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“Please, bow your head so I can place the crown upon it,” the actress demanded.

Lord, give me patience. Richard pursed his lips but did as was asked.

Millicent beamed at him as he straightened, a tiny, ridiculous crown on his head.

“Now, remember, if you lose your crown, you lose the game.”

Millicent giggled and stepped out of the circle. Richard heaved a sigh.

“On the count of three, start running,” the actress instructed Millicent.

“One… two… three!” everyone chanted, and Millicent bolted to the side. Richard made a step and the crown nearly toppled over.

Everyone was laughing as he tried to navigate with the tiny faux jewel on his head. Ladies and gentlemen started stepping closer, watching the proceedings.

Richard didn’t want to lose. For some odd reason, he felt that would humiliate him in front of his peers. Although, what could be more humiliating than chasing a little girl with a ridiculous crown on his head?

“Oh, he’s such a gentleman, indulging his niece’s whim!” a lady to his right exclaimed.

“Oi, Gage, got tired of associating with grown-ups, did you?” Tyrone, one of his old acquaintances yelled out.

Richard grimaced, then lunged toward Millicent, successfully dislodging his crown.

Everyone around him cheered and clapped. The crowd had grown substantially in this round of the game.

His neck heated, but he could not show his embarrassment, or he would never hear the end of the teasing. Instead, he bowed low. “Always a pleasure to entertain my sister’s guests.” He straightened, threw a menacing gaze toward the mischievous actress, and resumed his seat in the circle.

* * *

“Oh, my, Jo! Tell me everything,” Selena said as she flew into the room before the opening ball of the house party. She was already dressed, wearing a deep blue gown with golden embroidery and matching gloves.

Jo was applying a bit of rouge to her cheeks before leaving the room. As actresses, they were expected to be more flamboyant than the other ladies. After all, people were used to seeing them shine brighter than the stars on the stage.

“What am I to tell you?” Jo asked as she turned away from her reflection.

“About the viscount.” Selena waggled her brows.

Jo blinked innocently. “What viscount?”

“Oh, do not play coy with me. You know who I mean.” Selena waved a dismissive hand. “The dashing viscount whom you made to dance to your tune.”

“Firstly, I didn’t make him dance—” Jo protested.

“Yet,” Selena interrupted proudly.

“I just made him chase a little girl.”

Both women erupted in laughter. “That must have been a sight for the ages. I wish I was there,” Selena said.

Jo cocked her head to the side. “Where were you, exactly?”

“Do not change the subject!” Selena raised a staying hand, then clasped her hands together and laid her cheek against them, looking up at Jo dreamily. “Tell me about the viscount.”

Jo snorted. “There is nothing to tell. He played with his niece and watched after her for a while—which I found rather charming. But he didn’t seem happy about it. What did you hear, anyway?”

“Just that he is not the man to humiliate himself in front of others and yet he did it for a girl…”

“She is his niece,” Jo said dryly.