“I have an idea,” said Artemis. “Do you play the pianoforte?”
“Yes. But—”
“Could you manage something like a Scottish reel? Nothingtooquick though.”
“I suppose so. If I had some sheet music to follow. Why—”
“Follow my lead.”
Artemis stood as the waltz ended. “Signor Moretti, I understand you are one of London’s, if not England’s, finest dancing instructors,” she said with a bright smile meant to charm.
The gentleman bowed. “Miss Jones. I have heard that said, and more than once, yes.”
“Well, I wondered if you would mind teaching me the steps of the latest Highland schottische. I came across it the other night at Lord and Lady Northam’s masquerade ball, and I must confess, it rather confounded me. Of course, Lady Celeste should learn it too.”
“I…” The dancing master’s heavy brows slid into a frown. “I am not sure if that would be permitted, Miss Jones. The duke—”
“I’m certain His Grace wouldn’t mind. I am his fiancée after all.”
“His fiancée?” A ruddy flush spread across the man’s cheeks before he folded into a deep bow. “Forgive me, Miss Jones. I was not aware of your betrothal to His Grace. Congratulations to you.”
Artemis waved away his apology. “That’s quite all right. How were you to know? It was only announced publicly in the papers this morning.” She glanced at Lady Celeste who was fuming so much, steam was practically shooting out of her ears. At the risk of raising the girl’s ire further, she added, “But rather than stealyouaway from Lady Celeste, perhaps I could dance with your nephew, Master Antonio. I take it he dances too…”
“Si. Yes.Molto bene. Very well. But—”
Artemis clapped her hands and beamed. “And Miss Sharp will accompany us on the pianoforte. Won’t you, Miss Sharp?”
The governess tilted her head. “I will do my best.”
Master Antonio vacated the piano stool with obvious reluctance and approached Artemis. “Miss Jones,” he said as he executed an elaborate bow. “It would be an honor to dance with you.”
As the young man took her in his arms in the required position for the dance, Artemis caught a glimpse of Celeste’s face. If looks could kill, Artemis would have expired then and there. The young woman was livid. Her mouth was compressed into a flat, angry line and her gray eyes were bright with glittering anger.
Sadness gripped Artemis’s heart. She derived no joy from discovering who Celeste’s secret paramour was. She didn’t want to upset her. Young love was intense and to rip it away was going to wound the girl deeply. But it had to be done. She was far too young to have an affair. Or worse still, elope. It could only end in disaster.
As for Master Antonio, Artemis couldn’t quite work out whether the young man’s affections were genuine or if he was a fortune hunter seeking to take advantage of a well-connected but lonely adolescent girl.
He was light on his feet and nothing but charming as he partnered her in the Scots-style polka. He’d stopped staring at Celeste, which only seemed to make the duke’s daughter more incensed. By the time the scottische ended, Lady Celeste’s cheeks were flaming.
“Thank you, Master Tonio. I meanAntonio. That was most enjoyable,” Artemis said as they drew apart.
“I… It was my pleasure, Miss Jones,” he muttered, his gaze darting to Celeste, then away again to some distant place on the far side of the ballroom. Bright color stained his high cheekbones. If Antonio Moretti were a dog, his tail would be between his legs right now.
The lesson came to an end and after the Morettis took their leave, Lady Celeste excused herself. “I have a terrible megrim,” she declared. “So I’m sorry, Miss Jones, I won’t be able to speak with you today after all.”
“That’s quite all right, my lady. I understand,” returned Artemis gently. “Perhaps we might speak another day.” Dominic had asked her to befriend Celeste, to guide her, but it seemed she had just done the opposite and made an enemy.
As soon as Celeste disappeared, the governess grasped Artemis’s arm. “You were right. I found this”—she thrust a piece of folded paper into Artemis’s hand—“hidden amongst the sheet music in Master Antonio’s folio when I was searching for a Scottish reel to play.”
Artemis opened the sheet.
My darling Tonio,
I know you asked me to wait, that I must be patient until we can be together when I am at least sixteen, but I simply cannot. Being without you is intolerable. I cannot eat, I cannot sleep, and now that I have found out—just last night—that my father is to remarry and I am to have a stepmother, I do not think I can bear it. Even though Papa’s fiancée is not altogether objectionable, I cannot even begin to contemplate living with someone who is supposed to replace my own beloved mama, let alone endure it. It isn’t fair of him to expect me to do so. I thought he loved my mama with all his heart. And now he is breaking mine by betraying her memory.
But if we were to elope to Guernsey, you and I could wed at once and be blissfully happy together, just like my parents once were. I have some pin money saved—enough to purchase our train tickets to Southampton and then our passage to the island. I can also pawn several pieces of jewelry. I’m certain it would be enough for us to live off, at least for a little while until you’re able to secure work. Or until Papa forgives me…
Oh, goodness. What on earth was Celeste thinking? It didn’t sound like Antonio Moretti was the villain here. To be sure, this love affair was doomed to fail, and he should know that. Impoverished nephews of dancing masters didnotwed duke’s daughters. Indeed, it was Celeste who was urging the young man to abscond with her, not the other way around. It was also abundantly clear that she had no idea how hard it would be to give up her sheltered, privileged life and instead live a hand-to-mouth existence. Because that’s the situation she and Antonio were bound to end up in. Celeste was ensnared in a schoolgirl’s fantasy, and that fantasy was about to come crashing down.
“What should we do?” murmured Miss Sharp. Her face was ashen. No doubt she was worried that she would lose her position because of what Celeste had been up to on her watch.
“We have to send word to His Grace,” said Artemis. “At once. He must be informed. About everything.”
The governess nodded. “I will make sure Lady Celeste is watched every single minute until His Grace arrives home.”
“Good. And thank you for helping. I’ll be sure to let His Grace know that you were the one who found Lady Celeste’s letter and brought it to my attention.”
Miss Sharp’s cheeks pinkened. “Thank you, Miss Jones. I would appreciate it.”
“It will be no trouble at all.”