Brandon was setting things to right in the room. Others helped him as they returned to their meals or their drinks. There were many curious glances as Kate took her place at one of the tables. “Jess, have you eaten?”
“I have not.”
“Then let us have a bite before we do anything else.”
Dutifully, Jess sat beside her. “You are angry with me.”
“Disappointed.” Looking to the innkeeper who had approached their table, she said, “I will take hot tea.”
“I’ll have a cider,” Jess said pertly.
Kate looked over at the duke. “Your Grace?” His neck snapped up at the address. Everyone else in the room seemed to freeze in place. “Will you join us?” Kate asked.
She could see it was on the tip of his tongue to refuse and yet how could he when so many had witnessed his humiliation.
Reluctantly, he came over and plopped his big body on the chair the farthest from Kate and Jess. Brandon joined them, sitting next to Kate.
Winderton scowled. “Isn’t this cozy? Thetwo of youtogether?”
“Sod off, Christopher,” Brandon said evenly.
A surprised look crossed the duke’s face and then his mouth closed. He fell into a glum silence.
The innkeeper brought over their drinks. He returned with a platter of cheese, meats, and bread. Kate didn’t think she could eat, but the tea restored her spirits.
Jess munched away as if nothing was wrong. Brandon was thoughtful.
It was Kate who spoke first. “You will have to decide what you are going to do, Jess.”
“Of course, I will return with you,” the milkmaid-turned-actress said as if her opinion was important.
“You will not,” Kate answered.
Jess’s brows rose. “You’ve changed your mind about London—?”
“I haven’t, save that you will not be going.”
“But I am a member of the company.”
“Not any longer.” Kate was proud that she kept her voice calm and steady. “I will take you back to Maidenshop but not to London.” From the pocket of her habit, she pulled out a heavy leather purse. “Here are your wages I owed you and funds for the next two weeks. This should tide you over until you decide what you wish to do.”
Immediately, Jess fell into wheedling. “Kate, you need me. I have a role. We’ve rehearsed. I’m one of the goddesses. You can’t performThe Tempestwith just two actresses.”
“You have destroyed the reputation of my company in Maidenshop. You took advantage of His Grace.”
“I did not. He asked.”
“You offered,” the belligerent duke shot back. “You came to me.”
“Because you wanted someone,” Jess informed him. “I’m as good as she is.”
“No, you’re not,” Winderton said decisively, weaving slightly in his chair. “You are a far cry from her.” His slurry speech robbed his words of any compliment.
Jess leaned across the table as if to meet him. “You are the one who declared one actress was as good as another.”
“Charming,” Kate said.
The duke stared at Jess as if she was Medusa and then his head slowly turned to his uncle. “I believe I shall be quite ill.”
