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from speaking
further by his sister pushing him further down the balustrade and
away from their location on the terrace.

    "Jonas! Do be a good host and be kind to
these gentlemen," intoned Miranda patronizingly as she smiled
flirtatiously in the general direction of all the lords.

    The Duke grimaced but stood quiet at her
remonstrance. Immediately the Marquis of Hertford jumped into the
silence, dismounting gallantly and doffing his hat to make a low,
sweeping bow. "Lady Miranda, it is indeed a pleasure." Turning, he
made another low bow then dropped onto one knee. "'But soft! What
light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is
the sun.'"

    The riders burst into laughter at the antics
of the Marquis while Juliet smiled but faintly and rolled her eyes
at Miranda before moving to the edge of the terrace railing. "My
Lord Hertford, you honor me, as many others have before you, with a
quote from that famous bard. Please do not trouble yourself to
think original words, but pray favor me with another familiar
line." She gave a small curtsey and wry smile to blunt her sarcasm.
The lords all convulsed with laughter over her gentle set down,
with Aylesford throwing his hat at Hertford. The Marquis
straightened to his full height, placing a hand over his heart in
mock wound.

    "'She speaks! Oh speak again, bright
angel!'" he continued his quotations. The lords snickered while
Jonas began to look irritated with the exchange.

    Juliet retied the bow on her bonnet, having
fidgeted with the ribbons until they had loosened. She pointedly
fixed her gaze on the Marquis. "'What man art thou that thus
bescreen'd in night so stumblest on my council?'" she returned,
deftly throwing lines from the famous play as well. As she shared
her name with its heroine, her first governess had felt the need to
make her memorize numerous passages. Juliet remembered each line
learned but still thought it a foolish exercise forced upon her.
She lowered her lashes coquettishly before batting them several
times in what she hoped was a flirtatious manner, although she felt
a little foolish at her attempt to play the simpering miss for the
Marquis.

    Hertford remained quiet, obviously
struggling for another line as he looked around at his friends for
support. Aside from a rude hand gesture offered by his cousin
Aylesford, he was left to his own devices to continue the witty
repart ée . After a few more moments of
awkward silence he threw up his arms in defeat. "Alas, I have
reached the end of my repertoire, dear miss,” he offered, smiling
sheepishly. “I forfeit to you, sweet Lady Juliet, and pray you will
favor me with more words when next we meet." He executed another
formal bow in submission. He was rewarded for his efforts with a
kick to his rear by Aylesford, barely maintaining his footing.

    Juliet smiled down from the terrace, silver
eyes sparkling mischievously. "I accept your forfeit, my lord, with
a boon to be named later, perhaps." The ladies curtsied then turned
on their heels and exited into the house with graceful swishing of
their skirts. The Duke watched their departure before turning back
to his comrades.

    “I must say, Jonas, that at this moment I am
heartily glad I accepted your invitation to this house party. I
believe the entertainment you promised will be most diverting
indeed,” continued the Marquis.

    The Duke harrumphed before making his reply.
“See to your horses, gentlemen. The supper gong sounds at seven
sharp this eve. We begin country hours immediately.” He turned away
from the railing as the men moved towards the stables. Thinking of
the exchange he just witnessed, he was reminded of a line from
another Shakespearean play: “Lady Juliet, 'get thee to a nunnery,'”
he muttered to himself.

Chapter Nine
Lord, what fools these mortals be.

William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's
Dream, Act 3, Scene 2

    In total there were four and twenty
unattached attendees plus respectable chaperones for the party