Chapter Eleven

Margaret waved when she saw her coming through the door. ‘Come on, Kate. This way.' She lifted the hinged part of the desk and ushered Kate through. ‘You know where you're going. Cassie said she'll see you in the ballroom?'

‘That's right.' Kate smiled gratefully as she passed through the barrier. She continued along behind Margaret, and pulled open a door that connected the gift shop with the main body of the house. It took her into the stone-flagged corridors that led along past the kitchen, the laundry and all the other behind the scenes things it took to make a house the size of the Hall function in its heyday. From there, she went up the servants' staircase and into the state rooms.

Kate wound her way easily through the rooms, nodding at the volunteer guides in each one. They were all villagers and did the job for love alone. Laura was normally in the ballroom, so Kate assumed she must have been busy today and left a gap that Cassie had to fill.

‘Kate!' Cassie waved at her from her spot on the window seat. ‘Laura couldn't make it today, and I had to take over. Sorry — or I would have brought your costume to you.'

‘That's okay.' Kate looked around — she'd always loved this room. It was airy and spacious and it didn't take much of an effort to imagine a ball taking place. The Aldrichs of old had been famous for their Solstice Balls. They'd had one at Midsummer and one at Midwinter and a few of the oddments at the museum were related to those events — invitations and dance cards or even, in one of the display cases, a Christmas card, containing ‘all best wishes from the Aldrich family and our thanks to you for attending the Midwinter Ball.' It was little treasures like that which made the exhibits at the Folk Museum so unique; and also why people often stayed longer than they had anticipated. There really was a lot to see there, but that didn't stop Kate thinking about ways to encourage more visitors.

‘It's been quiet today, actually,' said Cassie, looking around the room herself.

‘You'll be turning them away during your Living History Weekend. Send your overflow to my place. It'll keep Jenna out of mischief.'

‘Is she still as bad?' Cassie stood up and, as always, towered above Kate.

‘It's not really her fault.' Kate tried to be diplomatic. ‘She's quite young, she's been horribly spoilt and she's a party girl. I don't know if she's really suited to museum work, but neither of us had a choice. I think she needs something more vibrant. Still,' she shrugged, ‘it'll only be for a few more weeks hopefully and I'll get a proper replacement. She's making noises about going back to Uni when she's repaid Daddy what she owes him. We can but hope.'

Cassie raised her eyebrows. ‘You're only twenty-eight. There's not that much of an age difference between you.'

‘Maybe not; but there's a world of difference in our attitudes. Working for me is her punishment — supposed to give her some responsibility.' Kate rolled her eyes. ‘It's just giving her an excuse to drape herself around any man that comes within three feet of the reception desk.'

Cassie nodded. ‘I have to agree with that one. But you — I really think you need to loosen up a bit more at times. You seem so intent on being in your comfort zone, with, let's just say, men—' she cast a sidelong glance at Kate, ‘—that you're happy to be settled with someone like Chris. You're scared of adventure.'

‘Chris and I . . .' But she couldn't think of a single excuse to defend herself.

Cassie continued with a small, all-knowing smile. ‘Can you see yourself being the hostess of endless dinner parties for his colleagues while they all go on about investment banking—'

‘—management consulting.'

‘Management consulting, then. Whatever. Is that what you envisage in your future?'

‘I don't know.' Kate couldn't really tell Cassie that her own childhood had been so Bohemian, in some ways, that perhaps an orderly, suburban life was what she was hankering after. A life of how it "should" be.

‘Let's put it another way,' her friend persisted. ‘Don't you ever want to see what it's like to be with a different sort of man? Someone a bit more . . . adventurous.'

‘Cassie!' Kate cast a quick look around the room, but thankfully nobody was in earshot. ‘We have no issues in bed, thank you very much!' But then she blushed. Yeah — that was a lie, wasn't it? Hadn't she planned a week's meals the last time they'd been together and she'd been staring at the ceiling, zoned out?

‘I didn't mean that!' Cassie laughed ‘No, I just meant someone who's not quite such a workaholic.'

‘He's just a very busy person with a very responsible job. That's all. He has to behave a certain way and work silly hours to do that job.'

‘Okay.' Cassie gave up. ‘It's just I don't see you as a London Latte Mummy in the future, that's all. Because the 2.4kids will have to come as well, you know. I just think you're too independent to be subsumed by that City Wifey stuff. It didn't work out when you lived down there last time. However — I shall shut up now and I go and get your costume, if you don't mind sitting here with the clipboard for a bit. All the answers to peoples' questions are in the notes — or at least the usual ones are. See you shortly.'

Cassie thrust the clipboard at Kate and danced off. Thwarted — and somewhat railroaded into being a temporary guide — Kate sat down in the window seat and looked out across the estate. It was a beautiful day and people were dotted amongst the green and gold of a Suffolk afternoon. It was peaceful in the ballroom, and the sun was warm through the glass. It didn't take her long to imagine what the famous Hartsford balls had been like, and how bustling and busy and vital this old house would have been hosting them.

She wondered if Cat Tredegar had ever attended any balls. And no sooner had the thought entered her mind, than the answer came to her in a series of images as she felt herself slipping comfortably back through time, held safe in the arms of the Hall.

* * *

She was finally ready. Her gown was a heavy, gold satin with huge emerald roses embroidered on the sweeping train and bodice. The bustle was similarly detailed and the skirt had clusters of roses around the hem, the pattern disappearing into pure green satin as it moved up towards her waist. The sleeves were trimmed with little puffs of green lace, and two side panels of the same stuff fell down to the floor, one at each side of her hips. This was, by far, the nicest dress Kate had seen yet. But of course — this was the Midsummer Ball, wasn't it?

Her hair was, unfortunately, primped and curled and piled up on her head so she barely dared do anything except stare straight ahead in case she disturbed the coiffure. She sat carefully on the edge of the bed, wondering whether she'd be walking gracefully into this thing or lurching along on her dodgy leg. It must have been four months or so since the accident? Perhaps, in these times, that wasn't enough time to heal properly? There was a knock on the door and Kate's heart thudded. There was still so much to be apprehensive of in these moments.

‘Come in,' she said, without moving. It would only be Charles. Or Millie .

Kate's eyes widened. Millie. Finally she got to meet her properly.

‘Cat!' It was Millie. LadyAmelia Aldrich to those who didn't know her that well.

Kate suddenly knew that Millie had been her dearest friend for more years than she cared to count and she knew their conversation would be easy. Charles and Cat were always removed to Hartsford Hall when their parents were away on a botanical expedition. Cat's mother and Millie's were second cousins and the children were just part of the extended family. That's why Cat had been there during that 1885 winter Kate read about in the paper. They'd spent Christmas there, and just never went home.

‘Isn't my gown beautiful? Do you think Fred will like it?' Millie spun around in her ballgown — bright, peacock blue with a white underskirt. She looked gorgeous. Her hair was fairer than Cat's, almost a strawberry blonde, and her eyes were the same bright blue as her dress.

Kate was thrown for a second, but she managed a smile. ‘I'm sure he will love it.' She literally had no clue who Fred was. It must be someone Millie wanted to impress. He mustn't have made much of an impression on Cat, whoever he was.

Millie threw herself onto the bed next to her. Her skirt swished and the bed bounced as she sat down and smiled. She had two little dimples in her cheeks and Kate smiled back, understanding instinctively how she was such a good friend. Kate had a feeling she would love her in her own life, not only in this one.

‘And just who do you plan on signing your dance card for you?' Millie nodded at Kate's wrist, where a little card hung from a white ribbon. ‘And don't say Charles, because he won't want to spend all night with you! He's more interested in Louisa Dacre and her gaggle of beautiful friends. Mark my words. Oh!' She grabbed Kate's wrist. Her hand was soft and warm and very small. ‘ I know who will sign it. He's absolutely desperate to, or so I've heard.'

Kate wanted to ask if it was Will, and her stomach did a flip-flop; then she realised he most certainly wouldn't be an invited guest; not a mere blacksmith. ‘Who?' She crossed her fingers, the ones on the hand Millie wasn't grabbing, just in case, and hid them in the folds of her dress so they couldn't be seen.

‘I don't know if I should tell you.' Millie had mischief dancing in her eyes. ‘Because if you do know who it is, you'll simply act all coy and silly with him, and then he'll know that you know and it could become embarrassing.'

‘Millie!' Kate said exasperated. ‘You can't let me go down to that ball and not know!'

‘Oh, all right,' she said, pretending Kate had forced the issue. Kate knew of course that she would have told her anyway — Millie was no good at keeping secrets from Cat, although she was doing a damn good job of keeping Cat's friendship with Will secret from the rest of the family. ‘It's Edward Mountfort.' Millie's eyes widened. ‘Papa invited him because he knows he will be moving to Suffolk soon, and my father said the ball is an ideal way to introduce him to the neighbours. Now, I know how you feel about William, but you should take this opportunity to enjoy some time with another handsome young man. It doesn't mean you feel any differently in your heart about William.'

Talk about coy — there was nobody more coy than Amelia Aldrich when she knew half a story and made up the rest.

Great. Just great. Edward Mountfort. Not Will, even though he had rescued her and everyone should still be grateful to him . . .

‘Millie?' Cat asked, suddenly curious about something.

‘What is it?'

‘My accident. With the ice-skates. I can't remember much about it. What I want to know is what happened to me that day. Properly.'

‘All I know, Cat, is that you decided to go skating, on your own, and without an escort.' Millie sniffed. It had clearly been disapproved of. ‘You really will take the most dreadful risks. You're quite wild, I've always said so.' Quite wild? Hah, Cassie Aldrich — I was wild and adventurous, once upon a time. ‘Anyway, you headed over to the pond, tangled yourself up somehow and did yourself some very nasty damage. You quite ruined your dress, darling, I'm sure you remember that well enough. However, we found out from William that he had rescued you. He brought you back to us, half-conscious. He had to carry you back, and you were almost passing out from the pain. We were so worried about you. And when you woke up, you had such a dreadful headache. He'd kept you at his house until you had recovered from the initial shock — then you took a turn for the worse. Poor thing.'

Privately, Kate wondered if the semi-conscious state and the headache had a little to do with the brandy Will had plied her with as well as the accident. She supposed the brandy had done her a favour though. It must have been excruciating if the injury was as bad as they said. Actually, she remembered exactly how painful it had been. Kate wiggled her foot experimentally and it didn't really move much at all. She wondered if the bones had fused back together in a weird way. A fun ball this was going to be. She preferred to think quietly about the fact Will had carried her back to the Hall. Kate didn't particularly like being labelled as a helpless female, but she had to admit, it might have had some advantages if she got to snuggle into Will.

There was another knock at the door, and they both turned to look.

‘Come in,' Kate shouted.

The door opened and Charles poked his head through, with Philip bobbing drunkenly behind him. ‘Good evening, you beautiful girls! We've come to escort you to the ball!'

Again, great. Just great. She'd much rather be with Will.

Charles had installed her on a seat in the ballroom, and returned with Edward in his wake. They were laughing together, and it was plain for all to see the evidence of a wine-sodden, carousing, university-based friendship.

Kate suspected a woman ought to be led to a man and introduced; but given her situation, they must have thought it easier and perhaps less humiliating, for Edward to come to her.

‘Catriona.' Edward bowed slightly as he stood before her. That arrogant look was back in his eyes, a sense of privilege and entitlement almost oozing out of him. ‘Your brother warned me that you might not feel like dancing tonight, but would you consider one dance, at least?'

They all knew that if a man asked a woman to dance, she had to accept.

‘Oh! Please, excuse me.' Charles suddenly grinned. He bowed and looked across the ballroom. ‘I've just spotted Louisa Dacre. I must go and sign her card before it gets filled up.' He melted away into the crowd and left Edward and Kate staring at each other.

‘Ah. Louisa Dacre.' Kate nodded. Now she understood. The girl Charles was heading towards had hair the shiny colour of horse chestnuts and a complexion like rich cream.

‘His current Affaire de Coeur , I believe.'

‘His latest conquest, then. Nothing changes.'

‘Let him have his fun. Now — will you consider a dance, Catriona? Please?' He offered her his arm, his expression confident, knowing already what the response would be.

Kate had no choice but to accompany Edward out onto the dance floor — it was protocol, after all; even if she'd be lurching around after him with this damned leg.

She had the most miserable, awkward, uncomfortable dance she thought she'd ever experienced in any life. But eventually, the final notes of the music died away and thank goodness for that, because the pain was almost crippling her. They had stopped within range of a cluster of girls and chaperones, simpering and blushing at the men who had sparked conversations with them. One of the girls stood self-consciously, clutching a glass of punch. Her head-dress was so elaborate and her dress so frothy and pink, Kate wondered what features she was hoping they'd detract from.

The girl reddened as they stopped and Kate suspected that, if she could have run away, she would have done. Her eyes were darting around everywhere and Kate suddenly realised that this girl had quite a fancy for Edward. Despite the agony of her leg, Kate dropped her head and smiled a little — well, that girl was welcome to him; she didn't want anybody except Will. Kate looked up at Edward under her lashes, expecting, possibly quite vainly, that he would have eyes for nobody but her. However, she was a little surprised to see he was watching the girl, a small, amused smile playing around the corner of his lips.

‘Ah, the delightful Maria. Always looks so awkward at these things!' Then, with one glance, he dismissed her and turned his attention back to Kate. ‘I'm sure I can easily beg you for another dance later, if you don't mind?'

Kate was a thrown for a moment, but recovered herself quickly. ‘I'm sure you will give it a jolly good go,' she said, wryly; and then, at long last, thank God , a clock began to chime.

* * *

Kate felt like Cinderella, dressed in her rags as midnight struck. The Midsummer Ball melted away and Edward faded into those forgotten hours.

She swore under her breath. She found herself sitting in the window seat of the ballroom in the present-day Hall, clutching a clipboard and watching visitors file past her, all in exactly the same positions they'd been in, guided by the ropes and the signage. She'd visited a Midsummer Ball and danced with Edward Mountfort in the blink of an eye. The Aldrich's guests would have come to the ballroom from the reception room where Edward had been standing waiting for her, and she gazed over at the door, still half-seeing the past encroaching on the present.

Her modern-day version of Edward wasn't there now, obviously.

A faint suggestion of a man wavered in and out of focus in that doorway though — a man of a different build and a different height, dressed much more informally. Kate blinked, then he came sharply into focus.

‘I thought that was you,' said Theo Kent with a smile. ‘How are things? You look half-asleep. It is warm in here, though, isn't it?'

* * *

The light was spilling out of the Hall, and the sound of the bright, joyful music was everywhere. Will stood in the shadows at the edge of the garden, Hector lying at his feet. He stared, unseeingly, at the big, leaded windows as the last of the evening sun cast a rosy glow on the old stones and tinted the glass with gold. She was in there, more than likely being dragged around the floor by some hifalutin fellow, who would as soon forget her in the morning.

Will wrapped his arms around himself, still watching the figures move and blur behind the windows. The big set of doors was thrown open wide onto the balcony, and every so often, people crept outside and stole kisses or lingering touches out of sight of their chaperones and friends. His eyes scanned the balcony hungrily for her, for Cat. If he could only see her, just to know she was having some sort of fun in there, it might not be so bad.

He toed the soil, heaping it into a little pile of leaf-mould and tiny sticks and pebbles. He transferred his gaze briefly to his sturdy work boots and his serviceable trousers. He hadn't long finished work — one of the dray horses for the brewery had lost its shoe, and it had been something of an emergency.

How could Catriona Tredegar ever truly look at him in the way he looked at her? How could she ever feel the same way as he did? She lived in a different world — a world of parties and champagne and lilting music. A world of taffeta gowns and rustling silk. All he had to offer was horse-sweat and fire; coal dust blowing out of the furnace and covering everything with a sooty black glaze. A world of late-night hammering, and the hiss of metal cooling on an anvil; the scent of hay and muck and old leather. It was not a world for her, and her world would never welcome him: a mere blacksmith, paid to serve her family.

And then he saw her, a vision in green and gold, limping painfully over to the window seat, sitting down heavily and reaching down — possibly to rub her ankle discreetly. His heart twisted as he thought of the day he'd rescued her and the mess she'd been in. At that moment, he had known. He had known he loved her and would do everything in his power to protect her and look after her.

He made a move, Hector jumping up and wagging his tail encouragingly. He began to walk towards the Hall determinedly. He'd get to her somehow — he'd take her out of there and just ask her to sit with him in the garden and talk to her. God knew he'd be hopeless at dancing, but he could at least keep her company.

Will had just come to the edge of the lawn, when a taller figure approached her and leaned down. She looked up at him, and, hesitantly, raised her hand. The man pulled her to her feet and she stumbled a little as her leg gave way. Will automatically moved forward, his arms outstretched as if to catch her. The man she was with, however, seemed to have his attention elsewhere, and she put one hand out to steady herself on the wall, seemingly composing herself before he turned again to her.

Then he led her away somewhere, out of sight. Will stopped, a sense of utter despair and anger flooding through him.

Their worlds would never match. They collided in the worst way possible. Why the hell would she want a life with him, when she already had a life like that ?

‘Come on, boy.' He addressed Hector quietly; then turned his back on Hartsford Hall and, melting into the shadows, walked towards the cottages.

He had gone no further than a few steps, when a figure moved out of the shrubbery, an orange light flaring as he apparently lit a cigar.

‘Will. Good evening.'

Will started. It was Cat's brother, Charles. He'd always had a lot of time for Charles, and reckoned him as close to a friend as he could get, that far up the social ladder.

‘MrTredegar. Good evening. Shouldn't you be inside?'

‘Oh God, just call me Charles, will you? I hate all that bloody formality. And yes, I should be inside. There are a lot of young ladies I have yet to have the pleasure of meeting. But there's one young lady in particular I want to talk to you about tonight.'

‘Ah.' Will looked over Charles's shoulder. He had an idea where this was going and didn't much like it.

‘My sister. Catriona.'

‘Yes. What of her?'

Charles moved out of the shadows and sat on the corner of a stone plinth.

He looked at the house and smiled a little, then transferred his gaze back to Will. ‘I like you, Will Haddon. I like you a lot. And I love my sister beyond words. I want her to be happy, and at the moment, she is very happy. Can you think why that might be?'

Will shrugged. ‘Because she's at a ball? Because she can walk again?'

‘Probably yes and yes. Although, I think the walking is more important to her.' Charles laughed. ‘She's a terrible patient. Absolutely dreadful. As you know.'

‘I do know.'

Charles nodded. He took another drag of the cigar. ‘I have to be honest with you. My Aunt and Uncle are quite determined to make a match for her very soon.'

‘A match?' Will's stomach somersaulted. ‘As in a wedding? A betrothal?'

Charles nodded. ‘The very same.'

‘Well then.' Will wrapped his arms around himself again. ‘Thank you for telling me.' He nodded and made to walk off before he punched the man delivering the news to him.

‘Wait. Will. Edward Mountfort is the man they've marked out for her. I think I ought to tell you that in good time.'

‘In good time? In good time for what ?'

Hector growled softly, seemingly aware of the temper rising within Will.

‘In good time for you to do something about it.' The cigar flared again and Charles locked eyes with Will. ‘I'm drunk, Will. It's social suicide to tell you this, which is why you didn't hear it from me. But if you perhaps think of a way to win her, that would be a good thing, wouldn't you say?'

‘I don't need to win her!' protested Will angrily ‘She's not a possession ! A prize at a fairground. For God's sake!'

‘You do need to win her.' Charles leaned forward. ‘Cat and I — we aren't as high status as the Aldrichs. We're not Earls or Ladies, but we do have that connection to them. And Cat can't marry a blacksmith. I'm sorry, but that's the way it is. It doesn't mean I agree with it, and Cat would fight that concept until her last breath. But the fact remains, it's what we live with. The family would never agree to a match with you at the moment.'

‘So what the hell am I supposed to do?' hissed Will.

‘What you've been talking about doing. Go and do something that means you can come back for her with some money in your pocket and a way of supporting her in the life she's used to. Cat deserves that.'

‘The only reason I haven't gone anywhere is because of her ! I've enough money put by to go abroad tomorrow. I've been checking passages on ships and opportunities abroad. But so long as she's here, and I'm here, then we have that hope, and besides that — I didn't want to leave her.'

‘I understand. But Edward's here now.' Charles looked at the house and shrugged. ‘I have to take some of that blame upon myself. I perhaps shouldn't have re-introduced them, but I had no idea what the family was planning. Let's just say it was particularly bad timing on my behalf.' He looked back at Will. ‘I can only do so much here to delay it. Millie knows as well. I know through her what you've all been up to. I'm just trying to help, that's all. One man to another.' He stood up and held his hand out. Will hesitated then took it, and they shook.

‘Promise me you'll consider it, at least.' Charles tugged the edges of his waistcoat together and smoothed the fabric down. He stubbed the remains of the cigar out on the stone plinth and tossed it to the ground. ‘For now, I have somewhere else I need to be, and someone else I need to be with.' He nodded at Will and strode off towards the Hall.

Will watched him go. He had some thinking to do — a lot of thinking.

* * *

Kate looked a little bit stunned to see him. She was curled up very comfortably in the window seat of the ballroom and as he walked over to her, her eyes focussed properly on him — she had seemed for a minute as if she was miles away.

As he approached, she stood up. ‘I didn't know you'd be here.'

Theo glanced down at the clipboard. ‘It was a bit of a last-minute decision. Have you become a tour guide?'

‘No. I'm selling ice-creams. From a bicycle. For Cassie's Living History weekend. I was only supposed to be collecting an outfit today.'

The pieces fit together with a small click in his head. ‘That bicycle you were working on outside the museum? That's great!'

Kate nodded and hugged the clipboard to her chest. ‘Yes, it's going to be parked up at the pool area. Cassie ordered me a highly unsuitable costume which means I can't cycle very far. But that's Cassie. She's never been the most practical of people.'

‘Cassie's just the person I'm looking for, actually. The lady in the gift shop said she was up here. She let me through the back way.' Theo looked around, then leaned in towards Kate. She smelled delicious. Lowering his voice, he continued: ‘I feel a bit of a fraud slipping in that way, but the lady said it would be quicker if I came through the kitchen corridor and they didn't charge me an entrance fee.'

‘I did the same.' There was a hint of a smile playing around Kate's lips and it was lovely. ‘So what do you need to see her for?'

‘She was supposed to take me up to the stables. I have to meet Hughie and check him over for the Living History weekend. See if we're going to get on or not. I'm planning on camping in the area again in August, so I thought I'd offer my services, kind of thing, for Cassie's weekend.'

‘That's very convenient.'

‘Google is a wonderful thing,' Theo said, quite evasively. ‘The Country House Party weekend fell at a very convenient time for me.' This little red-head didn't need to know how well-planned this whole thing had been; how he'd basically pimped out himself and his services to Alex Aldrich for a smidgeon of the fee he'd usually charge. Theo called it an investment in his future; and a good reason to escape from things he had no control over again. ‘Anyway, I'm pleased I saw you. I was wondering if my late ticket was still good for the Folk Museum?'

‘Maybe.' She smiled suddenly. ‘Cassie shouldn't be long if you want to wait for her. You can pop over later on. After Jenna's gone. I'll give you a guided tour.'

‘Sounds great.'

‘It does, doesn't it? Not many people get that privilege. You're lucky.' Kate sat back down in the window seat. ‘But you need to see Cassie and you're best off waiting here, especially as you haven't paid.' She cast a quick glance up and her expression showed him she was teasing.

‘You haven't paid either,' he replied with a grin. He stood next to her, looking out into the ballroom. ‘Imagine what this place would have been like when they hosted balls.' He stared around. ‘I can't dance for toffee. I'd be no good in a situation like that.' He slanted a glance down at her. She was staring out at the space as well, the smile slipping off her face; her mind and her memories seemed very far away.

‘I can imagine it very well.' She looked up at him again. ‘It can't have been much fun if you couldn't dance, though — for whatever reason.' She looked down at her feet and gave them a little wiggle, as if she was testing them out.

‘I suspect I wouldn't even have got as far as an invitation. My reputation would have preceded me. Oh — is this Cassie?'

Kate followed his glance and nodded. ‘That's her. And that, I believe is my costume. Dear Lord.' Kate stood up again as the tall, dark-haired young woman Theo had spotted hurried over to them, slightly breathless. She was clutching a pile of striped fabric and grinning. One trouser leg dropped down from the pile and more or less swamped her.

‘Here it is! The legs are really wide, aren't they? I didn't properly notice until now. Sorry again.' Cassie came to a halt in front of them and directed a professional smile at Theo. ‘Hello, is Kate looking after you? If there are any questions she can't answer, I'd be happy to help.'

‘Yes, actually there is something she can't help with.' He smiled at Cassie. ‘I'm Theo Kent, the farrier. I've been speaking to you about working over Bank Holiday weekend? Kate says she can't show me to the stables if she's busy in here, so I was wondering whether you could release her from her duty to do that for me?'

‘Theo!' Kate looked shocked. She looked at Cassie. ‘Sorry, Cassie. I said nothing like that at all. I haven't volunteered to take him anywhere. Except maybe to my museum.'

Cassie looked from one of them to the other and he caught a hint of mischief in her eyes. ‘Now, now Kate. No need to try and cover for yourself. I know you love the stables and I'm going to be stuck here for a while now.' She looked at her watch. ‘My break is over and Laura couldn't come in, so I'll be here until five. MrKent—'

‘—please, call me Theo.'

‘Theo,' amended Cassie. She nodded. ‘Okay, I'll just have a quick word with you over here about the work, and then I'll take over from Kate. She can walk you up to the stables. Jenna will manage, won't she, until you get back?'

That last comment was directed at Kate. Theo lowered his head so she couldn't see him smiling.

‘Jenna can not manage,' said Kate. ‘She won't even have fed my ducks and—'

‘Oh, those bloody ducks!' interrupted Cassie with a dismissive wave of her hand. ‘They can look after themselves. They're all but vampiric anyway. They'll survive on small children until you get back. Come on, Theo.' She looked around and took his arm. ‘Over here. You just stay there Kate; we won't be a minute.'

And with that, she moved them smoothly into the far corner of the ballroom, beneath a portrait of a stern Tudor matron which, Theo guessed, was stuck in the darkest corner because she appeared to be so disapproving of anybody having fun.