Duchess in Love by Eloisa James Page A

volunteer to take parts in the Shakespeare reading,” Sebastian said, standing up so quickly he almost knocked over his chair. “If you’ll excuse us—”
    â€œDon’t let me hinder you. I was thinking of joining the performance myself, and I know that Lady Rawlings will feel the same,” Cam remarked. He turned and waved at Esme, and to Gina’s disgust, her best friend smiled at him so warmly that she felt a curl of embarrassment. Esme had no right to openly seduce her husband.
    â€œCome along, Sebastian!” she snapped, walking toward Lady Troubridge without waiting for Esme.
    The young actor, Reginald Gerard, was surrounded by a fluttering group of debutantes who all seemed to be giggling and begging to play the heroine. But their hopes were quickly dashed by Lady Troubridge.
    â€œI’m sorry, girls,” she said briskly, shooing them away with a brightly colored handkerchief. “But your mothers and I have decided that performing a play is a little too daring for girls who are unmarried. I’m not having any scandal attached to my party!” She sanguinely ignored the fact that her house parties invariably provided the prime gossip for the first two months of the season. “No, Mr. Gerard will have to make do with married women, that’s all. You four will be perfect!” she exclaimed.
    Gina watched as Reginald Gerard’s face fell. It was clear that he didn’t wish to spend his afternoons with married couples. Likely he hoped to elope with an heiress.
    â€œI agree with you, my lady,” Sebastian was saying to Lady Troubridge. “Dramatic prose is entirely too exciting for young ladies.”
    â€œWhat play are you considering?” Cam asked.
    â€œA few scenes from Much Ado About Nothing, ” the young actor replied. He might have been disappointed, but he rallied and bowed politely enough. “May I introduce myself? I am Reginald Gerard.”
    â€œI believe I saw you at Covent Garden this past season,” Sebastian said, bowing. “I am Marquess Bonnington. This is the Duchess of Girton, and Lady Rawlings. And the Duke of Girton,” he added.
    Reginald smiled at the little circle. “I think we shall be able to come up with an enchanting little performance here. Perhaps the duchess could play Hero and—”
    â€œI think not,” Cam interrupted. “The duchess and I had better play Beatrice and Benedick. After all, we are married, and it would be quite harrowing for me to see another man at my wife’s bedchamber window.”
    â€œOh, of course,” Reginald agreed.
    Sebastian frowned. “What’s this about a bedchamber window?”
    â€œIn the play, Claudio—that would be you, my lord—believes that his betrothed, Hero, has been unfaithful to him when he thinks he sees another man at her window.”
    â€œThat sounds most unsuitable to me,” Sebastian said, frowning. “Is the play appropriate for mixed company?”
    â€œIt was performed with great success only last season,” Reginald said politely. “Besides, we will only do a few scenes. If there is anything that you and Lady Rawlings do not feel quite comfortable with, we will avoid that section. I suggest that we meet in the library before supper, and decide on the scenes.”
    Gina felt a warm hand at her waist for a split second. “Do you suppose that we will survive a foursome for an hour or more?”
    â€œWhy, what do you mean?”
    â€œSurely you’ve noticed your fiancé’s preoccupation with the beauteous Lady Rawlings?” He nodded toward them. Sure enough, Sebastian appeared to be lecturing Esme as she absentmindedly ate an apple.
    â€œYou seem to suffer from the same affliction,” Gina remarked.
    Cam laughed. “What’s not to love? She’s beautiful, curvaceous, and apparently quite friendly.”
    Gina’s lips tightened. “She’s not that