Free Nina Coombs Pykare by A Daring Dilemma Page A

with love. Practically live in your pocket.” He paused. “But you—can you convince the world of your affection for me?”
    Thank God he need never know her pretense would be no pretense at all. “I have never been good at lying, your grace. But I shall certainly try. For Dezzie’s sake.”
    “Good.” He took her hand once more in his. “Then the bargain is sealed.”
    He got to his feet and pulled her up. “Come, my dear. First we’ll instruct the others in their parts. Then we’ll return to the house and commence our campaign.”
    And Licia, hardly knowing whether to laugh or cry, allowed him to lead her to the others.
     

Chapter Seven
     
    Mama and Hortense were sipping tea. Mama stared rather pointedly over her teacup as the group seated itself. Then she fastened her falsely charming smile on the duke. “Your grace, last night the Duchess of Oldenburgh—such a charming woman—she was telling me about this actor. Mr. Kemble is his name. It seems he does Hamlet. And she says he’s most enjoyable to watch. Have you seen him?”
    Ravenworth didn’t even raise an eyebrow, though by now he must be quite conversant with Mama’s tricks. “Yes, of course, Mrs. Dudley. All London knows of him. I myself prefer Kean, the new man at Drury Lane. But Kemble is very good at what he does.”
    Mama sighed. “My poor Dezzie has been so long denied these fine performances. If only she had some nice gentleman to escort her to the theater.”
    “I—” Lockwood stopped and rubbed the arm the duke had surreptitiously pinched. “That is, Mr. Kemble is very good. He has much dignity of expression.”
    For all the attention Mama paid him, the viscount might as well have remained silent. “Yes.” Mama sighed again. “I am sure Dezzie would like to see this wondrous play.”
    Licia swallowed a sigh of her own. How could Mama be so obvious? In spite of all the duke knew about her, it was acutely embarrassing.
    And then Ravenworth’s eyes met hers—and they were twinkling. He was actually enjoying this!
    Mama beamed and Aunt Hortense frowned, but Licia just sat there, thinking. He would probably begin his campaign at the play. How long would it take them to convince Mama that her plans were useless? Probably a long time.
    The rush of pleasure this thought brought her was quite disconcerting. No matter how long Ravenworth paid court to her, the end result would be the same. Dezzie would have the viscount. And her sister would have no one.
    Still, she’d never been one to snivel, and she would not begin now. If all she was to have was this pretend courtship, she would enjoy every precious second of it.
    “As soon as possible,” Mama was saying. “I am dying to see this divine man.”
    “Shall we say Friday next?” Ravenworth inquired. “I believe that will be his next performance of the melancholy Dane.”
    When Mama nodded, he got to his feet. “Come, Lockwood, we must be off. We’ve things to attend to.”
    The viscount rose dutifully and bent to kiss Dezzie’s hand. Then, to Licia’s surprise, Ravenworth bent to hers. The touch of his lips on her fingers sent little whispers of delight shivering over her. And when he looked into her eyes and smiled, she thought her heart would melt and run right out her fingertips.
    “I shall be seeing you soon,” he said. And there was such promise in his voice that she was hard put to remember that this was all acting on his part.
    She knew she was blushing as she replied, “I shall look forward to it, your grace . ” She watched him leave, and her heart beat more rapidly. In his bottle-green coat and fawn inexpressibles he was surely the most magnificent man in London.
    The door had barely closed behind him when Dorothea erupted. “Delicia Marie Dudley! Wipe that ridiculous smirk off your face! You are not going anywhere. When the duke arrives to take us to the theater, you will be ill.”
    “Dorothea!” Plainly Aunt Hortense could contain herself no longer. “It is