Lady Vivian Defies a Duke - By Samantha Grace Page 0,84

Connick complained.

Luke chuckled as he checked his watch. Mr. Shaw had been torturing his mother’s guests for a good seven minutes. Any longer and there might be a riot. He snapped his watch closed and slipped it back into his waistcoat pocket. “Is it King Lear?”

“Bravo, Your Grace.” Mr. Shaw tossed his hands in the air in a gesture that communicated his frustration with everyone else’s lack of intelligence. “At least someone knows his literature.”

Mr. Shaw looked down his nose at Lord Flockton before making his way back to his seat. Lord Flockton grumbled something Luke couldn’t make out over the loud clapping of the other guests. Their good humor was restored with Mr. Shaw offstage.

Luke’s mother looked to him. “It is your turn now.”

He glanced down at Vivian. Her face was turned up toward him in expectation, the color high in her cheeks from laughter and her lips plump, inviting. His body began to stir as he imagined the possibilities of what he could do with her if they were alone. He cleared his throat. “Perhaps Lady Vivian will stand in for me.”

She drew back. “Me?”

“What a marvelous choice,” his mother said and motioned to Vivian. “Come, my lady.”

“Unless you’re afraid you can’t compete with Mr. Shaw’s performance,” Luke said under his breath.

Vivian raised an eyebrow at him before walking forward as regal as a queen. His intended was apparently powerless to back down from any challenge. This quality would serve her well in the days to come. His mother’s shoes wouldn’t be any easier to fill than his father’s were, but Vivian would give her best efforts.

She leaned down so Mother could whisper in her ear then she glanced up with an enigmatic smile. She took position and when Mother gave the mark, Vivian launched into a lively rendition of a brawl.

Some of the ladies gasped and looked to his mother to gauge her reaction. Mother shifted to the edge of her seat, a broad grin in place. Their looks of horror gave way to tentative smiles, and murmurs traveled around the room.

“She is exceptionally good,” Lady Eldridge said to her sister who was sitting at her elbow.

Her sister nodded vigorously. “The best all evening.”

“Is it Beowulf?” a gentleman called out from behind Luke.

Mother shook her head. “Guess again.”

After the fight and pretending to have been run through with a sword, Vivian lowered to one knee and folded her hands over her heart as if beseeching someone.

Lady Connick twittered. “Why, it’s a story of love.”

Vivian pointed at her encouragingly. Luke again knew the answer, but he was too enchanted by her performance to end her turn.

Hopping up, she spun around to play the role of the second person. Her face took on the soft glow of a love-struck lady as she batted her eyes and pretended to lean over a railing, extending her fingers toward her admirer below. Her gaze, however, strayed toward him. They locked eyes; his heart sped up.

Whispers flittered around the circle, and curious glances were cast his direction. His entire life Luke had been trained to hide his emotions behind a placid mask. Not tonight.

A slow grin eased across his face.

Vivian extended her hand in invitation. “Perhaps His Grace would assist me?”

Going to her side would declare his intentions as clearly as a formal announcement. There would be no more speculation about their intentions or need to hide his regard. The ton forgave much when a love match was made.

“Romeo and Juliet,” a high-pitched voice blurted out as he took a step forward.

Luke halted and searched the blur of faces around him, his sight landing on Johanna. Mr. Collier was by her side studying him shrewdly.

“I believe the answer is Romeo and Juliet,” she repeated. “Well done, Lady Vivian.”

His mother stood. “Yes, well done.”

She applauded and her guests joined in. The spell between Vivian and him was broken, and he donned his mask again.

Mr. Collier whispered something in Johanna’s ear and she blushed.

Luke gritted his teeth. The gentleman was becoming a nuisance in his household.

He made his way toward his mother’s companion while fixing Collier with a feral glare that should have the coward turning tail. Just as Luke expected, the gentleman made a hasty departure before he reached them.

He offered Johanna his arm. “Take a turn about the room with me.”

“As you wish, Your Grace.”

Satisfied Mother was occupying Vivian and she was safe, he led Johanna around the perimeter of the room. “Was Mr. Collier bothering you? I shall order his departure on