Chapter Seventeen

Country House Party Weekend — Saturday

Kate tried the outfit on and twisted this way and that in the mirror. It could have looked very wrong. It could have swamped her. She could have had an accident, tripping over the hem, she considered, lifting her leg up and plucking off a loose thread. But it didn't.

Her years of ballet had paid off, and thankfully she didn't wobble as she stood there, flamingo-like. All that practice had toned her body up and this outfit cleverly cinched her in where she needed it, to give the impression she had an hourglass figure after all. Kate allowed herself a small smile at her reflection and smoothed the blouse down over her hips. It was a glorious morning and she was looking forward to working at the Hall today.

She almost didn't recognise the person who looked back at her — she looked like Rita Hayworth, thanks to Cassie. Kate had gone to Cassie's last night, so her friend could try to force her hair into soft, bendy curlers that looked more like pipe-cleaners. A bottle of wine later, it had been the most hysterical thing ever, but dear me, what a mess she looked when she had scurried home at eleven o'clock with a headscarf on.

‘Here, wash your hair and I'll put these in for you,' Cassie had told Kate. ‘You can sleep in them, and you'll have lovely waves tomorrow.' She produced a can of expensive, salon-quality hairspray as well. ‘This'll keep the waves in, if nothing else will. Use it lavishly.'

Kate looked at the can and pulled a face. ‘Don't you care about the ozone layer?'

‘I do, darling, but I care about authenticity for my weekend more.'

Kate had to admit that Cassie had done a good job. She looked quite 1930-ish, even if she did say so herself. All she had to do was ensure Jenna turned up at the museum and then she could head over to the Hall. And hopefully, if she was right and those stars were aligning, then Theo might be there and she might see a little bit more of him. If Lori was out of the picture, it would be very nice. And if she wasn't. Well. That was just utter crap. She had done her best to exist over the last weeks without any communication from Theo; and hideous though it had been, she knew it was for the best.

Kate had flirted with the idea of asking Cassie if it was all confirmed that Theo was coming, but then shied away from it — Cassie would assume she wanted him there for all the wrong reasons. Well, they were the right reasons, but there was no need for Cassie to properly guess how she felt. And then there was Lori. She sighed, going round in circles. And if only Jenna would hurry up. She was cutting it fine.

But speak of the devil, Kate heard the door go downstairs and hurried down. Jenna was glaring around the reception area as if it had done something wrong. She must have heard Kate clattering down and transferred her glare to her.

‘Thank you, Jenna, for coming in today. And on time too! Marvellous.'

‘Yeah, well,' the dark sultry eyes darted around. ‘I think Theo's heading this way this morning so I wanted to catch him.'

‘Theo?' Kate almost choked on his name. So he was definitely here then.

Jenna squeezed in beside Kate. ‘Yes. The sexy blacksmith. He's here for the duration. He is such fun.'

‘Sexy blacksmith?' For a fleeting moment, Kate thought of Will, all shiny and glistening with sweat, half-naked over the furnace, then blushed. Then she thought again, properly, of Theo, and felt herself blush even more hotly.

‘Yes.' Jenna looked annoyed. ‘Theo. Remember? He came to the wine bar, last night. He's camping again.' Jenna grinned, her eyes flicking to Kate. ‘And I've never done it in a tent, so—'

‘Stop!' Kate did not want to hear about Jenna's sex life and she certainly didn't want to associate her sex life with Theo Kent. ‘He's not a blacksmith. He's a farrier. There's a difference. He did say he was going to come down if he could.'

Jenna leaned against the chest of drawers behind her and looked bored. ‘Well he came. And I'm here now so you can go and do your shit up at the Hall.'

Kate ignored her and moved Jenna's mug pointedly off the counter.

Had he been at the wine bar then? Had he been here, in Hartsford last night, and she hadn't known?

But, she asked herself, why should she care? If he'd been to the wine bar with Jenna, and if he'd got back with Lori, if it was all resolved with his daughter, then he'd been cheating on Lori — and if that was the case, at least she, Kate, wasn't the other woman this time. But dear God, it hurt like hell if that was the case.

‘Yes. I bumped into him last night.' Jenna smirked and continued relentlessly, almost as if she was enjoying it. ‘He was in the wine bar, like I say.' She inspected her fingernail. ‘He didn't have much to drink. He said he had to be at work today, but we had a good time.'

‘Hmmm.' Kate made a non-committal noise. She didn't want to know if Jenna was still a tent virgin or not. She headed outside, but Jenna, damn her, followed her.

‘He said he would pop down here first thing, to see if you had everything you needed for that bicycle. I don't know what he thinks you'd need.'

‘Tools, I guess,' Kate replied. She couldn't help flicking back her newly-wavy hair. ‘But he needn't worry. I'm sorted and I don't need to see him.'

‘No, but I do. I have to give him his watch back.'

‘His watch ?' It was the last thing Kate expected Jenna to possess. Had he left it on her dressing table? She felt her cheeks flush in embarrassment.

‘Yep. His watch.' Jenna eventually sauntered off, back towards the first cottage and disappeared into the building, leaving Kate alone with the ducks.

Lucifer, the biggest, angriest, duck growled and Kate nodded. ‘I agree,' she told him.

She decided not to hang around and watch Jenna drape herself all over Theo, but instead head straight to the barn and pull the bicycle out. She'd given it a final polish before she took her curlers out, her shadow medusa-like in the early-morning sun as the curlers stuck out at all angles. She had a freezer full of ice-cream which needed to go in her basket and then she'd cycle up to the Hall.

She was wheeling the bicycle out, inwardly congratulating herself on how quiet the newly-oiled chain was, when a new shadow fell across her.

‘Nice work,' said Theo. ‘I suppose you don't need these, then?' Kate turned and looked up to see him wielding a bicycle pump and a small tool box. ‘Random stuff like that breeds in my van.' He frowned, looking down at the items in his hands. ‘I'm not exactly sure where or when I acquired the pump, but hey. It's yours if you need it. I wasn't sure what you had or what you might want.'

‘If I had still been needing that sort of thing now, I would be quite worried and I wouldn't be heading up to the Hall today on the bicycle, would I?' Kate couldn't help it, her heart slammed into her chest at the sight of him.

‘Fair point.' Theo dropped his hands. ‘It was just an excuse anyway.' He shrugged. ‘I wanted to see what you looked like all dressed up. The tools were incidental. You do look great, by the way. I'm definitely working at the Hall as well. I wasn't sure, right up until the last minute if I could, because of Poppy, but Alex was great and—'

‘Thanks.' Kate cut him off. She didn't want to hear that Lori was back on the scene. ‘I appreciate the thought about the tools. But Jenna's waiting for you in reception. Something about a watch?'

‘Ah! Of course. That's where I left it. Bloody insect bites. One got me right on the wrist. I had to take my watch off. One of the curses of sleeping out in the countryside.'

‘Citronella candles.' Kate straightened up the bicycle and pushed it towards the door to her flat. Theo walked alongside her. ‘They help. Also, they make for romantic lighting when one is trying to impress the locals.'

‘It wasn't romantic at all,' said Theo with a laugh. ‘I saw Jenna and her friends walk in and I couldn't get out of there fast enough. That's why I forgot my watch. I made an excuse and told her I wanted to turn in early.' He paused. ‘I gave you a knock on the door, before I went to the wine bar, but there was no answer. Sorry.' He coloured. ‘Didn't quite know what my reception would be anyway. I would have preferred to go somewhere with you. Even if it was just the Dragon for some twiggy ale.' He looked down. ‘And then when I thought about it afterwards, it seemed less risky to see you in broad daylight. I don't quite know what I would have done if you'd answered.' He looked up and their eyes locked. ‘I know what I would have liked, but I'm not sure you would have felt the same right now.'

Kate caught her breath. ‘Oh! I was at Cassie's.' She touched her hair. ‘Doing this.'

‘Well, you look amazing.' He smiled and his eyes changed from burning desire to warm humour. ‘Like one of those poodle things at Crufts. As I say, I'm heading over to the Hall now, but I'll just pop in and get the watch.' He nodded over to the car park. His black and silver van was there. ‘I'll have to drive over though, so I've got everything I need. I'd offer you a lift, but it looks like you've got your own transport.'

‘Unless you tied a rope on and towed me along; but yes, I can make my own way there, thanks.'

‘We'd make an interesting spectacle, I think, if I dragged you along on a rope. Cassie said something about a back road in?'

‘Yes. You'll have to head over to the Dragon and it's along from there. Turn left, then immediately on your right, there's a single-track road. It runs parallel with the stream, and if you follow that around, all the way, you'll come to the back gates. It's quite close to the Spa — which is technically the pool area — and that's where I'll be stationed.'

‘Are you heading that way too?' Theo asked. They had reached the reception building.

‘It seems more sensible to go that way.' Kate propped the bicycle up and headed into the building. ‘I need to get my ice-cream. I'll just see you up there, I guess—'

‘Theo!' Jenna appeared like Morgana leFay out of the darkness and flung her arms around him. ‘Just the person. Here — this is for you.'

Kate left them to it. She could sense the flirtatiousness creeping into Jenna's voice and she didn't want to hear it.

It was odd. She spoke like that to Tom and she had even spoken to Chris that way, and it had never bothered her. But with Theo — it bothered her very much. Logically speaking, it shouldn't bother her whatsoever. She and Theo weren't anything more than a couple of people who'd met and had a few things in common. Just — friends. Sort of. They weren't a couple. They weren't an ‘item'. He was practically married with a child, if you wanted to be blunt about it. But she realised, with a sense of disbelief, that she actually felt a little jealous of what Jenna might or might not be inferring with her flirtatiousness. More jealous than she felt about his on-off thing with Lori.

Perhaps it was "off"?

She could only hope.

Kate made a determined effort, and put the lid firmly back on that thought; then she walked away before she could add any fuel to Jenna's fire. And before she could see Theo igniting with it, regardless.

* * *

Jenna was determined to hang onto him, and Theo tried to shake her gently but firmly off. She clung on like a limpet, chattering on about what he'd missed last night. She seemingly wasn't going to let go of him anytime soon, and it took a good bit of manoeuvring to eventually disentangle himself, his temper rising exponentially. God, she'd done it in front of Kate. What if she got the wrong idea?

‘So we'll be there tonight if you want to join us. She's got me on lockdown though — a curfew and everything,' Jenna was saying. She nodded towards the reception desk and rolled her eyes. ‘What she doesn't know won't hurt her though.' She smiled, cat-like at the thought.

‘She'll know,' Theo said. ‘Trust me.'

‘Hmm.' Jenna finally let go and dropped her arms to her sides.

Too bloody late now!

Almost immediately, one hand came back up and she started twiddling with a lock of dark hair and looking at the staircase. ‘She's going to be away all day. I didn't get an outfit to wear. I asked her if I could have one, and she said the best thing we could hope for here was a village wench or a horrible old dowdy servant's uniform.'

‘I can see her point. This museum is set in a very different era to the Country House Party weekend. If you were dressed as a 1930s film star, it would just look odd.'

‘Yeah,' she said, but Theo wasn't quite sure she got it. ‘Oh, well. So, maybe I'll see you later?'

‘Maybe. And thanks for this.' Theo held the watch up before he strapped it onto his wrist. He headed back out of the room, as fast as he dared. It was bright outside and it took his eyes a little while to adjust. He stood blinking and heard the slam of the back door.

Kate scurried around the side of the building and pulled up short. ‘Oh. I thought you'd still be inside. In Jenna's web. Once she traps a man, she rarely lets them leave alive, you know. Like a Black Widow spider.' She had an ice-box balanced in her arms.

‘Nope, I escaped. I just needed my watch back. I've no desire to be eaten alive by her, thank you very much. Here, let me get that lid for you.' Theo opened the box on the front of the bicycle and Kate hefted the ice-box inside. It fitted neatly and she stood back, surveying it.

‘That's me sorted, and I've got some extra up at the Hall if I need it. I've got the cash box in the basket and,' she patted her pocket, ‘my mobile. For emergencies.' She cast a glance at the museum and Theo knew she was thinking of Jenna being in charge all day long.

‘It'll be fine.' He watched her climb onto the bicycle and get her balance. ‘Sure you don't need a tow?'

‘Positive.' She pushed off, very carefully. The trouser legs flapped a little, but thanks to a weird bow-legged pedalling movement, she wobbled away, her knees stuck out practically at right angles.

‘Oh, and I know you'll get there first,' she called back over her shoulder. ‘There's no need for you to remind me.'

‘Spoilsport!' he shouted with a laugh, and watched her disappear behind the buildings.

* * *

Despite Kate's warning, Theo Kent trailed her along the track, his music playing loudly and his arm dangling out of the window. He also tried to sustain a nonsensical conversation, which Kate was certain was designed purely to annoy her.

She was annoyed enough as it was, because her cycling work-around was no longer working and she was getting very irritated with the fact those stupid trousers kept getting tangled in the bloody spokes.

Eventually, Kate stopped and dismounted. ‘Just drive on, will you?' she shouted at him crossly. ‘I'm pushing it from here.'

He stopped the van just in front of her and opened the door. ‘Swap places,' he said. ‘You drive this; I'll take your bicycle in.'

Kate halted and stared at him. ‘Excuse me? You want to ride my bicycle?'

‘You want to drive my van?'

She lowered her eyes. ‘Well I suppose yes, considering you've just suggested it.'

‘Exactly. Come on — we don't want to be late.'

She hesitated another moment or two and looked at the road stretching ahead of her. A breeze blew up from the stream. It rustled the long grass and flapped her trouser legs against her calves, reminding her how impractical the suit was for pedalling.

‘Okay.' Kate relinquished the bicycle. ‘Only please don't be angry if I accidentally mow LadyCassandra Aldrich down whilst I'm driving. I seriously need to kill her for making me wear this outfit.'

Theo laughed. He took hold of the handlebars and mounted the bicycle. ‘The keys are in the ignition.' He pushed off. ‘Race you!' And he was off.

Kate climbed into the cab of the van and adjusted the seat; he was, after all, quite a bit taller than her. She could see he also had a penchant for chocolate bars, crisps and carrots. Okay, the carrots may have been for the horses, but there was definitely a massive netted bag three quarters full in the passenger foot well, with a hole ripped in the top of it and a handful of stray, bright orange vegetables on the passenger seat. The crisp packets and chocolate, however, were most probably Theo's. Cheese and onion flavour crisps, she noted with approval, and a wide and varied selection of chocolate bars. Excellent.

She switched the engine on and crunched the vehicle into first gear. She kangaroo-hopped along the lane until she got the hang of the clutch, then she was off after him. He was a little way in front, and Kate didn't know which was the best sight — her bright and shiny ice-cream bicycle, or Theo Kent's strong, tanned legs pumping away at the pedals as he reached a small incline. Regardless, she hung back and kept the van in a low gear so she could take it all in at her leisure.

She couldn't resist it though. As soon as they got close enough to the gates of the Hall, she accelerated smoothly and overtook him. Kate looked in the wing-mirror and saw him grinning as he bumped along the final couple of ruts and followed her into the estate grounds.

Cassie was already there, hopping from foot to foot and chewing her fingernails. She looked stunning, all dressed in black and silver and looking every inch the Flapper. It was jolly good the Between the Wars era the weekend encompassed had incorporated the Roaring Twenties. Cassie had fallen in love with that style way back when she was still in the planning stages.

Cassie hurried over to the van. ‘Theo, I'm going to need you to — Kate!' Her eyes widened as Kate climbed out of the van and grinned at her.

‘I'm being a farrier today,' she told her. ‘I changed my mind.'

It took a second or two for Cassie to process that information, then her face cleared and she grinned back, thumping Kate on the arm with her fist. It hurt. Cassie had very bony fists.

‘Ouch!' Kate frowned as she rubbed at the patch Cassie had injured.

‘Kate!' Cassie didn't apologise. ‘You're playing games with me. Where's — oh! There he is!' She looked over Kate's shoulder and waved at, Kate presumed, Theo. She hadn't heard the bicycle pull up. She was pleased with how nicely the chain was running. It clearly didn't squeak.

‘Yes.' She turned to face him and watched him dismount. ‘We swapped. I couldn't cycle far in these. Now, if you tell me where you want me, I'll set up.'

‘Just by the pool, sweetheart, like we said,' replied Cassie. ‘And you, Theo, I need you at the stables. Hughie is very excited.'

‘Good old Hughie.' Theo smiled.

‘We've got the Gypsy Caravan ready. We need to bring Hughie down and get him attached to it and—'

‘Leave it with me.' Theo interrupted Cassie smoothly; her voice was beginning to rise. ‘I'll head up there now, and deal with Hughie. Is the caravan in its usual spot?'

Kate looked sidelong at Theo. ‘How do you know where its usual spot is?'

‘Research,' he said with a grin and a wink. ‘Okay. I'll catch you both later. I might come down for an ice-cream if it gets hot.'

‘See you later!' They stood back and watched as he drove the van past them and up towards the stable block. ‘He's so nice,' said Cassie. ‘Fancy letting you drive his van.'

‘Aidan let you drive his motorcycle.'

‘Exactly.' Cassie winked. ‘It's a good sign.'

Kate took hold of the bicycle. ‘I'm off to set up.' And because she could and because her hair still looked like Rita Hayworth's, she shook her head back, enjoying the feel of the curls bouncing against her shoulders, dismissing LadyCassandra Aldrich.

‘Okay darling.' Cassie sounded amused. ‘Remember to save an ice-cream for Theo.'

And with that, she practically skipped off to her next task.