Page 42 of A Temporary Bride for the Duke

Emily gasped. “So, I’m the odd one out?”

“No,” Daisy said, before reaching out and giving her sister’s shoulder a reassuring pat. “She doesn’t write to me either.”

“Yes, well you live with Father, so of course she doesn’t write to you.”

They all gave each other understanding looks.

Eli clapped his hands together. “Come, Victor. Let’s get the ladies some drinks.”

The men walked away from them, and Daisy looked around the room to find that she was getting glares from quite a number of women.

“Oh look, they’re jealous of you,” Annabella murmured in her ear.

Daisy could only shake her head in wonder.

If only they knew the truth.

Chapter Ten

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for the first task of the competition to begin.” Lady Archworth climbed onto the dais and called everyone to attention.

After the Duke’s announcement, everyone was reminded of her ladyship’s games, so they had all been favoring her with wary glances, merely waiting for what was likely to come next.

“Now that my nephew and Lady Daisy have elected to join the games, I believe the field is set.” Her eyes sparkled.

It was evident to anyone who cared to look that Lady Archworth very much enjoyed having this sort of power.

She locked eyes with one couple after another before giving the Duke and Daisy an encouraging nod. “Are you and your partners ready?”

A roar of approval swelled around the room.

The Dowager laughed delightedly. “Our task will be a performative one. Each couple shall be given a passage to enact. All the scenes come to us from one of Master William Shakespeare’s plays. You have ten minutes to read it and plan. You do not have to memorize the passage. You’re welcome to read from the paper as you perform.”

There was a rise in volume of the murmuring as the wait staff passed papers with the written script for participating couples. Daisy moved closer to the Duke so that they could share their copy of the script.

“Are you ready for this?” she murmured to him.

He snorted. “Not really.”

“But were you not expecting it? You said you knew what your aunt would plan because you have witnessed the games before.”

“Yes. I knew in general she would choose things that would foster closeness between participants. This is actually quite tame compared with what I thought she might do.”

A servant handed them a script, and they put their heads together to read it. Daisy looked around at the other couples trying to see if any seemed unsure or overwhelmed. She could not tell and decided it would not do to dwell on the others.

I must focus on what I can control.

The next ten minutes passed in a blur. Daisy and the Duke whispered furiously to one another as they made arrangements and practiced reciting their lines. But before long, they were interrupted as Lady Archworth took to the stage again.

“The first couple to entertain us all will be Lord Brimsley Ross and Miss Sherry Pitt,” Lady Archworth announced.

A tall, gangly gentleman and a short, blond, rosy-cheeked lady hurried to the center of the stage. He towered over her, making them look like a father and child rather than a betrothed couple. Daisy knew she should be practicing with her own partner, but was too curious to stop watching.

The lady tilted her chin upward and stared at the audience. “We will be reading from Shakespeare’sA Midsummer Night’s Dream.” She paused and inhaled deeply. “I will be playing the part of Hippolyta,” she added in a high, wavering voice.

Her beau put a hand on her shoulder. “And I will be Theseus.” He blinked twice, then turned to Miss Pitt, cupped her chin, and declaimed loudly, “Now fair Hippolyta our nuptial hour draws on apace.” He tickled a spot underneath her chin, and her rosy cheeks blazed crimson. “Four happy days bring in another moon.”

Lord Ross pointed up at the roof. His movements were fluid, and as he proceeded, his voice grew stronger. “But, O, methinks how slow this old moon wanes! She lingers my desires like to a step…” He glanced down at the paper hastily. “…step dame or a dowager.”