Delilah snapped her mouth shut. What was Lucy thinking? No good could come of having Rebecca in the play.
“I would be honored to join,” Lady Rebecca said. “Thank you, Your Grace.” She stepped closer to Thomas and gave him an inviting smile.
“Ah, I hadn’t realized you were not already a part of the play, Lady Rebecca,” Branville said, the dimple appearing in his cheek. “We’ll both be new to the production, then.”
Delilah frowned. At least Branville had agreed to join them, despite the embarrassment with the shirt. Perhaps he’d said yes because two other dukes were already in the performance. Perhaps he’d agreed because he truly did value the Royal Society for the Humane Treatment of Animals. Perhaps it was because Lucy could be uncannily convincing when she wanted to be.
Regardless of his reasons, Delilah breathed a sigh of relief. Branville would be coming back three times a week. She would have an opportunity to make up for her ridiculousness to date. No more mindless French. And no more shirt-ripping. She’d also do well not to bring Miss Adeline around. She glanced at the parrot from across the room and found him watching her with a particular glare in his eyes, as though he could read her thoughts.
“In addition to Peaseblossom,” Branville said, “I wonder if there are any more roles for females as yet unfulfilled.”
Lucy’s smile faltered slightly. “Why do you ask, Your Grace?”
“I told Lady Emmaline Rochester about the play last night, and she also expressed her interest in joining.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“What do you think of pairing Lord Berwick with my friend Rebecca?” Delilah asked Lucy the next afternoon over tea in the duchess’s drawing room. Delilah hadnearlygot over her acute embarrassment from the day before. Her outrage over Lady Emmaline joining the production had served to burn off a great deal of it.
The nerve of Lady Emmaline to ask Branville if she could be a part of the company! Clever and cunning of her, yes, but still, Delilah was smarting from being outwitted at her own game.
Lucy dropped a fourth lump of sugar into her teacup. “Berwick. The man playing Snout?”
“Yes,” Delilah replied. “He’s eligible. He’s an earl.”
Lucy cast her a wary glance. “Why are you interested in pairing off Rebecca? Did she ask you to?”
“No, but…”
“But what?” Lucy prodded. “I daresay we already have our hands full this Season.”
Delilah eyed her friend surreptitiously. “I thought you enjoyed a challenge.”
“I do, dear, but something tells me you have another reason for wanting to pair off Lady Rebecca.”
Delilah cleared her throat and sat up straighter. “Fine. I think she has her sights set on Thomas, and I… don’t want her to be disappointed.”
Lucy shook her head. “No. Not Thomas. Not with Lady Rebecca.”
Delilah expelled her breath. She was relieved she didn’t have to explain or think too closely about why she didn’t like the match. “I’m glad you agree.”
“Yes, if Lady Rebecca is setting her sights on Thomas, let’s be certain to pair her with Berwick.”
Delilah smiled and nodded. “Agreed. Now. What about Lavinia? How did she get on with Lord Stanley last night?”
Lucy winced. “She wasn’t awful to him. For Lavinia, that’s something. However, it remains to be seen if Stanley will overlook her shrewishness for the purse Thomas’s settled on her.”
“Did Lord Stanley seem interested?” Delilah asked, studying the steam curling off the top of her tea.
“He asked if he might pay her a call, and she agreed.” Lucy snorted. “I’d say they’re halfway to the altar.”
“That is promising,” Delilah replied with a laugh.
“Now…” Lucy peered hard at her friend. “What about you and Branville?”
Delilah shook her head. “What about us? It hardly seems encouraging that he invited Lady Emmaline to join the company.”
A catlike smile appeared on Lucy’s face. “But that is why we cannot possibly pair Lady Rebecca with Thomas.We still need Thomas to distract Lady Emmaline from Branville to give you more time with him.”
