Beyond Rubies (Daughters of Sin Book 4) by Beverley Oakley Read Free Book Online

yourself.”
    Kitty was interested by Lord Silverton’s ironic tone and surprised he would speak so bluntly to her. But then, he assumed she was simply the lowborn young woman it had amused him to take on an afternoon jaunt. Which, of course, was true. No doubt he didn’t expect ever to see her again unless he came to throw flowers at her on stage.
    This reminded her of the urgent need to repeat her audition for Mr. Lazarus, and she gripped Lord Silverton’s arm to draw his attention back from the pig that could apparently spell, though Kitty hadn’t seen evidence during the three minutes they’d been observing it.
    “Please, Lord Silverton, what do you think Mr. Lazarus is looking for to cast me in the role of Juliet?” she asked. “When I met him at the theater in my village during their tour of the provinces, he said he felt in his bones I would be his next leading lady. He even said I looked perfect for the role of Juliet.”
    Lord Silverton transferred his fixed attention from the pig that could spell to Kitty’s no-doubt anxious face. “Did you flatter him?”
    “Flatter him?”
    “Of course, every man loves to be flattered. Especially a man like Mr. Lazarus. You need to show enormous admiration for his theater skills and add to the cocktail a dose of personal flattery. He’s not getting any younger, but he wants to believe he is as handsome as he was when a young buck of thirty.”
    “Is that what you like to hear, Lord Silverton?” Kitty asked with a flash of a smile.
    “Oh, I don’t need your flattery, Kitty, and if you start now, I shall know not to believe it after this little lesson I’ve given you.” He patted her shoulder. “Besides, I’m only just past thirty, very handsome and athletic, so, in fact, in my prime. I fancy I am also too intelligent not to recognize false flattery, but Mr. Lazarus is an altogether different beast. I suggest you return to see him at the theater, looking suitably tragic and contrite. Ask if you can audition again because you’re heartbroken to have been so green as to have flubbed your first chance at what you’ve always desired...to be directed by the incomparable Mr. Lazarus, a theater director greater even than David Garrick.”
    Kitty considered this as they left the spelling pig and wandered off to visit the tiger where she shrieked when it lunged at her, though it was of course repulsed by the bars of its cage.
    “Do you think Mr. Lazarus will want to kiss me again?” she asked after a while.
    “I expect so. That’s why he chose that passage from Romeo and Juliet.” Lord Silverton gave her a considered look as they were about to move on. “No doubt he wants to see if you are able to pretend to like being kissed by someone you hardly know. You will need to be very convincing if the audience is to believe you’d rather take your own life than be parted from your Romeo. Perhaps you’d like to practice with me later this evening.”
    Kitty jerked her head up, shocked, to find he was grinning at her. He pinched her cheek. “I am joking, but I’m also quite happy to help you perfect this difficult role you must master if you are to secure Juliet from Mr. Lazarus.”
    Kitty put her hand in the crook of the arm he offered. “I don’t know if I can do this...if I’m not in love,” she said doubtfully. She thought of the dashing young buck with his inky curls and blazing eyes who’d so flattered her earlier that morning and added softly, “Or, what if I am in love with another?”
    He shrugged. “Well, I am in love with another, but sometimes kissing a stranger can be quite the antidote.” Almost distracted, he added as he assisted her over another channel of dirty water, “Well, that’s what one tries to believe.”
    “You are in love with another? Oh, Lord Silverton, she would be so jealous if she saw you squiring me around.”
    “Not at all. She’d be delighted since she was so very sorry to have hurt my feelings last night when she