Mary noticed that something was not quite right with Kate. They had just finished dressing in their costumes. Half the benches outside were already filled. There were clouds in the sky but they did not promise rain, at least, not anytime soon.
Actors were running back and forth, either to don costumes or to carry out their duties in preparing the audience. Robbie was an excellent juggler and Jess had taken to pretending to make him lose his concentration with her saucy ways. The crowd loved it.
“We are going to have another full till,” Mary predicted.
“Yes,” Kate said, giving her only half an ear.
“We will still be leaving soon, no?”
“Yes... I just saw the wagon. The wainwright promises it in six more days. Possibly five.”
“Do you believe him?”
Ah, there it was—a question of trust. “Of course,” Kate answered a bit too brightly. “He wants to be paid.” She piled her hair up on top of her head and began poking pins into her curls to hold them in place.
Mary watched her a moment before taking the pins from Kate’s hand. “Let me do this.”
Gratefully, Kate did. She felt tired. And a touch annoyed at the responsibility of everything.
“What is it?” Mary asked.
“It?”
“You are distracted.” Mary pushed the last pin into Kate’s hair. “Is it the duke?”
“The duke?” Lord, Kate had barely given him a thought. “Has he been around today?”
“He is out there right now. He was most put out that you were gone when he arrived a few hours ago. He actually stomped around.”
“Oh dear.” She closed her eyes, willing herself to keep everything in perspective.
“Jess teased him and he brightened a bit.”
Kate rose and shook out the skirts of her Juno costume. “Perhaps it is a good thing she did. I’m trying to discourage him but he is remarkably persistent.”
“You might talk to him.”
“Do you mean be blunt? And how do you believe that will play out, Mary? I’ve suggested every polite way possible that we aren’t suited.” She shook her head. “One does not offend a duke. Even such a young one. Hopefully, we will be leaving shortly and then that will be that. I just have to fend him off as best as I am able.”
“So, you don’t mind that Jess has been doing a bit of flirting with him?”
That gave Kate pause. “Is it a problem?”
“What she does flatters him.”
Kate shrugged. “If his attention is on her, then he will leave me alone.” Besides, Jess had once been a simple milkmaid. She couldn’t possibly keep Winderton’s attention for long.
With that thought, she turned her focus on the play and her performance—except, things felt different. Kate truly hadn’t made a connection between her use ofAesop’s Fablesand the charming stories Brandon had once told her.
When her part was finished and she was watching backstage... she found herself remembering the warmth of his skin, even the scent of it. She’d nestled against him after their lovemaking. She’d been a virgin. Shy, awkward, and amazed. His body had taught hers what it meant to be fully alive. What had happened between them had seemed preordained.
There had been one second when she’d been almost overwhelmed by regret. That was when she’d thought of her mother—who had warned her to be wary, to guard against just this sort of thing.They will ruin you, if you aren’tcareful...and Kate had assured her she was made of sterner stuff. She could resist temptation—and she had, until she met Brandon.
Then, all of her fine promises of chastity had crumbled. She’d wanted him as much as he had her. She’d been drawn to him from the first moment their gazes had met. He’d made her laugh. He told her stories. She’d experienced no shame in giving herself to him or making that leap outside of marriage. Well, not until Hemling had ruined her life.
Now, every vignette on stage had a deeper meaning. Others had fought for her attention with flowers and gifts... but Brandon had offered his imagination. She found herself thinking about what might have been.
The performance went well. Afterward, Winderton pouted, apparently offended by her casual disregard for him. She was unable to keep up even a pretense of interest in his babble. He left shortly after the performance, and Kate was relieved.
