Playing The Duke's Mistress. Eliza Redgold

up and dangled it from his fingers. The rubies glowed blood red. He weighed it up and down in his hand. It would be heavy against Calista’s delicate wrist. But it would no doubt appeal to her.

      Darius dropped the bracelet into a velvet pouch. It would do the trick.

      * * *

      ‘Please accept this token of my admiration.’ Calista read the note from the Duke of Albury in amazement.

      Why was the duke sending her a gift? Had he not understood her refusal?

      She shook open the velvet pouch. Glimmering gold and red burst out and snaked on to the dressing table.

      ‘Did His Grace bring this himself?’ she asked the stagehand coldly, then modulated her voice. It wasn’t this man’s fault. He was only the messenger.

      The stagehand shook his head. ‘No, Miss Fairmont. It was a valet and he’s gone. But he said the duke will be in attendance tonight.’

      ‘I see. Thank you.’

      He thought she was playing games with him, Calista realised, feeling sick. He had presumed she’d be unable to resist a glittering bribe.

      With distaste she picked up the bracelet. The gold chain was thick and five ruby hearts hung from the clasp. She couldn’t imagine the kind of person who would wear such an ornament.

      Calista’s fingers clenched around the metal. A token of his admiration.

      She felt a wave of nausea, then anger. For all his dislike of Mabel’s affair with his cousin, it seemed the duke was just like all the other aristocrats who hung around the stage door behaving as if actresses were part of the night’s entertainment, whether on or off stage. It was disappointing. She’d almost begun to think better of him.

      Calista fumed. Tonight, after the show, she would make it clear to the Duke of Albury that the last things she wanted were his bracelet, his flowers or his attention.

      She pulled the string of the velvet pouch tight.

      * * *

      Darius took out his watch from his waistcoat pocket and cursed.

      He’d missed the performance of As You Like It.

      The meeting he’d attended earlier had turned into drinks and then dinner at his club. It was House of Lords’ business, and the governing of the country couldn’t be stopped for a play, but he was stunned to realise how annoyed he was to have missed seeing Calista Fairmont on stage again. He’d seen her perform two times now, but still a part of him had been eager to see her play the lead role again, and not just for a glimpse of those excellent legs.

      Hurrying along the London streets, he pocketed the watch. She usually left the theatre later than the other cast members, so he might still be able to catch her.

      Who knew? She might even be waiting for him, the ruby bracelet dangling from her wrist and a coy expression on her face.

      Surely no actress could resist such a bauble.

      He turned into the alleyway. In the dim light he saw two figures in the fog.

      He could just make out Miss Fairmont’s slender figure, but it wasn’t as upright as usual. She wasn’t cowering, her spine was too straight for that, but she was certainly backing away from the taller, male, top-hatted figure who had backed her against the alley wall.

      Darius shouted, ‘What in hellfire is going on here?’