Viola blinked, fighting back the urge to cry. “To music, laughter, and sunshine,” she said, and they all drank.

Viola’s mind was still churning through the conversation with West. She’d opened up to him, told him more about her past than she’d told nearly anyone.

She watched him joking with his sisters, teasing them and giving them praise about their performances. She saw right through his careless, hedonistic facade to the kind, warm heart that beat beneath. He was lonely, and weary of empty pleasures. He loved his family and craved their companionship.

He’d settle down with Lady Winifred and they’d all be one big happy family.

And she had no role to play in their future.

She moved away from them, going to sit on the pianoforte bench in the next room.

“Viola? Is anything the matter?” asked Birdie, always so quick to notice other people’s emotions. She sat beside her on the bench.

“I’m only a little tired.”

“Is your father finished with the symphony yet?”

“Nearly. Only a few more days now.”

Birdie clasped her arms around Viola’s waist and laid her head on her shoulder. “That’s wonderful. I can’t wait to hear the grand symphony that was finished in our house.”

Viola ruffled her hair. “And your composition was very much admired this evening.”

Birdie smiled. “We’re very lucky to have you.”

“I’m afraid that after my father finishes his symphony we’ll be leaving the dower house and going to live in the countryside.”

“You can’t leave us!”

Viola sighed. “Your brother will marry soon and it’s time for me to leave.”

Birdie clenched her hands into fists. “I wish you were an heiress. Then West could marry you and we’d all live happily ever after.”

Viola smiled sadly. “Even if I were an heiress, I’m not highborn and have no social standing.”

“Don’t you want to marry West?”

“It doesn’t matter what I want. It’s the way of the world. Lady Winifred will make an excellent duchess.”

“Who cares about Lady Winifred. She’s gracious enough but you’re . . . you’re Viola. You’re my friend. I want you with me always.”

“Life doesn’t always give us what we want.”

“Perhaps you’re a secret heiress?” Birdie asked eagerly. “Your mother was a secret princess. And she has a hoard of jewels stashed away in a cave and she’ll send you a letter in code and we’ll have to discover the location! The cave will be underwater and we’ll all have to learn how to swim to dive down into it and retrieve the jewels. There will be tiaras, and crowns, and parures of the purest diamonds. You’ll give me a set and I’ll look like a princess wearing it.”