Page 36 of Watch For Me By Candlelight

Theo smiled and took hold of the animal’s leg. ‘They all know. It’s a gift I have. Anyway, I don’t think I can remember the way back, so if you don’t mind, would you be so kind as to wait for me?’

Theo gave her his most innocent look and she narrowed her eyes. ‘Are you sure? It’s a straight path. We didn’t turn any corners and it’s right back down the same way.’ She pointed outside as if to demonstrate how easy it was to get back on the path.

‘I have a terrible sense of direction,’ he lied. ‘I really need you to help me.’

Kate shook her head and laughed; Hughie snorted as if he was joining in too.

‘Well make it quick, please! I have to get back to my museum, you know. I’ve got to give a tour soon.’

And she headed out of the stables, leaving Theo and Hughie smiling to themselves.

* * *

Kate leaned against the stable block walls, one leg bent behind her, with her foot resting on the old stones. She looked out over the estate and contemplated the fact that this was a view that Cat would also be familiar with.

Certainly, Will would have been familiar with it too. He would have worked here; walked the horses down to the cottages and shoed them, bringing them back to the stables and perhaps examining them as lovingly and carefully as Theo was tending to Hughie.

Kate placed her foot back on the ground and peered into the stables. Theo was absorbed in his work, the familiar smell of hay and leather polish making her nose tickle. She ducked back around the doorframe as Theo stood up, and tried to look nonchalant when he finally came out of the stables. She peeled herself away from the wall and fell into step beside him as they walked down the path, back towards the Hall.

He grinned and looked down at her. ‘So what are you up to for the rest of the day, then?’

‘Well, work, of course. Then I don’t know.’ She shrugged. ‘I’ll probably try this thing on.’ She lifted up the costume. ‘And I might Skype my brother. He’s just come back from France.’

‘You’re close to your brother?’

‘Yes, I guess so. Our parents are pretty hopeless so we were thrown together a bit.’ That made her think about Cat and Edward and the ball again. Where had Will been that evening? Probably in his cottage, with Hector.

‘My parents gave me more than enough freedom, but I always knew they’d be there when I got back,’ said Theo.

‘I’m envious. Mine are digging up something archaeological at the moment. I have no idea what, it may be Roman, it may be Egyptian; but,’ Kate shrugged, ‘they’re happy.’

‘Are you happy?’ Theo glanced at her.

‘Of course.’ She hugged the fabric of the ridiculous suit closer. ‘What’s not to be happy about?’

‘If I lived here, I think it would be pretty easy to be happy.’

A very tiny portion of Kate’s mind wanted to respond: ‘I think I’d be quite happy if you were here as well.’

But then, maybe she was fixating on Will the blacksmith and not thinking rationally; so she deliberately thought of Chris, and made an effort to consciously chase all those other images out of her mind.

* * *

‘Lady Amelia! Miss Tredegar!’ Will walked out of the stables and started. She was coming up the path, Lady Amelia pushing her in that damned Bath chair. She was scowling and her face was thunderous. He bowed quickly to them.

A thousand emotions assaulted him at once; he saw her in the green and gold dress from the Midsummer Ball last night, the obvious pain she had been in and the way she had been led away by that other man — Edward Mountfort, more than likely — and he worked hard to stop the anger and jealousy showing on his face. He wanted her for his own; and he had done nothing but think of her since last night, and think about what her brother had said. He would die for her, he knew that; but leaving her for any length of time, even if it was to make his fortune so he could marry her, would kill him. It was a vicious circle indeed.

Lady Amelia giggled as she stopped before him, and Cat — well, he had to ask her. ‘Why has that appeared again?’ He nodded at the chair. ‘Dare I ask?’

Cat shook her head and gripped the armrests. ‘It seems as if I’m not quite ready to dance the night away, Mr Haddon.’ He dipped his head and hid a smile. She sighed lustily and twisted around, to bring Lady Amelia into the conversation. ‘Wouldn’t you agree?’

‘You tried your best, darling. It’s not your fault.’ Lady Amelia looked at Will and dimpled her sweet little smile. ‘She quite fell into a heap at the end of the ball, Mr Haddon. Charles — I mean, my cousin, her brother, Mr Tredegar,’ the girl blushed, ‘had to pick her up and carry her.’

‘Did he now?’

‘Yes. It was extremely fortunate that he wasn’t entirely inebriated.’

‘I suspect he would have collapsed in a heap as well, had he been in such a condition,’ said Will, mock-seriously.