Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for the first task of the competition to begin.” Lady Archworth climbed onto the dais and called everyone to attention.
After the Duke’s announcement, everyone was reminded of her ladyship’s games, so they had all been favoring her with wary glances, merely waiting for what was likely to come next.
“Now that my nephew and Lady Daisy have elected to join the games, I believe the field is set.” Her eyes sparkled.
It was evident to anyone who cared to look that Lady Archworth very much enjoyed having this sort of power.
She locked eyes with one couple after another before giving the Duke and Daisy an encouraging nod. “Are you and your partners ready?”
A roar of approval swelled around the room.
The Dowager laughed delightedly. “Our task will be a performative one. Each couple shall be given a passage to enact. All the scenes come to us from one of Master William Shakespeare’s plays.
You have ten minutes to read it and plan.
You do not have to memorize the passage.
You’re welcome to read from the paper as you perform. ”
There was a rise in volume of the murmuring as the wait staff passed papers with the written script for participating couples. Daisy moved closer to the Duke so that they could share their copy of the script.
“Are you ready for this?” she murmured to him.
He snorted. “Not really.”
“But were you not expecting it? You said you knew what your aunt would plan because you have witnessed the games before.”
“Yes. I knew in general she would choose things that would foster closeness between participants. This is actually quite tame compared with what I thought she might do.”
A servant handed them a script, and they put their heads together to read it. Daisy looked around at the other couples trying to see if any seemed unsure or overwhelmed. She could not tell and decided it would not do to dwell on the others.
I must focus on what I can control.
The next ten minutes passed in a blur. Daisy and the Duke whispered furiously to one another as they made arrangements and practiced reciting their lines. But before long, they were interrupted as Lady Archworth took to the stage again.
“The first couple to entertain us all will be Lord Brimsley Ross and Miss Sherry Pitt,” Lady Archworth announced.
A tall, gangly gentleman and a short, blond, rosy-cheeked lady hurried to the center of the stage. He towered over her, making them look like a father and child rather than a betrothed couple. Daisy knew she should be practicing with her own partner, but was too curious to stop watching.
The lady tilted her chin upward and stared at the audience. “We will be reading from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” She paused and inhaled deeply. “I will be playing the part of Hippolyta,” she added in a high, wavering voice.
Her beau put a hand on her shoulder. “And I will be Theseus.” He blinked twice, then turned to Miss Pitt, cupped her chin, and declaimed loudly, “Now fair Hippolyta our nuptial hour draws on apace.” He tickled a spot underneath her chin, and her rosy cheeks blazed crimson.
“Four happy days bring in another moon.”
Lord Ross pointed up at the roof. His movements were fluid, and as he proceeded, his voice grew stronger. “But, O, methinks how slow this old moon wanes! She lingers my desires like to a step…” He glanced down at the paper hastily. “…step dame or a dowager.”
Miss Pitt looked earnestly up at him, nodding her head.
“Long…Yes…long withering out a young man’s revenue,” he finished.
Daisy could not help giggling at his red face and obvious relief at finishing his part.
Miss Pitt held up four fingers, facing the crowd.
“Four days will quickly steep themselves in night.” She wiggled her fingers and realized a heavy, highly dramatic sigh.
“Five…no…Four…Four nights will quickly dream away the time.” She pointed at Lord Ross’s pocket watch.
“And then the sun…er…the moon, like to a silver bow, new bent in heaven…” She lifted both her arms up.
“…shall behold the night of our solemnities.”
She dropped her hands, and Lord Ross reached for them. They stood there, clinging to one another, for a long moment while all the others applauded. Daisy joined in, politely clapping and secretly admiring the couple.
Their oration skills and memorization techniques could use some work, perhaps, but it is obvious they care for one another deeply.
Lady Archworth nodded. “Thank you. Next, we have…” She squinted down at the roll of parchment in her hands. “Lord Charles Dennison and Lady Mary Dodson.”
Daisy turned to the Duke. “We have to practice. We cannot flounder as awfully as that first couple did.”
The Duke laughed under his breath, shaking his head. “What an uncharitable thing to say,” he murmured.
“That does not make it untrue,” Daisy countered.
The Duke nodded, pursing his lips to keep from laughing aloud.
“Come, let’s look at this and practice a little.
” He took her elbow and led her to a quiet corner of the room.
Lord Dennison and Lady Mary did not seem to notice them slipping through the crowd.
The couple were too focused on their scripts as they kept forgetting their lines and stammering over the rhyme scheme.
“Let’s read through this thoroughly,” Edmund said.
They rehearsed their scene from Romeo & Juliet until Lady Archworth announced them. To Daisy’s surprise, the Duke took her hand as they walked to the stage.
With her heart beating hard, she followed him up the stairs, feeling the eyes of everyone in the room upon them. Daisy was used to doing her best to fade into the background. Being the center of attention, especially twice in one day, was not something she enjoyed.
The Duke turned to her, giving her a significant look.
She nodded, realizing it was up to her to begin.
Daisy scanned the page in her hands one more time, then focused her gaze entirely on her scene partner.
“Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day.” She stared into the Duke’s eyes affectionately, saying her lines with all the yearning she felt when watching her sisters with their spouses.
“It was the nightingale, and not the lark that pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear.” She brushed her finger against his earlobe and watched as he shivered in response.
“Nightly she sings on yond pomegranate tree. Believe me…” She paused before saying the next bit. “My love, it was the nightingale.”
He gave her a nod of approval.
“It was the lark, the herald of the morn,” he began and she shivered at the rich quality of his voice.
She had yet to hear him speak in such a manner. Without meaning to, she had become used to his calm throat clearing and mild tone, but now, listening to him project and articulate each word clearly, she was transfixed by the power the Duke’s voice had over her.
“No nightingale.” He shook his head, then grasped a hold of her hands. “Look, love, what envious streaks. do lace the severing clouds in yonder east.” He rubbed his finger against her arm. “Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day.”
She stared into his eyes, getting completely lost in them and taken in by the sincerity in his voice.
“Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops. I must be gone and live or stay and die.”
She blinked up at him and sighed soulfully. She jumped as the room erupted with applause, and she turned, seeing that everyone was looking at them with bright and admiring eyes.
Her face heated as she stared at everyone in return. The Duke took her hand and led her off the stage, where Lady Archworth was waiting.
“I don’t even feel biased for saying this. You two were the best performance yet!”
Lord Salwick came up as well and clapped the Duke on the shoulder. “I didn’t know you had that in you, old man. Quite impressive.” He winked at Daisy. “You seemed rather impressed.”
Daisy blushed, stammering a few words in embarrassment.
“Oh, they are such a good match,” Lady Archworth crooned, clasping her hands together.
Daisy gave a tight smile but didn’t say anything. Luckily, Lydia joined them then and looped her hand through Daisy’s. “That was wonderful, Daisy. You would do well on Drury Lane,” she teased.
“You may jest with me, my friend, but do not put ideas into my scene partner's head.” Daisy smiled shyly at the Duke. “You were magnificent, Your Grace. It was a pleasure to share the stage with you.”
The Duke bowed formally, then whispered, “The pleasure was all mine, Lady Daisy.”
Lydia stifled something that sounded like a smothered giggle, then said, “Shall we seek some refreshments? I’m quite famished.”
Without waiting for Daisy to reply, Lydia towed her away from the small gathering, ushered her through the larger crowd, and pushed her right up to the food table.
Daisy surveyed the offerings, salivating a little.
She took a plate and piled it with sandwiches and cake, as well as two petit fours.
Lydia watched her with a furrow in her brow.
“How are you? Are you all right?” she asked with concern.
“I’m fine.” Daisy took a bite of her sandwich. She had not managed to eat at all earlier in the day since her stomach had been twisted with nerves.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Of course. Why do you ask?”
“Well, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone actually eat the food at Almack’s.”
Daisy laughed. “I’m hungry, and the sandwiches are delicious.”
Lydia took a breath. “So, you and the Duke make a pretty pair.”
Daisy just smiled, not knowing what to say.
“Don’t you think so?” Lydia persisted.
Daisy munched on another bite of a sandwich so she might give herself time to formulate a proper response.
I cannot keep Lydia waiting forever. After all, she didn’t yank me away from the others just so she could watch me eat.
“I think that there is no point in me having any thoughts about any of this. Once I win, we’re going our separate ways.”