Callander Square - Anne Perry [30]
Now she stood in front of him, looking levelly at him.
“Yes, Jemima?” he said cheerfully.
“Mrs. Southeron said I should speak to you concerning Miss Faith’s music, sir. Miss Faith wishes to learn the violin, instead of the piano—”
“Well, let her, by all means. You are competent in the violin, aren’t you?” Why on earth did Adelina send him such trivial matters?
“Yes, Mr. Southeron. But since Miss Chastity already plays the violin, that will give us two violins and a cello. There is very little music written for such a trio.”
“Oh, yes. I see. Well, perhaps Chastity would like to learn the piano?”
“No, she wouldn’t,” Jemima smiled. She had a charming smile, it went all the way to her eyes. She would have made a good parlormaid, had she been a little sturdier.
“Send her to me, I’ll change her mind,” Reggie leaned farther back in his chair and slid his feet toward the fire.
“Yes, sir,” Jemima turned and walked to the door. She had a nice walk, straight-backed, head high. She was one of those country girls with a swinging step. She made him think of open skies and clean, windy shores: things he liked to contemplate from a winter armchair, or see in a good painting. She was a pleasing creature, Jemima.
It was quite five minutes before Chastity arrived.
“Come in,” Reggie smiled and sat up a little.
She obeyed, solemn-faced, her hair tied back making her eyes look unusually wide.
“Sit down,” Reggie offered, pointing to the chair opposite him.
Instead of perching on the edge, like the other children, she snuggled far back in the deep corner, like a cat, with her feet tucked under her. She still managed to look prim. She waited for him to speak.
“Would you like to learn to play the piano, Chastity?” he asked.
“No, thank you, Uncle Reggie.”
“Playing the piano is a most useful art. You can sing at the same time. You cannot sing at the same time as playing the violin,” he pointed out.
She lifted her chin very slightly and stared back at him.
“I cannot sing anyway,” she said with blank honesty. “No matter what I played.” She hesitated, looking at him with thought. “Faith can. She sings very well.”
The argument defeated him, and he could see from the look in her bright, frank eyes that she knew it.
“Why doesn’t Faith play the cello?” she pressed home her advantage. “Then Patience could learn the piano. She can sing, too.”
He looked at her with a jaundiced eye.
“And if I tell you to play the piano?”
“I shall be no good at it,” she said decidedly. “And then we shall have no trio, and that would be a shame.”
He narrowed his eyes and poured himself another brandy, admiring the rich color of it shining like smoky topaz in the firelight.
“That would be a pity,” Chastity was still regarding him with measured consideration. “Because Aunt Adelina likes us to play for her guests sometimes, at her afternoon parties.”
He gave up. He was about to try another tack, to wit, bribery, when the footman opened the door and announced Inspector Pitt.
Reggie swore under his breath. He had not yet considered his defense. Chastity snuggled still farther into the recesses of the chair. He looked at her.
“You may go, Chastity. We will discuss the matter another time.”
“But that’s the policeman with the untidy hair, Uncle Reggie and I like him.”
“What?” he was startled.
“I like him. Mayn’t I stay and talk to him? I might be able to tell him something!”
“No, you may not. There is absolutely nothing you could possibly know that would be of any use to him. Now go upstairs and have your tea. It must be tea time. It’s getting dark.”
She climbed out of the chair reluctantly and meandered to the door where Pitt was standing holding it open for her. She stopped, craning her head to look up at him.
“Good afternoon, Miss Southeron,” he said solemnly.
She dropped a small curtsey and the corner of her mouth flickered reluctantly into a smile.
“Good afternoon, sir.”
She seemed disposed to linger and Reggie spoke to her sharply. With a look of hurt dignity she swept out, which was an