A Midwinter Night’s Dream by Anna Markland

With apologies to William Shakespeare…

Duke Theo’s precocious niece writes a play to be performed on the occasion of the Prince Regent’s visit. Theo is happy to play the part of his young ward’s hero, The Duke of Hessian, especially since it involves saving the heroine, Princess Europa, from the clutches of the Emperor Boneshanks. The Princess is played by his niece’s very attractive governess. Miss Jenkinson’s diaphanous costume, fashioned from old curtains, is enough to drive Theo mad.
But Dolly Jenkinson is a governess with other secrets he thirsts to uncover.
(Note: This story was first published as part of the Anthology set titled A Duke in Winter in December 2022.)