a sip of tea, then said to Alethea, “I had never thought you to be so weak that you would allow someone to bully you.”
Alethea’s neck and ears grew hot.
“We should never allow someone to bully us into doing something against what we know to be right, simply because it is easier to give in.” For a moment, there was a tightness around Aunt Ebena’s eyes and in her tone, but it was quickly gone, and Alethea did not feel comfortable asking about it.
“Even if my decision puts others in danger?” Alethea said.
“I am not fully convinced we are in danger,” Aunt Ebena said. “Was the thief indeed searching for your violin? Even if there were proof, I would advise you not to allow someone as vulgar as Mr. Golding to bully you into doing anything.”
Alethea could not see Aunt Ebena allowing anyone to bully her. “Lord Dommick made an observation about the violin belonging to an Italian nobleman because it was a custom order. You would not possibly be acquainted with any Italian noblemen, would you?”
Alethea had been half joking, but Aunt Ebena stared off into the far corner of the room.
“Aunt?”
“Tania, Lady Fairmont, is descended from an Italian count on her mother’s side,” Aunt Ebena said. “I would not have recalled that were she not holding her ball in a few days’ time.”
“Would Lady Fairmont be familiar with other Italian noble families and recognize the initials from the violin?”
“You will have to ask her.”
“Could we visit her?”
Aunt Ebena frowned. “Tania is planning the ball right now and probably would not be at home to visitors.”
“After the ball?”
“Unfortunately, three days after the ball she will be removing to her country estate for a few weeks. If she is preparing to move her household, she may not see me then either. You shall have to speak to her at the ball.”
Alethea chewed her lip. “A ball is not an ideal place to have a conversation.” She attended very few balls since Aunt Ebena disliked them and Alethea preferred listening to music rather than dancing to it, especially if the musicians were indifferent. However, Aunt Ebena would never miss an event by Lady Fairmont, one of her close friends and one of the most respected residents of Bath, so they were already expected.
“Your only other option would be to write,” Aunt Ebena said. “Do you want your answer or not?”
“Yes, you’re right.”
“You should copy the initials and show it to her,” Margaret suggested.
“That’s a good idea. I shall send a copy to Lord Dommick as well.”
“Tania may not know many Italian noble families or anyone with those initials,” Aunt Ebena said. “If she doesn’t, do not press her.”
“Or she may immediately know whom the initials refer to. Perhaps my problem will be solved before next week.” To not seeLord Dommick again, except for brief, cold exchanges at private parties and the assemblies, should cause her rejoicing and relief, but . . . that was before he’d played Vivaldi for her. And she had to admit that a part of her longed to see the expression on his face when she played a particularly difficult violin piece of his own composition as brilliantly as himself.
“I would not be so hopeful,” Aunt Ebena said.
Margaret sighed and swiped her finger through a drop of jam on her dress. “I still would have liked to stab the thief with Mrs. Dodd’s knife.”
CHAPTER FIVE
A lethea walked through the doors to Lady Fairmont’s home and immediately felt as if everyone were staring at her.
She surreptitiously studied her dress to make sure mud wasn’t splattered across it. The deep lace at the hem was unblemished cream. The rosy-orange colour was perhaps a trifle unusual for an unmarried woman, but Alethea felt her advanced age entitled her to shed insipid whites in favour of colours that suited her better.
Aunt Ebena took a sip of tea, then said to Alethea, “I had never thought you to be so weak that you would allow someone to bully you.”
Alethea’s neck and ears grew hot.
“We should never allow someone to bully us into doing something against what we know to be right, simply because it is easier to give in.” For a moment, there was a tightness around Aunt Ebena’s eyes and in her tone, but it was quickly gone, and Alethea did not feel comfortable asking about it.
“Even if my decision puts others in danger?” Alethea said.
“I am not fully convinced we are in danger,” Aunt Ebena said. “Was the thief indeed searching for your violin? Even if there were proof, I would advise you not to allow someone as vulgar as Mr. Golding to bully you into doing anything.”
Alethea could not see Aunt Ebena allowing anyone to bully her. “Lord Dommick made an observation about the violin belonging to an Italian nobleman because it was a custom order. You would not possibly be acquainted with any Italian noblemen, would you?”
Alethea had been half joking, but Aunt Ebena stared off into the far corner of the room.
“Aunt?”
“Tania, Lady Fairmont, is descended from an Italian count on her mother’s side,” Aunt Ebena said. “I would not have recalled that were she not holding her ball in a few days’ time.”
“Would Lady Fairmont be familiar with other Italian noble families and recognize the initials from the violin?”
“You will have to ask her.”
“Could we visit her?”
Aunt Ebena frowned. “Tania is planning the ball right now and probably would not be at home to visitors.”
“After the ball?”
“Unfortunately, three days after the ball she will be removing to her country estate for a few weeks. If she is preparing to move her household, she may not see me then either. You shall have to speak to her at the ball.”
Alethea chewed her lip. “A ball is not an ideal place to have a conversation.” She attended very few balls since Aunt Ebena disliked them and Alethea preferred listening to music rather than dancing to it, especially if the musicians were indifferent. However, Aunt Ebena would never miss an event by Lady Fairmont, one of her close friends and one of the most respected residents of Bath, so they were already expected.
“Your only other option would be to write,” Aunt Ebena said. “Do you want your answer or not?”
“Yes, you’re right.”
“You should copy the initials and show it to her,” Margaret suggested.
“That’s a good idea. I shall send a copy to Lord Dommick as well.”
“Tania may not know many Italian noble families or anyone with those initials,” Aunt Ebena said. “If she doesn’t, do not press her.”
“Or she may immediately know whom the initials refer to. Perhaps my problem will be solved before next week.” To not seeLord Dommick again, except for brief, cold exchanges at private parties and the assemblies, should cause her rejoicing and relief, but . . . that was before he’d played Vivaldi for her. And she had to admit that a part of her longed to see the expression on his face when she played a particularly difficult violin piece of his own composition as brilliantly as himself.
“I would not be so hopeful,” Aunt Ebena said.
Margaret sighed and swiped her finger through a drop of jam on her dress. “I still would have liked to stab the thief with Mrs. Dodd’s knife.”
CHAPTER FIVE
A lethea walked through the doors to Lady Fairmont’s home and immediately felt as if everyone were staring at her.
She surreptitiously studied her dress to make sure mud wasn’t splattered across it. The deep lace at the hem was unblemished cream. The rosy-orange colour was perhaps a trifle unusual for an unmarried woman, but Alethea felt her advanced age entitled her to shed insipid whites in favour of colours that suited her better.
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