‘Well, this one will certainly be the end. Now, it really is time for us to get on with making those new cushion covers.’
But as they settled down to sew, Kate found that her needle was going anywhere but in the right place because she just could not concentrate. Had she really promised to go to a party with a man who was known to be a rake? Didn’t she know that men as attractive as him were never to be trusted?
It was the sympathy he had shown her that was the problem. Sympathy weakened her, as the Viscount’s son had realised. Yes, it was the Earl’s sympathy and his smile and those gorgeous blue eyes of his and his strong shoulders and…
‘Kate?’ Harriet’s tentative voice interrupted her brooding thoughts. ‘Kate, I think you’re using completely the wrong colour of thread. You should be working with green, not red.’
‘Oh, my goodness!’ Kate looked with horror at what she was doing. ‘You’re right. I shall have to unpick it and start again.’
Which was, of course, what she wished she could do right now about everything, because she was quite possibly going to make a complete fool of herself. At least once the end of summer came, he would be gone, and she would have the freedom to do exactly what she wished, which was…
She wasn’t exactly sure what, and somehow, the prospect of life without her troublesome neighbour left an empty feeling in her heart. She couldn’t admit it to Harriet, but already she was having sleepless nights over him and dreaming things she shouldn’t, like him holding her in his arms and kissing her…
‘Kate.’ Harriet was holding out the spool of blue thread. ‘Here you are. This is the one you need.’
‘Thank you, Harriet. Goodness, I must concentrate!’
‘On the sewing, you mean?’ said Harriet.
‘Of course. What else?’
Harriet gave her a meaningful look but said nothing at all.
CHAPTER NINE
The next afternoon Kate told Harriet she was going to drive into Brighton. ‘I need to return my library book,’ she explained. She had already asked Joseph to harness up Rupert the pony to her aunt’s ancient gig, and she drove by herself to town, leaving the gig and Rupert with the ostlers at the Old Ship inn. But did she go to the library? No. Instead, she headed for the fashionable dress shops in the Steine and gazed intently into the windows.
Since the Earl had mentioned the party, she’d been thinking hard. What if she were to turn up wearing something special, something that actually flattered her and made people turn and gaze in admiration? She was on the verge of entering one shop when she halted.You and your foolish dreams,she muttered to herself. Turning her back on those tempting displays she walked instead to the library, where several ladies greeted her warmly; in fact, one even invited her to an afternoon tea party.
Kate sighed inwardly. The Earl’s influence was indeed powerful.
She chose another book and was about to return to the Old Ship when she was pleasantly surprised to meet once more the man with his arm in a sling, who had been so kind on the day she had been waiting outside in the rain. He was coming out of the Assembly Rooms, and he raised his hat saying, ‘It’s Miss Summerby, isn’t it? You should have attended the lecturein there. It was about Brighton in the old days, and I think you would have found it interesting.’ Then he added, ‘I gather my older brother is taking you to a party soon?’
‘You are the Earl’s brother? Oliver?’ She couldn’t hide her surprise.
He laughed. ‘I am indeed. No one would guess it, would they?’
‘To be honest,’ she said with a smile, ‘no.’
‘My brother can be overbearing at times, I’m afraid. He tends to keep his better feelings to himself—it’s a form of self-defence. But beneath his steely exterior, he hides a kind heart, together with a strong belief in seeing justice done. Are you worried about the party on Friday, Miss Summerby?’
‘I fear,’ she said quietly, ‘that I will be out of my depth.’
‘Why, may I ask? I have heard you were a London debutante, so you must be used to far grander events than a house party in Brighton!’
She shook her head. ‘I was a debutante, yes, but I didn’t make much of an impression, I fear.’
‘Well, you’ve made an impression on Dan, or he wouldn’t have invited you.’ Oliver was examining her in a friendly kind of way. ‘Look, do you want some advice? I think you should seize the opportunity to give him an almighty shock.’
Kate was both amused and mystified. ‘How do you mean?’
‘Dress to impress. Dress to be different. That’s what my brother does.’
She laughed. ‘But I can hardly wear brightly coloured velvet coats and spotted neckerchiefs!’
‘Perhaps not, though it’s an intriguing notion. What I’m thinking is, my brother issues a challenge to everyone he meets with his clothing. Challenge him back by wearing something different, something outrageous even. There’s a marvellous Frenchmodistein the Steine who would help you, called Madame Francine.’
Kate’s eyes widened. ‘Oh, yes! I noticed her shop earlier, and her gowns look beautiful. But I would hate any man, let alone your brother, to think that I’m trying to ensnare him.’
