Page 66 of A Duke in the Rough

Unable to witness the display any longer, Honoria fled from the room.

The fates were against him.It was the only explanation Drake could manage as Anne stared adoringly at him. When he’d read what was written on the slip of paper he was doomed to act out, he wanted to go to Honoria and play out the scene with her.

But how would that have looked to Anne? Not to mention Stratford. In his haste, he had chosen poorly.

Lord Middlebury waddled up. “Is there something you wish to announce to all present, Merrick? We’ve all heard about your gallantry to Miss Weatherby.”

“He was my knight, Lord Middlebury.” Anne threaded her arm through Drake’s and gazed at him with lovesick eyes.

Drake wanted to run from the room. “Thank you for assisting me in the charade, Miss Weatherby. How astute of you to discern my task wasRomeo and Juliet. You played your part well.” He hoped she understood that’s all it was—playacting.

She batted her eyelashes. “It is easy to play what one truly feels, is it not?”

Oh, dear God.

Middlebury studied them, setting Drake’s nerves on edge.

“Choose the next participant,” Simon called, his tone not as jovial as it had been with Anne.

When Drake caught his gaze, Simon glowered at him.

Who remained who hadn’t played? Drake scanned the room, deliberately looking for Honoria. She’d been standing by Lady Miranda and Lady Charlotte, both of whom had their heads together discussing something. But Honoria was nowhere to be seen.

Where was she? When he’d chanced a glance at her during his ill-fated performance, she looked mortified—and hurt. “Lady Charlotte, you have yet to participate.”

Apparently, it was Drake’s day for mortifying gently bred ladies.Lady Charlotte shook her head. Drake supposed much like he had when Anne presumed he was proposing.

Glee broke across Simon’s face as he held the bowl high, shaking it and rustling the slips of paper within. “Yes. Yes. Lady Charlotte.”

Miranda gave Charlotte a little nudge forward.

The scowl Charlotte directed toward Simon could have frozen the hottest spot in hell. As she attempted to make her choice, Simon jerked the bowl away and out of her reach, causing her to stumble against him.

Oh, there is definitelysomethingthere.

“That’s not very gentlemanly, Burwood,” Victor Pratt called out. “Allow the lady to make her choice.”

Simon lowered the bowl, and Charlotte snatched a slip, sending Simon one final frosty look. “Thank you, Mr. Pratt. At least someone here knows how to treat a lady.”

As Charlotte reluctantly began her pantomime, Drake had no idea what she was acting out; his mind slipped away to Honoria. “Miss Weatherby . . . Anne, if you would excuse me for a moment?”

“Only a moment. But I shall miss you, nevertheless.”

Slipping her a quick smile, he hurried away. Moments after he made it out of the room, someone called his name.

He turned to find Lady Miranda. At first eager to brush her off and continue his search, he realized she might speed the progress of his quest. “Forgive me, but do you know where Lady Honoria went?”

“To her room, I believe. She suddenly felt ill.” When he tried to step away, she stopped him. “Mr. Merrick, is your affection toward Anne genuine?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Please don’t play coy with me, sir. Both Honoria and Anne are my friends, and I don’t wish to see either of them hurt. Do you have genuine affection for Anne, or is this some form of martyrdom on your part from a sense of guilt?”

Certain his mouth fell slack, he could only stare.

“Don’t look so surprised. Anne tells us everything, even if Honoria remains tight-lipped. Anne is under the impression that your intentions are to offer for her. Her judgment may be somewhat, shallwe say, clouded. So my question is quite straightforward. Do you hold genuine affection for her?”

She held up her hand when he opened his mouth. “And by that I mean, do you love her as she deserves? As a husband should love his wife? Answer me truthfully. I promise I will not think less of you if your answer is no.”

---