‘Thank you, my lady.’
‘I wonder if the Queen will attend any functions,’ Lady Willoughby said. And then said to Lady Graham, ‘Do you expect her to make an appearance at your ball?’
‘Good gracious, no.’ Her ladyship affected a shudder of revulsion. ‘I cannot imagine anything worse than the upheaval that would cause. Constance would hate it, wouldn’t you, my love?’
‘Yes, Mama,’ the young lady said. She had mousy hair, and a pale face rather devoid of animation, although she had good bone structure and an enviable figure beneath the plain blue gown she wore.
‘And what about you, Duchess?’ Lady Graham went on as if her daughter had not spoken. ‘Are you expected to entertain Royalty this Season?’
‘I think not. It would compromise the Duke, who is trying very hard to be impartial, though we are obliged to attend the King’s official birthday reception at Carlton House tomorrow evening.’
During all this chatter Lavinia was acutely aware of the handsome figure standing beside her. Although he stood quite still and smiled occasionally as one or the other spoke, there was a kind of aura of energy about him. It was almost as if he were longing to make some point in the conversation, but was holding back for fear of giving offence. And after Lady Willoughby’s grilling, she admired him for it. ‘Lord Wincote, do you like to act?’ she asked.
‘Act, my lady?’ he queried, taken by surprise.
‘Yes, play acting. I am going to put on A Midsummer Night’s Dream to raise money for the Duchess’s favourite charity. I would welcome more people taking part.’
‘I have no experience of acting, my lady.’
‘Oh, that does not signify. I am sure you must have played charades…’
‘Why, yes, in my youth.’
‘There you are, then!’ she said triumphantly. ‘Do say you will join us.’
He bowed. ‘I shall be honoured, my lady.’
‘Thank you,’ she said, giving him one of her dazzling smiles. ‘Constance, will you take part?’
‘If you think I have anything to offer, I will.’ Constance spoke quietly as she always did and Lavinia wondered how she could be persuaded to project her voice so that an audience could hear her. Perhaps Mr Greatorex would school her.
‘Of course you have. And you, too, Sir Percy.’
‘Me?’ he queried. ‘Why, my dear, I can act nothing but the part of Sir Percival Ponsonby.’
She laughed. ‘That is all I ask, but Sir Percy might need a new name for an evening. How does Theseus, Duke of Athens, sound to you?’
‘But I am useless at getting words by rote.’
‘Oh, you do not have too much to say and Stepmama will rehearse you, won’t you, Mama?’
Before the Duchess could answer, the butler announced the arrival of the Earl of Corringham and James sauntered into the room, dressed in light wool fawn-coloured frock coat, cream brocade waistcoat and white lawn cravat in which a diamond pin gleamed. He came forward to bow over his stepmother’s hand, then turned to greet the ladies and Percy, all of whom he knew well.
He left Lavinia until last. ‘Lady Lavinia, your servant,’ he said, bowing formally and making her want to giggle. He could be so pompous at times.
‘James, I did not expect you,’ Frances said, looking quizzically from stepdaughter to stepson. ‘Twice in two days is so out of the ordinary that I begin to wonder what the attraction might be.’
‘Why, you, Mama. And the delightful company you keep.’
‘Gammon! Now ring for more tea, for this has gone stone cold.’
He did as she asked, pretending a nonchalance he did not feel. He wanted to know what Wincote was up to. He could feel the tension in the air and knew it had not been occasioned by his arrival; it had been swirling about before that. ‘Did I hear you talking about Lady Lavinia’s play?’
‘Yes,’ Lavinia said. ‘Lord Wincote has agreed to take a part in it.’
‘Indeed?’ He turned to Edmund and managed to convey a wealth of meaning in the tone of his voice and the way he lifted one eyebrow. ‘I hope you realise what you have undertaken, Wincote. Lady Lavinia can be a dreadful bully, you know.’
‘I find that difficult to believe, but if it be so, then I shall feel honoured to be bullied by so charming a director.’
‘And what part have you been given?’
‘None yet, but it is of no consequence. I will try my utmost in whatever part I am asked to play.’
‘I do not doubt you will,’ James murmured under his breath. Aloud he addressed Frances. ‘Has the Duke really given his blessing?’
‘Yes. Why should he not? It is only for the amusement of family and friends.’
‘Oh, is that all?’ He turned and grinned at Lavinia, sharing her secret; not for a moment would he betray her by mentioning Lancelot Greatorex. ‘So you will need a scene shifter?’
‘Yes, but do not think you can escape so lightly, James,’ she said. ‘You must take a role.’
‘Oh, no.’ He watched as the maid returned with freshly made tea and the Duchess filled a cup and handed it to him. ‘I would be no good.’
‘Why not? If Sir Percy and Duncan and Constance can do it—’
‘Hold your horses,’ Percy put in. ‘I never said I would. I am too old for such capers.’
‘But I need one or two older people. Someone must play the Duke of Athens and Egeus, Hermia’s father. It would look silly if they were young boys. That is why I need you and James.’
‘You need me because I am old?’ James said, affronted.
‘No, but you can act old, you do it all the time,’ she said, a statement which made the Duchess laugh aloud. ‘And we can paint your face with a few wrinkles.’
He turned to Edmund and spread his hands. ‘See what I mean about being a bully.’
‘Her ladyship would not need to bully if you were more willing,’ Edmund said.
‘True, true,’ he admitted with an exaggerated sigh. ‘But I do not subscribe to the view that the ladies should have their own way all the time.’
‘Which is, I am persuaded, why you are still single,’ Lavinia retorted. ‘Now, do not be a spoil sport, or I shall not speak to you again for…for at least a month.’
‘Good,’ he said promptly.
‘James!’ Frances chided him.
‘Oh, very well, Mama. I suppose I will have no peace until I agree.’
He had never had any intention of refusing her, especially knowing that Edmund Wincote was to be in the cast, but he could not resist teasing her. He did not know why he did it; it certainly did not promote his cause. If he were more serious, more careful of her sensibilities, and treated her more like a woman instead of a mischievous child, she might look at him differently. Almost every time they met he began with the intention of acting like a proper suitor, but something always intervened: either they roasted each other, or she said something to affront him, and they ended brangling.
‘Splendid!’ Lavinia said, smiling at him and quite overturning his bad mood. ‘You can begin learning Egeus’s lines, ready for our first rehearsal.’
‘And when is that to be?’
‘I