All? Unfortunately Jemima had asked the impossible, for her niece appeared to have declared war on all mankind, him especially. The irony was that as well as showing Miss Summerby the papers that confirmed his right to the land, he could have also told her all manner of other things, such as the fact that in order to help Jemima he had paid her far more than the land was worth.
But he wouldn’t bother, because he wouldn’t see Miss Summerby again if he could help it. Indeed, once the summer was over, he didn’t want to see this house again, since it wasCecily’s idea, not his. He would sell it, then get the hell out of here. In the meantime, he owed Kate Summerby absolutely nothing at all.
By the time Dan got back to his house, his guests had returned from their trip to Lewes, and the men were playing a game of bowls in the garden, or at least some of them were. The others, including Bea and some of the women, were lounging around the statue of Hercules, drinking wine. When they called to him to join them, Dan answered, ‘I’ll catch up with you shortly. I have a few matters to deal with inside.’
If they noticed anything amiss about his tone, it clearly didn’t trouble them. As he entered the house several servants appeared, one to take his coat, one to help him remove his riding boots and yet another to offer refreshment. When Dan asked after his brother, they assured him that Oliver was resting comfortably in his bedchamber, so Dan went to his study to deal with the day’s mail. But he didn’t get far before he thrust the pile aside, poured himself some brandy and pondered yet again the problem of Miss Kate Summerby.
Jemima Honeywood had informed him she was a baronet’s daughter, so she was of acceptable rank and would have had a dowry. So why had her Season been a total failure? Was she too plain to attract suitors—a dowd, in other words? He found himself recalling that when he entered her parlour that afternoon she’d been reaching up for a book, and his arrival had caused her to almost fall off her footstool, with her spectacles slipping down her nose and her cheeks quite pink with dismay.
Now, Dan counted himself quite an expert on the female form and he had already noticed her trim figure. But he’d also registered in that moment that her features were almost perfect, especially those large, wide-set eyes that were of a shade somewhere between green and gold, depending on the light. In addition, she had a smooth complexion, a pert little nose anda surprisingly lush mouth that could, he guessed, look quite tempting were she ever to indulge in a smile—which was unlikely to be directed at him.
For there was no doubt about it, he definitely ranked as her enemy number one, and yet there was just something about her that unsettled him in a way he hadn’t expected. Maybe it was her sheer defiance, though underneath it he sensed a hint of vulnerability that caused him to feel a stab of pity for her…Nonsense. She’s your enemy, you fool. She’s determined to make life awkward for you.
Well, let her try.
Abandoning his paperwork, he went out to join the men who were still playing a haphazard game of bowls. ‘Dan!’ called Gascoyne. ‘I thought you’d abandoned us. We found Lewes Castle a dead bore compared to yesterday’s party—talking of which, you missed a treat with Bea last night.’ He lowered his voice. ‘She showed us some amazing bedroom tricks, and as for her friend, that redhead…’ He grinned at the recollection. ‘I drank too much, though. My head’s aching like the blazes and I’ve taken a turn at this damned game, but already I’ve had enough. Take my place, will you?’
‘I’ll pass on that, thanks.’ Dan spoke lightly but he could see that Gascoyne, like the others, was drunk again already. Some empty bottles lay on the lawn and a young footman was scurrying around collecting them.
Dan stood there thinking,Am I like these so-called friends of mine?
Probably. In the world he’d been brought up in, a steely heart was the only way to earn respect. He had grown up to be as hard as his father, and he took no pleasure in the fact.
Someone was touching him on the shoulder and asking, ‘What plans for tonight, Dan?’
He shrugged. ‘I’ve no idea. What do you fancy?’
‘Another party!’ the men were calling now, clinking their wine glasses together. ‘A party, every night!’
‘And let’s hope we’ve no more intruders, like that woman last night,’ said Gascoyne. ‘Dan, I met some friends from London in the town this afternoon, and they told me about your new neighbour. Apparently her Season was an absolute disaster, and she became known as the debutante who couldn’t dance.’
‘Why?’
‘Because of her limp, of course. You surely noticed it when she left us last night?’
Gascoyne was grinning but Dan frowned. ‘You mean she’s always suffered that slight lameness?’
‘Sounds like it. She usually sat with the wallflowers at parties and eventually gave up looking for a husband. Seems like she never was much fun.’
Dan was absorbing it all. He’d assumed her limp was the result of some recent injury, a sprain perhaps. But if it was permanent that explained a great deal, because he knew as well as anyone how unkind Society could be to anyone with a vulnerability to exploit. It would explain too why she was so eager to get away from London and begin a new life. Nevertheless, she had behaved idiotically in challenging him as she had, and he sincerely hoped he had silenced her protests for good.
Turning his attention back to his guests, he realised Gascoyne was suggesting they think up some kind of wager and everyone was eagerly agreeing. To these men, anything and everything could be an excuse for gambling.
‘What shall we bet on?’ someone was asking. ‘How about guessing when the Prince will arrive here in Brighton?’
‘Too dull,’ declared Gascoyne. ‘We need something more challenging.’ He held up his hand for silence. ‘Now, we all like the ladies, don’t we?’
‘Yes!’ The others cheered and whooped.
‘Then listen, my friends. Which of us can make the most surprising amorous conquest of the summer? Who’s in it? Shall we say ten guineas a head?’
‘Twenty!’ someone shouted back, and quickly it rose to fifty. They all crowded round to pay, including Dan, because if he’d refused, the protests would have been too tedious. Soon afterwards the revelry and drinking began again, and Dan quickly forgot the entire incident.
Over the next few days, Kate proceeded with her plans to lead an independent but sociable life. She noticed, for example, there was an abundance of ripe strawberries and early raspberries in her fruit garden, so she and Harriet took a large basketful each to the folk of the nearby cottages. On Sunday they went to the nearby church, where the vicar, the Reverend Pritchard, suggested she might like to teach in the Sunday school. Harriet, though, was looking at her in horror. ‘Remember Monica’s twins!’ she hissed, and Kate politely declined.
Several female members of the congregation asked eagerly about the Earl. ‘His wonderful new house is not far from yours, is it? Have you seen much of him?’
A little too much,Kate thought. Aloud she said, ‘I’ve met him briefly. That is all.’
