Anne was so used to being sidelined that no one noticed that CW too was ignoring her. However close they were in proximity, I think each had avoided talking to the other except for common courtesies.

CW's coldest words to her so far were perhaps these (ch 8): "I beg your pardon, madam, this is your seat." And he'd said it with "studied politeness."

CW was saying he *had* noticed that Anne had been sitting there at the pianoforte (was it a harpsichord???) as the designated musician, but not necessarily in the thick of the main party's conversations or dances or anything like that. It was as though she was the hired pianist.

In fact, I wondered if CW could've done something differently. Instead of saying what he'd said, I wish he'd said something like: "Madam, do you know this air?" And included her in the conversation he was having with the Miss Musgroves. It wouldn't be a weird thing, because everybody knew Anne could play well. Surely she must know the air he was trying to hammer out on the keys?