Lady Barbara's Dilemma Read Free Page B

passion.”
    “Do you play an instrument, Sir David?” queried Lady Vane.
    “Unfortunately not. My father pulled me into the family business years ago, and so I am only an educated listener. But a passionate one, and I have had the opportunity, from time to time, of helping a musician on his way.”
    “And your family’s business is…?” asked Diana in a tone that bordered on the impolite. Barbara looked at her sideways, puzzled by her sudden coolness and suspecting that she knew perfectly well what the Treves family business was.
    “Mr. Joshua Treves is the head of Treves and Sons, which contributed so much to Wellington’s campaign,” said Lady Vane. “I am delighted to see you again, David.”
    “And I you, Nora. I mean, my lady.”
    “No, we had agreed on first names, David.”
    “Thank you, Nora.”
    “We were just discussing Miss Austen’s Persuasion. But perhaps you would prefer a more animated discussion,” said Nora, nodding her head in the direction of Simon and the others.
    “I think I will stay here if I may? It is not every day that a man can be surrounded by both beauty and intelligence.”
    The compliment was commonplace, and although Barbara heard it as sincere, she also had the feeling that some sort of challenge was being offered. Diana clearly disapproved of something in Treves’ background and had expressed it in the most convoluted and English of ways. Treves could have taken the easy way out and joined the others. Barbara was glad that he hadn’t. She loved her sister-in-law, but like Judith, couldn’t help noticing that the Diana who had been a bit wild as a young woman had turned into the most sedate wife with the most conventional of ideas.
    Sir David was obviously someone who liked literature as well as music, thought Barbara as she listened to his conversation with Nora. Diana and Barbara had remained silent, Diana to show her disapproval and Barbara to see if she could learn something about her dinner partner. She wondered if Sir David was a less-than-subtle attempt at matchmaking on Judith’s part when he led her into dinner.
    “Have you been acquainted with the duke and duchess for a long time, Lady Barbara?” asked Treves after they had been seated.
    “I have known Simon all my life, and Judith since my school days,” she replied. “In fact, I feel partly responsible for their marriage.” When Treves looked at her questioningly, she said, “But that is a long story and I’m afraid it would bore you. Have you known Simon very long?”
    “I met him briefly before Waterloo, and renewed my acquaintance over this past year.”
    “Can I assume, then, that you are interested in the same political questions?”
    “Yes, we have the same broad principles, and I have a particular interest of my own,” replied Sir David slowly.
    “Have you ever thought of standing for a seat in the House yourself, Sir David?”
    “I have thought of it often, Lady Barbara, but there are certain difficulties…” Treves let his voice trail off and Barbara was unwilling to pry further. Perhaps his family preferred him to stay with the business.
    “Tell me something about your music, Lady Barbara.”
    “There is not much to tell,” replied Barbara, conscious that for some reason she wanted to tell Sir David everything about her discouragement There was an air of sympathy about him and she had heard something in his voice just now that made her think that he too knew something about frustrated dreams.
    “Somehow I find that hard to believe,” said Treves.
    “You are right. There is a lot to tell. Too much,” Barbara said, her voice trembling slightly.
    “Well, we do have a few more courses before the confections,” said Treves with an encouraging smile.
    “I will put it in a nutshell so as not to bore you,” said Barbara. “I have been studying for many years, I have some talent, and because I am a woman I will never be able to exercise that talent in the way I wish. And so I have