Page 18 of The Last Duke She'd Marry
Why on earth was he hesitating? Evesham had come down here most unwillingly. He had urgent plans to go to Lancers and sort out the havoc there. This week in Wiltshire had always been a dashed inconvenience.
Except he’d rather enjoyed playing Romeo this afternoon. If only because his Juliet eyed him as if she wasn’t sure whether he was about to bite her.
When she’d told him that she’d poisoned his soup, he damn near kissed her. Which, given that he lacked suicidal impulses, was an odd reaction. She didn’t much like him, or at least she didn’t want to.
In all his wild days, he’d learned one thing. Women in general liked him. It was a novelty to meet one who didn’t.
What a pity to bring the chase to an end so soon and in such an anticlimactic fashion.
“Surely you’d rather be in Town catching up with old friends,” Juliet said in the tone that she would use to cajole a toddler into eating his carrots.
Evesham took a sip of wine. “My old friends have managed without me for nine years. Another few days won’t make much difference.”
The sad fact was that the majority of his cronies had dropped him like a hot potato when he’d fled to Berlin in Vanessa’s company. Society’s sticklers would still prefer him to stay on the other side of the English Channel.
Juliet looked sulky. Which made him want to kiss her even more. That pouting lower lip filled him with all sorts of depraved fancies.
Her father stopped looking like his dog had died and brightened up. “On the other hand, if you’d like to stay, I’d be most grateful. You showed such promise today, it would be a crime against art if you abandoned the project.”
“Papa…” Juliet said in a warning voice, her hand tightening around her wineglass.
Her father shot her an annoyed glance. “Well, if he wants to stay, I’m not going to throw him out.”
“Pleased to hear it.” Evesham really shouldn’t revel in the way Juliet looked ready to explode.
It astonished him that everyone had described her as a cold fish. Instead, she was a still water that ran deep. All his instincts told him that those depths concealed a passion that would send a lover flying into the sun.
“So you’ll stay?” Portdown looked so hopeful that Evesham nearly laughed.
“I’d hate to put you out, having to cast someone else.”
“Capital.”
“Capital,” Juliet echoed in a completely different tone.
Lady Portia appeared, and looked around after a quick curtsy. “I always seem to come in on the tail end of things. You could cut the atmosphere in here with a knife. What’s happened?”
“His Grace has agreed to stay to play Romeo.” Portdown passed his younger daughter a filled glass. “Isn’t that marvelous?”
The glance that Portia cast Juliet hinted that she knew of her sister’s wish to banish Evesham. But the smile she bestowed on him brimmed with approval. He couldn’t imagine why, but he sensed that he had an ally in the younger Frain sister.
“Marvelous. You show real talent, Your Grace. Did you do theatricals at school?”
“No, I was too busy on the cricket pitch. And thank you for the kind words. I enjoyed it. Which is a surprise, as I thought I’d feel completely out of my element.”
“It didn’t show. You’re a natural.” Portia leveled an unfavorable glance on her sister. “You, on the other hand, Juliet, were as stiff as a board. I’ve never seen you like that. You’ll have to warm up a bit before the performance, or people will think Romeo has fallen for a complete bore.”
“I am a complete bore,” Juliet said, for his benefit, Evesham knew.
“Usually not when you’re on stage. When you’ve done the part before, you’ve been lovely. Radiant with passion and ardor.”
Now, that was something Evesham would like to see.
“That’s true, Juliet,” Portdown agreed, refilling his glass. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you.”
The sidelong glance that Juliet directed at Evesham indicated that he was what was wrong with her. He lifted his glass to hide a smug smile.
“I’m not right for the part, Papa.”
