the way in which she rescued him at the reception, if you remember. Oh, and if she might have any suggestion as to any music he might hoist in, as it were . . .'
In any other circumstance it would have been diverting for Kydd to witness the look of scorn that words from his admiral received.
'Can that be so?' she snapped. 'And with me lying in bed so ill, and wondering all the time what the commotion was about. Really, Reginald!' Without waiting for a reply she turned to Persephone, who stood with her head hung in contrition. 'Your drawing master will be here at three. You will now allow Mr Kydd to go about his business, Persephone.'
'Yes, Mama.'
'He will no doubt have a list of your suggestions and be satisfied with them. Good day, Mr Kydd!'
Kydd bowed wordlessly and turned to go. Impulsively, Persephone went to him clutching the music and gave it to him. 'Do practise this—for me, Mr Kydd?'
He swallowed. 'That I will, Miss Lockwood.' She curtsied deeply and, ignoring Lady Lockwood's furious look, Kydd left, his heart singing.
'Nicholas! Your note—a matter of urgency concerning Thomas's future, you said,' Cecilia said breathlessly, ignoring Kydd, who was rising in surprise from his favourite armchair next to the fireplace.
'Miss Cecilia, allow me to take your pelisse,' Renzi said smoothly, and handed it to Tysoe, waiting behind her. 'Yes, indeed I did, and I rather fear it might require some action on our part.'
'Nicholas? What's this y' say?' Kydd said, putting down his newspaper.
'Has he—does this concern Miss Persephone Lockwood, do I hazard, Nicholas?' Cecilia asked.
'It does,' Renzi said solemnly.
'Oh! He hasn't—'
Kydd coughed significantly, 'Cec, this is all—'
'He has paid a call on the lady at her home and been received warmly.'
Cecilia's eyes sparkled. 'Did she—has he hopes of a further—'
'That is the matter under discussion for which I fear I have sadly inconvenienced you in the coming here.'
'Oh, Nicholas, of course I'd come! What must we do?'
Kydd blinked in confusion. 'Do y' mean t' talk about—'
'Dear sister, pray let's be seated. There's much we need to consider.'
They sat in the only two armchairs by the fireplace, leaving Kydd to hover. 'If you're about t' discuss—'
'Please be quiet, Thomas,' Cecilia said crossly. 'This is important, you know.'
It was indeed: the principal difficulty lay in the decorous bringing together of the couple in such a manner that would place Kydd to best advantage with respect to other admirers more talented in the social graces than he, so to speak, not to mention the additional difficulties a protective mother might be expected to present.
There was much discussion of Miss Lockwood's probable tastes and proclivities, and the delicacies of conduct that would ensue before a course of action could be decided. Eventually one such presented itself.
'Do you pay particular attention to what I say, Thomas. You will be invited to tea by Jane and her husband, and quite by chance Persephone Lockwood will be present as well. When you see her you will be suitably taken aback, and . . .'
'Why, Miss Lockwood! How surprising to find you here!' Kydd said graciously, fighting down his glee. A warning flash came from Cecilia and he turned to her companion and added quickly, 'And it's always my particular pleasure to meet Miss Robbins. How do you do?'
The parlour was not large and when the ladies had been seated it proved a most companionable gathering. 'I've heard that the moor in July is quite a delightful sight,' Jane opened, with a winning smile at Persephone.
'I would imagine so, Mrs Mullins, yet I would not wish to be without a hat and parasol out in all that open,' Persephone said politely, with a glance at Kydd.
'Perhaps we should venture out upon it at some time,' Mr Mullins said stiffly, clearly awed by Persephone's presence.
'Oh, no!' his wife said in alarm. 'Think of all the wild horses and escaped convicts—it would be far too hazardous, my dear, for a lady of breeding.'
Cecilia turned to Kydd. 'Thomas, would you now please pour the tea?'
'It's my own mixture of pekoe and gunpowder,' Mrs Mullins said proudly. 'Mr Mullins always brings back a pound or two from Twining's in the Strand when he goes up to London.'
Kydd went to the elaborate brass and silver tea urn and did his duty with the spigot. 'Mrs Mullins?' Hard-won lessons on precedence were coming to the fore: Persephone was clearly of the higher quality but Jane was a married lady.
Persephone accepted her cup with properly downcast eyes and Kydd resumed his strategically chosen seat opposite and let the prattle ebb and flow while he covertly took his fill of her.
A lull in the conversation had Cecilia throwing a warning look at Kydd, who cleared his throat. 'Capital weather we're having, don't you think?' he said brightly.
Persephone lowered her cup. 'If we see this nor-easterly veering more to the west, Mr Kydd, I rather fancy we will soon be reaching for our umbrellas. Do not you mariners so rightly declare, 'When the wind shifts 'gainst the sun, trust it not, for back 'twill run'?' she asked sweetly.
Kydd took refuge in his tea.
