Chapter Twenty-Four
Kit hadn’t enjoyed himself like this in a very long time. It made him realise that lately he had become too introverted, but mostly too disappointed with life. But here tonight at the village dance, with Evelyn in his arms, he felt like a man reborn. Like a man who could do anything he wanted! And it wasn’t beer or rum punch that was making him think such grandiose thoughts. He’d deliberately steered away from drinking alcohol, given the memory of his previous disastrous evening here with Evelyn. No, this was sheer happiness.
During the afternoon at the fete, while he and Evelyn had been watching the dog show, he had risked asking her if she would come to the dance with him this evening. ‘I promise to behave myself this time,’ he’d said. She’d smiled and said she’d love to, but would have to check with her mother first. It was then that she’d let out a cry of delight at the sight of a man strolling towards them. It had taken a few seconds for Kit to recognise her brother, Edmund, having not seen him for some years.
‘I didn’t think you were coming until tomorrow,’ Evelyn had said.
‘I managed to get away sooner than I thought would be possible,’ Edmund told her.
‘I’m so pleased you are here. Now you’ll be able to come to the dance tonight.’
The closeness between Evelyn and her brother had in many ways mirrored that between Kit and Hope as children. The four of them had always got on well together, but somehow – and it struck Kit now as a great shame – they had lost touch, gone their separate ways.
After the fete had wound up, Kit had returned to Island House and sought out Hope, who had taken Annelise home some time earlier. He had suggested his sister might like to come to the dance that evening, adding that Edmund had been asking after her that afternoon. He had included Allegra in the invitation too, but both had declined, Hope saying that of course she couldn’t go, she had Annelise to consider, and Allegra claiming she had a headache. That was before Romily had stepped in and offered to mind Annelise. As Kit was fast learning, his stepmother had a persuasive way about her that people found difficult to resist, himself included. In this instance, she had been quite blunt. ‘The world is about to change,’ she had said, pointing to the copy of the Times she was reading, in particular a piece about France continuing to call up its reservists. ‘My advice is to enjoy yourselves while you still can.’
‘But I haven’t got anything remotely suitable to wear for a dance,’ Hope had remonstrated.
‘You can borrow something of mine. You too, Allegra, if you’d like to.’
‘That won’t be necessary,’ Allegra had said, her headache seemingly forgotten, ‘I have something I can wear.’
Now, seeing his sister appearing to enjoy herself dancing with Edmund, Kit felt proud of himself for encouraging her to come. Just like Evelyn, Edmund was a sharp-as-mustard cerebral type, and Kit knew that Hope responded well to that kind of fellow. And if an old friend could cheer her up for a few hours, then that had to be a good thing in Kit’s opinion.
‘Why are you watching my brother and your sister so closely?’ asked Evelyn.
‘I’m sorry,’ Kit said, ‘I didn’t think I was being that obvious.’
‘You were. Not that I’m expecting you to have eyes only for me, but a little contact would be appreciated.’
‘Sorry,’ he said again. ‘It’s just that losing Dieter seemed to destroy every last drop of Hope’s optimism. She deserves to be happy.’
Evelyn looked at him solemnly. ‘She will be when she’s ready. You can’t rush grief.’
The music came to a stop, and after applauding the band, Kit said, ‘Shall we sit the next one out? I’m conscious that your poor feet can only take so much of my clumsiness.’
‘You really should stop that, you know.’
‘What?’
‘Putting yourself down. You’ve only stepped on my feet the once, which is quite acceptable given how busy the dance floor is. Oh look, there’s Allegra dancing with Elijah Hartley. Don’t they make a handsome pair?’
Looking across the dance floor, Kit had to agree that they did indeed. ‘It’s funny how we’re all picking up with old friendships, isn’t it?’ he said.
‘Some friendships are meant to last.’
He looked at Evelyn. ‘Do you think ours is?’
She laughed. ‘Tell me in fifty years’ time.’
He laughed too, and wondered if he dared pluck up the courage to kiss her before the evening was over. Why not? Wasn’t he now a man who was capable of anything?
Allegra was surprised how well Elijah danced. She wondered where he’d learnt, and with whom. But what she wondered most was why he had bothered to ask her to dance.
After the awkwardness of their brief conversation in the garden yesterday, she had been left with the strongest conviction that he had no desire whatsoever to speak to her ever again. Yet, and with scarcely a word exchanged, here he was, his strong, warm body pressed against hers filling her with confusion and making her wish she could read his mind. His brooding silence was unbearable. Why didn’t he just tell her exactly what he thought of her? Why put her through this torment?
Oh, if only she could turn back the clock to the time when they’d been such close friends, to a time before she threw away one of the few things that had ever mattered to her: her friendship with Elijah.
Luigi might have been her lover, but hindsight had taught her that he had not been a friend. All too easily she had handed herself over to him, mind, body and soul, to the exclusion of all else. He had stressed the importance of her staying focused, of blocking out anything and anyone who might halt her progress. He had taken charge of every detail of her day-to-day routine – what she ate, what she wore, where she went.
