title: Four Nights with the Duke (Desperate Duchesses)
author:  Eloisa James 
description: another brilliantly executed historical romance that splendidly showcases her flair for faultless plotting and flawless character development. Much of the novels sparkling wit is associated with the heroines secret life as a best-selling romance novelist (Booklist <strong>(starred review)</strong>)<br /><br />James proves that wit is sexy and romance is smart. Her latest Desperate Duchesses novel does it again with an unforgetable heroine, a masterful hero and a very wise little boy. This is a wonderful story filled with emotion. A real keeper. (RT Book Reviews (top pick))
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  * * *
  
  # The Revenger's Tragedy
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Thomas Middleton
  
  
  
      
  
  
  [Dramatis Personae in order of appearance
  
  
  VINDICI, the revenger, sometimes disguised as Piato
  
  
  HIPPOLITO, his brother
  
  
  GRATIANA, his mother
  
  
  CASTIZA, his sister
  
  
  DUKE
  
  
  Two JUDGES
  
  
  DUCHESS
  
  
  LUSSURIOSO, the Duke's son by a previous marriage
  
  
  AMBITIOSO, the eldest of the Duchess's three sons by a previous marriage
  
  
  SPURIO, the Duke's bastard son
  
  
  JUNIOR, the Duchess's youngest son
  
  
  SUPERVACUO, the Duchess's middle son
  
  
  ANTONIO, a virtuous old lord
  
  
  PIERO, a virtuous lord
  
  
  DONDOLO, Castiza's servant
  
  
  LORDS
  
  
  Two SERVANTS of Spurio
  
  
  NOBLES
  
  
  Four prison OFFICERS
  
  
  A prison KEEPER
  
  
  GENTLEMEN
  
  
  NENCIO }
  
  
  SORDIDO } Lussurioso's attendants
  
  
  A FOURTH MAN in the final masque, Ambitioso's henchman
  
  
  Guards]
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### I.i. [Outside Vindici's house]
  
  
    
  
  
  Enter Vindici [with a skull]; the Duke, Duchess, Lussurioso [his] son, Spurio
  the bastard, with a