Anne Barbour Read Online Free PDF Page B

for the male leads, but they are really quite unsuitable. Perhaps I can still use them as Bottom and Oberon.”
    As she spoke, Winifred fairly glowed, and a becoming tinge of pink spread over her beautifully modeled cheeks. “And, of course, I chose my cousin Jane to play Puck because she is so sm—”
    Miss Burch coughed convulsively. “Winifred, dear, perhaps the gentlemen do not wish to participate in the play.” She directed an apologetic look at Simon.
    Simon, still immersed in the vision of dumpy Miss Burch in the role of the mischievous fairy Puck, at first made no response to this statement, but coming to himself with a jerk, said hurriedly, “No! That is, I have no inclination for theatrics, and Marcus must be on his—”
    “I’d be delighted to be in your play!” exclaimed Marcus, and Simon, whirling to face his friend, noted with dismay that Winifred’s glow of anticipation was plainly reflected in Marc’s light blue eyes. “I have never acted, precisely,” continued the young man, “but I have been a professional entertainer. You see,” he stated with becoming modesty, “I used to be something of an acrobat.”
    “No!” Winifred was almost breathless with awe, and under her admiring stare, Marcus bloomed like a thirsty weed in a spring rain. “Oh, how marvelous!” she continued. “But, you would be wasted on Demetrius. You must be Oberon! Imagine, you’ll be able to leap and tumble just like a real fairy king! Oh! Do but think . . .” She rushed to grasp Marcus’s hand in both her own. “If I can play both Titania and Helena, you could play both Oberon and Demetrius!”
    Marcus said nothing, but nodded and beamed in fatuous agreement
    Simon experienced an unpleasant chill in the pit of his stomach. Good God, was Marc already smitten with the exquisite Winifred? He felt perspiration break out on his brow. Lord, Diana would kill him. Jared would dismember him bone by bone, and Lissa ... He groaned. Lissa was all but formally betrothed to Marcus. She was a very good sort of girl as sisters went, but she was volatile as flash powder. When she discovered that her older brother had introduced her intended to a siren of Winifred’s blinding attributes, there would be hell to pay. He groaned again.
    “I beg your pardon?” asked Miss Burch brightly, her squint more pronounced than ever.
    “What? Oh, nothing.” Simon chewed the sandwich, which had turned to ashes in his mouth.
    Jane smiled. She had also been watching the interplay between Marcus and Winifred and she was well pleased. The Viscount Stedford, with his property in Kent and probable wealth, was a much better prospect for Winifred than Lord Simon, the perhaps even wealthier but titleless second son. To add to her satisfaction, it was obvious that the viscount was already more than half in love with Winifred. Certainly it wasn’t his passion for the theater that had prompted him to extend his stay at Selworth. True, he did not reside in London, which apparently meant a great deal to Winifred, but he no doubt possessed a town house there. With luck and a little encouragement, he and Winifred would be betrothed inside a month. Jane had no doubt of Winifred’s ability to winkle the viscount out of his country estate and into his city residence.
    She shot a glance at Lord Simon. Why, the man was positively livid. Was he jealous of Winifred’s seeming attraction to his friend? A small twinge snaked through her. Unwilling to consider the reason for this momentary discomfort, she rose hastily and moved toward the bellpull.
    “If you have finished your tea ...?” she announced briskly. Turning to Winifred, she continued. “The gentlemen have not yet been shown to their rooms, dearest.”
    Winifred did not so much as turn her head to acknowledge this statement. “But I wish to discuss the play. And I wish to hear more about Lord Stebbins’s acrobatics.” She began propelling Marcus toward a brocade settee, but was stayed by Jane’s