Playing The Duke's Mistress. Eliza Redgold

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СКАЧАТЬ breaths. The tiredness from the night before hadn’t disappeared, and she almost wished she might snatch a few more hours sleep. But it would do her more good to see Columbine play in Hyde Park. Perhaps there would be a Punch and Judy show on such a fine day, or even a brass band playing.

      A sunny day in the park would drive the horrible words of the Duke of Albury from her mind.

      * * *

      Darius awoke.

      A vision flashed before his eyes.

      Dark hair.

      A long neck.

      A bite.

      The same face had appeared when he had fallen into bed the night before. He’d sent his valet, Hammond, away with a quick word and stripped off his garments to lie awake for longer than the amount of whisky he’d consumed had promised.

      At the Coach and Horses Inn, when he’d seen off the actresses, he had expected to feel satisfaction. Instead, as Miss Fairmont had slammed the door of the private dining room, he’d experienced a quick surge of emotion he couldn’t put his finger on.

      Compunction?

      Regret?

      Surely not remorse?

      He ran his hand through his hair. He’d had to come down hard on silly little Miss Coop, with her obvious designs on his cousin Herbert.

      But he wasn’t entirely sure Miss Calista Fairmont was quite the same type of young woman.

      He’d been more harsh towards Miss Fairmont than he meant to be. She’d been caught in the firing line. The Carlyle name meant everything to him and he didn’t intend to let anyone ruin it. But he’d come at her with pistols blazing and though she had fought back with a few fine shots of her own, he hadn’t intended to treat her in quite that manner.

      Had he come on too strong? No, he decided. It had been necessary. Cruelty was often kindness in the end. Herbert had to be protected from himself and Miss Fairmont had unfortunately been caught up in it all. Normally he would never have spoken to a woman in such a manner, but drastic action had been called for.

      She was only an actress. Yet he had to admit, she wasn’t what he expected from an actress.

      Again the vision came.

      Dark hair.

      A long neck.

      And an air of dignity that would have befitted a duchess as she defended her friend.

      There it was again. The damnedest thing.

      Remorse.

      That was it. Remorse.

      It wasn’t an emotion with which Darius was overly familiar, and it was damned uncomfortable.

      He shrugged it off along with the eiderdown and seized a dressing gown before he rang for Hammond to arrange his morning shave and breakfast.

      It couldn’t be helped. The situation had called for speedy action on his part. No actress was going to marry into his family and Herbert did appear to be particularly attached to Miss Coop.

      His cousin’s reaction after the actresses left the dining room had only reinforced Darius’s view that he had needed to act, and act decisively.

      ‘How dare you speak to Mabel that way,’ Herbert had stammered, red-faced. ‘You’ve gone too far this time, Darius.’

      ‘I’ve done you a favour,’ Darius told him curtly.

      Herbert would see it his way in time.

      His cousin would probably be at their club that afternoon. Darius would talk to him again and convince him a quick cut to break the attachment would be better for all concerned. He’d always been able to guide Herbert. After all, it was his duty to keep him out of trouble, and his affection for his cousin meant he would do whatever was needed to ensure Herbert’s future happiness.

      Darius looked out the window. The day was fine, too fine to spend entirely indoors. This morning there were business matters and correspondence to attend to, but in the afternoon he decided he’d go for a walk in Hyde Park.

      Darius ran his hand through his hair again.

      He possessed a strange urge to see the swans on the lake.

      * * *

      Calista breathed in the fresh air.

      Already she felt like a different person. The air and sunshine was like a tonic. Her fatigue seemed to melt away like ice cream in the sun. Even though she’d lost writing time, she had needed the outing and Columbine needed it even more.

      She pushed back her bonnet and lifted her face to the warm rays. May had arrived at last. The garden beds were bursting with bright flowers, including daffodils and the first of the bluebells. Squirrels darted among the trees and one delighted Columbine by peeping out from behind a tree near their picnic blanket. They’d spent a good few hours in the park and as every minute passed Calista felt her spirits lifting.

      The park was full of people enjoying the weather. Riders clip-clopped past. Couples strolled together arm in arm or sat on the benches. There were children playing with hoops and balls, and feeding the ducks. Swans glided elegantly across the lake.

      With a much lighter picnic basket in hand, Calista was making her way to the Punch and Judy stand where Columbine was watching the puppet show when a man spoke from behind her. ‘Miss Fairmont.’

      She turned. ‘Yes?’

      The owner of the voice, a portly man wearing a red-spotted cravat, beamed at her. ‘I thought it must be. You are Miss Fairmont, are you not, who has charmed us all lately with your performance of Rosalind in Shakespeare’s masterpiece at the Prince’s Theatre?’

      Calista smiled. It was impossible not to smile at the man. ‘I am.’

      ‘My dear!’ he exclaimed. ‘You were quite marvellous.’

      ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘You’re very kind.’

      ‘It’s not kindness, Miss Fairmont,’ he protested. ‘You’re an ornament to the stage!’

      He bowed and gave a cheery wave. ‘Good luck to you, my dear!’

      Calista watched him disappear down the path. At least someone appreciated what she was trying to achieve. The man’s praise almost took the sting from the duke’s cruel words about actresses merely showing their wares.

      Almost, but not quite.

      * * *

      Darius strolled through Hyde Park, glancing idly at the assortment of groups dotted over the lawns. On the grass, children played under the supervision of nannies who were clustered together chatting. He spotted one or two courting couples. Others were families. All of whom appeared happy and smiling as they took their picnics in the park.

      Darius felt the familiar СКАЧАТЬ