He said quietly, ‘You are very far from doing that.’ Then he led her onwards.
He had many friends here, and he registered each one’s curiosity and admiration as they noticed Kate, even hearing one murmur, ‘Who is the new beauty at Rivington’s side?’ Each time he introduced her, she spoke in her modest but pleasing way and in fact she charmed everyone, not least the Prince Regent, who headed for Kate the instant he spotted her.
‘Now, Rivington,’ he exclaimed, ‘you selfish fellow. Who, by God, is this enchanting nymph? Where did you find her? Been trying to keep her to herself, have you?’
Kate curtsyed low, but the Prince raised her by the hand and pressed a rather too-lingering kiss to her palm. Carefully Kate withdrew her hand and said, ‘It is a great honour to be here, Your Royal Highness.’
‘The pleasure is all mine, believe me. And as soon as the music starts you must dance with me, Miss Summerby. I insist.’
Dan saw the sudden anxiety that shadowed Kate’s face. ‘I think, sir,’ he said, ‘that my priority is to show Miss Summerby the many wonders of your Pavilion.’
‘Stealing her away from me already, are you?’ The Prince waved his beringed hand in mock resignation. ‘Off you go then. But come back soon, or I shall come looking for you!’
Kate looked up at Dan as the Prince strolled off and murmured, ‘My goodness.’
Dan grinned. ‘He is rather overwhelming, isn’t he? In personality as well as girth. But don’t you wish your sister could see you now?’
She paused a moment, then she said, ‘I’m not sure I ever want to see my sister again.’
Immediately he drew her away from the crowds. ‘Are you saying, Kate, that she’s done something even worse than using you as a general nursemaid and skivvy?’
‘I’m afraid so, yes.’ She hesitated then looked up at him. ‘Dan. Do you remember me telling you that I had written to my Aunt Jemima often, but never heard anything back?’
He remembered. And he remembered that he hadn’t believed her. ‘Indeed.’
‘Well, Monica has now informed me that my father actually disposed of all the letters my aunt sent me, while never posting the ones I gave him to send to her. And my sister approved of his actions! This afternoon she confirmed that when I moved into her house, Monica took over the task of destroying Jemima’s letters and all those I continued to write to her.’
He felt so angry for her he could hardly speak, and he felt absolutely furious with himself. ‘I doubted you,’ he said at last. ‘What a wretch I am. I didn’t believe you and I am so sorry.’ Then he pointed to the Music Room. ‘Let us go in there. Soon the musicians will arrive, but for now it’s deserted.’ He led her in and took her hands. ‘Now, tell me. Why did your father and sister do this?’
‘Monica told me it was partly because my father blamed Brighton’s sea air for my mother’s death and my illness. Also, both he and Monica felt that Jemima, with her independent way of life, would be a bad influence on me. They couldn’t stop me visiting her with my mother, but when my mother died, they wouldn’t let me go on my own. Then I was ill, of course, and for a long time travel was impossible for me anyway.’
Dan felt both pity and anger. ‘You have been treated abominably,’ he said.
She shrugged, causing the pink silk of her bodice to tighten temptingly across her breasts, and he had to try his hardest not to look at them, not to be one of those people who had led her to trust no man. She answered, ‘I have always had a home, I’ve been warm and fed. I cannot complain.’
‘I could dispute that,’ he said. ‘I saw the way that brother-in-law of yours was looking at you yesterday. I’d have liked to throw him into the sea. Didn’t your sister ever notice?’
Kate laughed, and his heart lightened, just a little. ‘She did today. This afternoon she actually spotted Edward drooling over me, so she hauled him and the twins away with no further mention of my return.’
‘You mean she wanted you to come back with her?’
‘Oh, yes. You see, I quickly realised she came to Brighton not only to warn me against you, but also to encourage me to come back to London with them and be governess to the twins. Apparently the one who replaced me made a hasty escape, which doesn’t surprise me. It’s all really quite funny.’
‘You are generous to think so. I suppose your brother-in-law was yet another reason for you to distrust men, along with the Viscount’s son you told me about?’
‘Yes.’ Her voice was quieter now. ‘Yes, indeed.’
In that moment he found himself hurting for her all over again.She has a tender heart,he reminded himself, and he could so easily damage it. ‘I suppose,’ he said at last, ‘that you made a deliberate choice to look as inconspicuous as possible in your sister’s household?’
‘Indeed. I wished to deter Edward and anyone like him.’
She didn’t look inconspicuous now. She actually looked quite beautiful. They needed to talk and perhaps this was his best chance. As she gazed around the room in fresh wonder, he said,‘Listen. As we’re here, do you want to see more of the Pavilion? There’s the green drawing room where the card tables are set out, then there’s the yellow drawing room, and—’
‘Stop, please, Dan!’ She was laughing now. ‘It is all a little excessive, I must admit. Very grand, but soulless.’
Dan. She had called him Dan, and the intimacy of his name on her lips brought back so many memories of the passionate moments they’d shared. He took a deep breath to calm the pulse of fierce desire leaping through his body.
‘As soulless as my house, I fear,’ he said. ‘Especially now that Oliver has gone.’
