She wanted to answer them with words of scorn, but they were drawing closer and she was forced to retreat. Somehow her heel caught on the edge of a paving stone and she stumbled backwards, only just saving herself from falling.
My ankle, she thought.I have hurt my weak ankle.
Somehow, she stood upright in spite of the pain, and this time something in her expression must have alarmed those men, because they started to back off.
‘Go,’ she said. Her voice was shaking now and her ankle was agony, but she was past caring. ‘You are drunken fools. Just go.’
They left, but it wasn’t long before she heard them whooping and shouting again as they hunted their female prey. Kate lowered herself slowly onto the nearby bench. The fireworks appeared to have finished, but acrid smoke still tainted the air.
After a few moments she limped painfully over to the broken stone urn, remembering how her aunt had filled it with flowering plants every spring. But now the urn was shattered beyond repair and so were her dreams. What was the use of staying on here? She had hoped to create a new life for herself at Clematis Villa, but she had only succeeded in becoming a laughing stock. She was still standing there with her heart hurting far more than her sprained ankle when she heard yet more footsteps.
She whirled round.Not more intruders. Not…
It was the Earl, appearing out of the darkness between the trees. She couldn’t help the thudding of her heart, because he looked as if he had stepped out of the pages of one of Harriet’s books. His long green velvet coat was unbuttoned and his loose white shirt was only half-tucked into his skintight breeches. He clearly needed to shave and his brown hair was tousled—probably because some woman has been pawing at him,she thought bitterly.
And because there was nowhere at all to hide, she stood there, waiting for the inevitable.
Dan had known his friends were planning another party that night, but he’d been slow to join them because he’d been with Oliver, listening to his brother’s latest findings about Brighton’s history. Dan had not known that fireworks were involved in the evening’s entertainment, and he’d jumped to his feet when the silence outside was broken by the roar and crackle of explosions.
Oliver, he saw, had gone deathly white. ‘My God,’ Dan said to him, ‘are you all right?’
Oliver tried to nod. ‘I’m fine.’
But Dan guessed those harsh sounds reminded his brother of the sounds of battle, and he could have cursed his guests to kingdom come for their thoughtlessness. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said grimly. ‘I’d no idea this was going to happen. I’ll go outside and halt the racket immediately.’
He was on his way when Oliver stretched out his hand to stop him. ‘Dan, I’ve told you this before. But do you really think you’re doing yourself any good by playing host to those drunken idiots?’
‘It’s my house. My choice.’
‘Then make better choices! God knows, you’re blessed with more opportunities than most men can dream of!’
More fireworks crackled outside, and Dan, after gripping his brother’s shoulder, headed for the door. By the time he got out into the garden the explosions had stopped and there was nothing to be seen of his guests, so Dan spoke to a footman collecting empty wine bottles from the lawn. ‘Where are they all?’
‘I believe, my lord, that they are playing some kind of game.’
Dan could guess what kind of game. No doubt the women had run off into the woods so the men could hunt them down, and there would be no prizes for guessing how that would end. He stood there thinking,my brother is right. This kind of life is not doing me one earthly bit of good.
Just then Gascoyne and two other men emerged from the trees and staggered drunkenly across the lawn towards him. Gascoyne called out, ‘Here’s the funniest thing, Dan! We were chasing around in the woods after the ladies when we came across a peculiar old house, and that woman was there. You know, the female who came here and scolded you like the blazes not so long ago.’
Another man chimed in. ‘She didn’t give us much of a welcome. In fact, she was bloody furious with us, so we beat a hasty retreat. Damn, but it was thirsty work, running around after the girls like that. Hey, you there!’ He beckoned the footman. ‘Some wine here, and look sharp about it!’
Dan experienced a rush of pure anger. He said, ‘Do not speak to my staff like that. And do you mean to say that you intruded on Miss Summerby’s land? You actually went right up to her house?’
They looked at him then at each other. ‘Well, there was nothing to stop us,’ said Gascoyne. ‘We were looking for our lady friends and just found ourselves there. We explained it was only a bit of fun, but she was damned awkward about it. Have a drink with us, Dan, and loosen up a little…’
Gascoyne’s voice trailed away as Dan said, slowly and clearly, ‘I do believe that I’m wasting my time with all of you fools. And maybe I’m the biggest fool of all, for putting up with you.’
Leaving them standing there, he set off along the path that led through the trees to Clematis Villa, and as he walked, he reminded himself that he had wealth and an ancient, prestigioustitle. He had also built what many said was the finest new mansion in all of Sussex—yet how was he spending his time? He was hosting decadent parties for people who indulged in riotous nonsense, that was what, and it was time to call a halt.
Kate Summerby was still out in the garden when he arrived, and when he saw her, something caught in his chest because her eyes were wide and apprehensive and her fair hair spilled in delicate strands around her pale, fine-boned face. And what was that dress she wore? It made him catch his breath. It had full skirts and had to be years out of fashion, but it looked almost ethereal on her slim figure.
She looked quite enchanting in fact, yet when she saw him, her eyes expressed pure despair, though she spoke calmly enough. ‘Tell me, my lord,’ she said, ‘is it part of the evening’s entertainment to come here and torment me outside my own house?’
He braced himself. ‘It is not my intention to add to what you have already suffered, Miss Summerby. I heard what had happened here, and I gather my guests have behaved abominably. I’ve come to apologise. I’m sorry.’
‘Sorry? Really?’ She raised her eyebrows. ‘Oh well, I suppose I should try to appreciate the thought. You may return to your friends and tell them you have made excuses of a very mild kind for their atrocious behaviour. Then you will all be free to laugh about me before you resume your partying.’
Instead of replying he gazed at the remains of the fallen urn nearby. ‘Did my friends do that?’
