by Lisa Prysock
“Very much, yes I do like roasted turkey, thank you,” she replied. Had she the foresight to know the Earl would spend his evening boldly in her pursuit while Lady Camilla Edwards pursued Baron Crane (seated beside Camilla further down the table), she might have pretended not to have heard him.
A Christmas punch was brought into the room by several footmen on a rolling cart. Thus, a second toast was offered by Maguire causing both tables to erupt in cheers and awes of delight. Winnie was careful to sample merely a few bites of each dish during each course.
“Have you been invited to attend the Gibraltar Barracks Christmas Dance, my dear?” Lord Edwards asked. “You should consider attending as my guest. Most everyone in Northampton will go.”
“How kind of you to consider me, Lord Edwards,” Winnie replied. She had no intention of allowing him the delusion that she would accompany him anywhere as his guest. Nonetheless, she was polite. “I believe I am otherwise engaged that day.”
“How unfortunate!” he responded, looking glum as his fork stabbed at the jugged hare. After chewing a bite of food he asked, “Have you been to the round church yet in Northampton, Church of the Holy Sepulchre?”
“Miss Lyndon arrived only yesterday,” Kingston interjected on her behalf.
“Ah then, fresh off the coach…” the Earl leaned toward her chuckling and eyed her overtly. “I would be delighted to take you on a tour of Northampton then, as soon as you are rested.”
Winnie leaned further to her right, attempting to escape his ogling, wishing she’d worn a fichu. She decided it best to say absolutely nothing, but he regarded her almost as if he had been handed a slab of the finest roast beef.
The Earl continued, “You will enjoy a tour of The Holy Sepulchre. It was built in the 1100’s… by the first Earl of Northampton, Simon de Senlis, based on a plan of a church in Jerusalem.”
“We’ve started our tour of Northampton, just this afternoon, haven’t we Winnie?” Kingston stated flatly, his eyes boring a stern look at the Earl.
This rescue attempt was not lost on her. Careful not to upset Catherine again, he had used her nickname to convey that they were on a more intimate basis. The Earl barely seemed to notice her nod of agreement with the Duke as he plunged into a discussion about all of the places he intended to show her, and then a bit of history about the fire of 1675 that had spread from the castle. He seemed to grow discouraged by her silent nods to all that he said and finally, the Earl glanced across the table and engaged the Duke of Northampton and Samuel Hughes in a discussion about American President Madison’s foreign diplomacy. While the Earl remained thus engaged, Kingston leaned closer to her ear and asked, “Do you play the pianoforte?”
Winnie, surprised, whispered back, “Indeed, I do.”
“What is your favorite piece to play in honor of the birth of Christ?”
She hesitated as she considered her reply. “I enjoy small parts of Handel’s Messiah, some of John Field’s delightful Piano Concerto No. 2 in A flat-- no matter the time of year, and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”
Kingston raised an eyebrow and a slow grin spread over his face indicating his realization of how advanced she was in regard to her musical talents. “You will play for us after dinner?”
She glanced into the Music Room at the violin through the open double doors nearest their end of the table. “We haven’t a flutist, so I could only manage a few parts of those selections if you will at least accompany on that violin,” she smiled back at him coyly.
“We do have a flutist… she comes every year prepared. Do you see that case on the floor in the Music Room from here? That is where one of our footmen stowed her flute. How did you know the violin belongs to me?” he asked.
“I have my methods,” she replied, determined to leave a little mystery between them. She would have to thank Beatrice later for having answered her question about which family member played the violin.
“Agreed then,” he nodded as he sliced a bite of roast beef on his plate. “Directly after Amiée- Josephine sings. Anne-Marie will close with a reading. There is a surprise after that.”
“I do like surprises!” she whispered back, intrigued. As if on cue, a footman entered the Dining Room with a plum pudding. As Alton set it aflame, there were cheers and clapping.
After dinner, gentlemen escorted their ladies to a customary tea in the Drawing Room and made their escape to the library. About half an hour later, the men returned and claimed their ladies to escort them to seats in the Music Room. They clapped heartily for Lady Amiée-Josephine’s splendid vocal performance of O Come All Ye Faithful, accompanied by Miss Cordelia Higgens on the pianoforte. Since Miss Higgens was a local resident of Northampton, the two had been able to practice their presentation on a number of prior occasions.
As the applause settled, Kingston held out his arm toward Catherine. She took his hand and he led her to the pianoforte. She took her seat and found he had already placed the appropriate sheet music needed as she laid her gloves aside and took a deep breath to dispel the trembling in her hands.
He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Our flutist knows these piece well. You may start at the beginning if you like, when she is situated.” The warmth in his voice and eyes calmed her nerves at once.
Turning to the small crowd of guests seated in rows of chairs that had been brought into the Music Room for the evening, he announced, “Mrs. Cora Miller of Glad Crown, Jessie Miller’s lovely wife, on the flute, will join Miss Catherine Edwina Lyndon of Essex… and if you can bare it, myself on strings, in this piece by John Fields.” Murmurs of delight, happy laughter, and clapping spurred them on as Cora smiled and joined them with her instrument.
Kingston placed the violin beneath his chin. Cora situated herself where she could read the sheet music and pursed her lips to the flute. They waited for Catherine’s nod to begin. The entire room of guests held their breath. Winnie pointed to a spot on the sheet music for the violin to begin the concerto by Fields. He bowed slightly in her direction and began playing a preamble until the flute joined in; then finally, the piano, at exactly the right measures. Then the violin and flute portions ended while the piano went on for a time, leaving guests mesmerized by the intensity that came from the violin; the perfectly dancing notes from Cora’s flute; and the piano notes delivered under Miss Lyndon’s capable hands. Guests clapped profusely, giving the musicians strength for the next portion of music from Handel. A very happy Mrs. Cora Miller curtsied and returned to her seat, beaming for having been asked to play. The applause dragged on as the audience showed vigorous appreciation for the trio that had delivered an exquisite performance.
The duo prepared to play Handel, changing their sheet music swiftly. They were a sight to behold as well as to hear. Catherine’s train to her gown swirled about the piano bench as she sat up straight, her olive green silk an elegant choice for the evening. As a hush swept over the small audience, she began the piece, her fingers dancing instinctively on the keys of an instrument which was a joy to play upon. It produced a quality of sound far superior to the one in her childhood home. Kingston’s cravat and dinner jacket gave him the appeal of the finest of gentlemen; quite the dandy of the room with his dark brown hair and blue eyes shining brighter than she’d ever seen them before as he made note after note jump off the strings of the violin and bow he held in his arms.
At the end of a four minute portion of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus from the oratorio Messiah, as the private audience clapped for the pair’s performance, for a brief moment, she wondered what it would be like to be held in his arms as masterfully as the instrument he obviously cherished. She was struck by the thought of gladness that she had spent an unrivaled quantity of hours on the piano which had produced a vibrant and skilled quality in her delivery. She possessed a rare excellence compatible enough to render a performance with the Duke. His skill on the violin deserved such a quality. She was equally glad she had been confident enough to rise to his challenge to join him as
a musician. Perhaps her answer to his question regarding her preference of songs had given rise to his invitation.
There was no time to ponder these thoughts more fully as she heard him ask Maguire, Boggs, and Crane to come forward and sing God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Maguire, who had been leaning on the fireplace mantle during the previous performances, stepped forward in his breeches, dinner jacket with tails, his cravat and high necked collar adding to his commanding presence.
Maguire bowed and announced jovially: “I call Viscount Kinsworth, Viscount Wheatley, Atkins, Johnston, and Billings to join us.” Cheers erupted as the university boys clamored forward to sing with the Duke’s quartet. Catherine found herself appreciating these particular friends of the heir to Hillbrook Hall more than most of the others. They put on few airs and had a robust, cheerful attitude. Their faces beamed radiant with merry hearts as they sang while she played. One could not help but be transformed into a joy filled mood as they belted out three verses to the song. In turn, the audience reflected their smiles, delighted by this turn of events. Catherine thought this must be the surprise Kingston had been referring to, but it was not she would find out soon enough.
Another surprise had been Lady Anne-Marie’s excellent selection of a Thomas Chatterton hymn for a reading, titled A Hymn for Christmas Day:
“Almighty Framer of the skies!
O let our pure devotion rise,
Like incense in thy sight!
Wrapt in impenetrable shade
The texture of our souls were made
Till thy command gave light.
The Sun of Glory gleam'd the ray,
Refin'd the darkness into day,
And bid the vapors fly;
Impell'd by his eternal love
He left his palaces above
To cheer our gloomy sky.
How shall we celebrate the day,
When God appeared in mortal clay,
The mark of worldly scorn;
When the archangel's heavenly lays,
Attempted the Redeemer's praise
And hail'd salvation's morn!
A humble form the Godhead wore,
The pains of poverty he bore,
To gaudy pomp unknown;
Tho' in a human walk he trod
Still was the Man Almighty God
In glory all his own.
Despis'd, oppress'd, the Godhead bears
The torments of this vale of tears;
Nor bade his vengeance rise;
He saw the creatures he had made,
Revile his power, his peace invade;
He saw with Mercy's Eyes.
How shall we celebrate his Name,
Who groan'd beneath a life of shame
In all afflictions tried!
The soul is raptured to conceive
A truth, which being must believe,
The God Eternal died.
My soul exert thy powers, adore,
Upon Devotion's plumage sar
To celebrate the day;
The God from whom creation sprung
Shall animate my grateful tongue;
From him I'll catch the lay!”
Guests clapped again as Lady Anne-Marie curtsied and Kingston, clapping with them and grinning handsomely with pride at his sister’s delivery of prose stepped forward to make a final announcement. He was so overcome with her reading that it took him a moment to recover. Finally, he glanced toward the fireplace at his Scottish friend. “Are you ready Maguire?”
“Indeed I am, Kingley!” Maguire’s nickname for Kingston caused a stir of chuckles amongst the guests.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we now unveil a surprise. We don’t always have dancing at our annual Christmas Dinner, as most of you know. Some years we employ a little dancing to warm us up for the Christmas Ball, but sometimes we forego the dancing. This year we were able to find excellent musicians, and we invite you to join us in the Ball Room where further refreshments will be served, and…” Kingston waited for delighted reactions to die down. “And… my good friend from Scotland, who fought alongside me in the war, will begin by opening the festivities with Good Christian Men Rejoice on the bagpipes. This will be followed by an ensemble who will attend us with a few songs for dancing, which shall conclude this evening’s activities. We hope you will each join us in a week for our Annual Christmas Ball, Friday next, on St. Thomas Day, at eight o’clock in the evening.”
Everyone clapped as young ladies, squealing, jumped up from their chairs, and men cheered “Bravo” and “Here, here!” Gentlemen hurried to the sides of their ladies and began escorting them out of the Music Room, across the Dining Room, spilling into the main hall, then through the Drawing Room doors flanked by footmen, and on into the Ball Room. Kingston turned to assist Winnie up from the bench at the piano. He had stood through every performance in the shadows flickering from the fireplace. Sconces on the walls and candelabras in every possible direction created a romantic setting. As she rose to her feet they stood still for a moment as the last few guests left the room.
“You are by far among the best pianists I’ve ever heard,” Kingston remarked as he considered this new discovery of her.
“And I’m certain you were born with a violin in your hands, my Lord,” she returned softly, her mouth turning up at the corners in a smile.
She thought he might kiss her just then, except that Alton entered the room, interrupting not only their moment alone, but delaying their progression to the Ball Room. “I’m very sorry to disturb you, my Lord… but there is an urgent matter requiring your attention which cannot be resolved by anyone other than yourself.”
Kingston’s brow furrowed. Turning to Catherine, “I will escort you to the Ball Room first.”
When he had deposited her safely into a chair near his sisters, Kingston reluctantly left her to fend for herself. She noticed Lady Anne-Marie was escorted by Viscount Wheatley, the one they called Ridge. Lady Amiée-Josephine was attended upon by Viscount Kinsworth. Thankfully, Sir Bouverie had escorted both his mother and Lady Agnes into the Ball Room. He seemed to be successfully preventing Lady Agnes from throwing intense, heated glances in her direction.
The Countess, Lady Edwards, had her hands wrapped firmly around Baron Crane’s elbow. This left the Earl, Lord Edwards, looking about the Ball Room for helpless prey. The Baron also had Lady Constance and Miss Hannah Hughes in tow. He looked as though he was genuinely enjoying his company and somehow effortlessly engaged all three ladies in conversation. Winnie made her best effort to avoid eye contact with Lord Edwards. It struck her how alone and unprotected she felt when Kingston wasn’t near as she waited for him to reappear.
The ensemble of musicians assembled in a corner not far from where the dignified Maguire stood, near the massive fireplace. They tuned their instruments as gentlemen delivered punch from a buffet of light refreshments and hovered over their ladies. After a few minutes, Maguire began playing the bagpipes and the room came to a complete halt to hear him render such deep and moving sounds. She was thankful Maguire’s wife, Lady Stapleton occupied a seat beside her and the Duke’s sisters. It might prevent Lord Edwards from taking the seat, for the moment. Catherine adored the sound of the bagpipes. It nearly gave her goosebumps each time she heard them play. She thoroughly reveled in the enjoyment of hearing them and stood to her feet to clap with the rest of the guests feeling elated as well as sorrowful that the four verses of Good Christian Men Rejoice had come to an end.
“Are you enjoying the Dinner Party?” Winnie asked Lady Stapleton. “I do so enjoy hearing the bagpipes. What a delightful surprise from your husband!”
“Indeed I am, immensely, thank you,” the Viscountess replied. “You played the pianoforte beautifully this evening. You have great talent. It was very much a treat to hear you play with Kingston. Few musicians have the caliber of talent to accompany him.” She wore a red and green plaid scarf over one shoulder of her satin red gown with a bodice layered in red lace over red satin. Red beads dang
led from the elbow length puffy sleeves over the emerald green, evening length gloves she wore. The long plaid scarf, pinned at the shoulder with a gold pin in the shape of a wreath, was tucked beneath a green satin waist band making her gown one of the most festive. The fringed ends of the scarf continued over the red satin skirt below the waist band. The gown was trimmed in three layers of satin ruffles, each ending with a two inch band of plaid. Not only did her evening gown reflect her Scottish heritage well, but she wore a tiara in her hair and pearls at her throat, ears, and wrist. The red and green colors suited her dark hair. Maguire had married a stunning beauty. Winnie found she very much enjoyed talking with her and felt by the end of the evening she had earned a new friend.
Maguire remained in place near the other musicians as he conferred with them concerning the music plans for the evening. A reel was about to start and the brothers who owned the Northampton tannery joined the dance line with Lady Julia and Lady Myriah. The mayor of Northampton led Miss Lavenia Biltmore to the floor. Brent Atkins and Lady Margaret joined the line, while Abel Johnston led Lady Frances to a spot beside them. Frank Billings fell in line next with Miss Cordelia Higgens. Ridge pulled Lady Anne-Marie to her feet as soon as she had attached the train of her gown to her wrist. Kinsworth did the same for Lady Amiée-Josephine. Lady Agnes, glowing with excitement for the first time in two days led Sir Edward to the reel. Apparently dancing, or Bouverie’s company, was an antidote to much of her misery. Mr. Biltmore led Lady Jane to the reel. Squire Elkins and his wife, Bonnie, joined the reel as the music commenced from the ensemble. Winnie, accepting a glass of punch from a footman, didn’t see the Baron being led to the dance floor by the unabashed Countess, Lady Edwards.
