Yes,be careful.
Before she carved the duke up with her tongue and served him for nuncheon.
Her hands hidden in the folds of her skirts had clenched into fists. She forced herself to stretch out her fingers. Winderton didn’t know he was being ridiculous. He actually thought he was helpful. That he had arightto be helpful—
Be careful, careful, careful.
She nodded to Silas that his message had been received. They’d been run out of the last village they’d visited; the vicar had not been pleased with Arlo stealing his daughter. They couldn’t afford to have that happen again.
And yet, she could not give in.
“Interesting suggestion, Your Grace,” she purred, using that tone men liked, the sound almost submissive. “I hesitate to share that if I make that change to the line, well then, when Nestor says his line about how crows are never to be trusted, your very appropriate, andinterestingchange, will not make sense. We need to look at this as a whole, don’t you agree?”
His ducal eyebrows came together, warning Kate he was not going to give up easily. “Nestor? The Irishman, right? What is his exact line?”
It took all her will for Kate topleasantlysay to Nestor, “Please speak it for His Grace, Mr. Fox.”
The Irishman jumped into action. He did more than she asked. Apparently he believed he could command the situation better than herself. God save her from male arrogance, a prayer she had to repeat daily. The part had belonged to Arlo and Nestor seemed eager to prove he was the better actor.
“I’m over here, Your Grace, pretending that I can’t be seen, but the crows know I’m there so I tell the audience, ‘A crow may think he’s a sharp-eyed one, but he lacks the instinct of the fox.’Instinct, of course, is the important word.”
“I see,” said Winderton.
“I’m so glad,” Kate answered. “Now let us continue the rehearsal. Nestor, take your place again—”
“I still don’t like the line,” the duke interjected.
This time, Kate was direct. “This is not the time to change dialogue, Your Grace.” She didn’t finish with a smile. She couldn’t. She had reached the end of what little tact she possessed. One more push and she’d push back. Hard.
He must have caught a hint of her mood. “It was merely a suggestion.”
She lifted a brow.
His lips curved into an easy smile, his teeth white and straight. He’d probably conquered many a heart with that smile, and his title, and now he was using it on her.
Kate was too old for nonsense. She had work to do. Turning to the Crows, she started to tell them exactly where she wanted them, except Winderton—right in front of everyone—leaned in close to whisper in her ear, “Come to the Cotillion Dance with me tonight. You said you would think about it, and I have given you more than ample time.”
Over the past twenty-four hours of their very short acquaintance, he’d mentioned the dance a dozen times.
She would not go. She was no fool. Her showing up on Winderton’s arm would cause a small scandal. And since, thanks to Arlo, she’d just left one, she’d rather not indulge in another.
Silas had disagreed, as had others in the troupe. “Granted you’ll have tongues wagging. But then everyone for miles around will rush to the performance to have a closer look at you. And there you will be—our Juno.” Juno was the role she played in the fables. “Besides,” Silas continued, “you deserve a spot of fun. You can’t keep your guard up forever.”
Who said she couldn’t?
Silas was male. He would never be able to comprehend how much of their souls men expected from women.
“The parish dance?” she repeated as if she’d not heard the duke mention it before. A guffaw sounded from the usually quiet John and she could have boxed the man’s ears.
Winderton acted oblivious to anyone but her. He moved closer. “Miss Addison, you can’t refuse me. Not after all I’ve done for you.”
Thatwas the wrong thing to say.
But she’d not take him down a peg publicly. Instead, she took his hand, laced her fingers in his, and drew him away. He came willingly... like a lamb to the slaughter.
Some seventy feet from the tent was a large sheltering oak tree, which stood out from all the others. Its branches were so long and weighty they almost touched the ground. It was a good place to hide from eager ears and eyes.
The duke followed her docilely enough, ducking his head to go under the branches. He straightened when they reached the tree trunk. “Don’t turn me down about the dance. I won’t accept it.”
