Page 37 of Watch For Me By Candlelight

‘I suspect he would never have been able to find his way to Cat’s bedroom.’ Amelia smiled down at the top of Cat’s head. ‘I thought she could do with a trundle up here. I know how much she loves the horses. And anything pertaining to the horses. Excuse me one tiny moment, Mr Haddon. May I just get her a little closer? Thank you.’ Lady Amelia pushed the chair a little further past Will, then let go of the handle, and stepped away. ‘It’s quite exhausting, actually, pushing such a heavy lump as Cat up here. There you go — at least you’re right inside the stables now. Right before I collapse.’

The girl did look flushed and exhausted. Will put it down to a late night at the ball and bowed again. ‘I’m more than happy to push the chair back to the Hall. Unless Miss Tredegar wishes to stay here for a little while?’

Lady Amelia shrugged prettily. ‘I’m so tired, I’m going to have a little sit down behind the stables here. I won’t be far.’

‘And you’ll be looking out for anyone coming, won’t you?’ asked Cat, smiling suddenly.

‘Oh, I don’t think there’s any need for people to worry. I’m here. Right outside.’ And, just like that, Lady Amelia melted away.

Will wasted no time. He knelt in front of Cat, and she leaned forward, putting her hands on his shoulders and looking straight into his eyes; straight into his soul.

‘Oh Will, I wish you had been there last night. It was so awful. So many dreary people, and none of them being particularly themselves, you know?’

‘I know.’ He nodded. ‘I was there, though. Me and Hector. We saw you through the window.’ He raised a hand and twisted a curl around his fingers. ‘You looked beautiful. One day, I’ll dance with you at a ball, I think. We’ll hold our own ball, and only invite people we like. How does that sound?’

‘It sounds perfect.’ She captured his hand and pressed it to her cheek briefly. ‘But Millie’s right. I do love the horses and the stables. So I always feel so much better up here.’ She smiled, mischievously. ‘And somehow, I feel even better now.’

Will straightened up and smiled down at her. ‘That’s because your horse has just been shod. Look.’ He nodded towards a pretty, palomino mare. ‘I think she’s missed you, these last few months.’

Cat raised her hand and Beauty dipped her head and pushed her nose into her palm, swishing her white tail expectantly.

Cat laughed. ‘I don’t have anything for you today. I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t believe her. She’s just had one of my finest carrots,’ said Will with a smile, running his hand down the golden coat. ‘Why don’t you sit on her for a little while? It’ll make you both feel happier.’

Cat laughed, bitterly. ‘I would most certainly do that if I could walk properly today. But I wouldn’t be able to mount her and I wouldn’t embarrass myself by trying.’

‘Ah, you don’t need to do much work. Can you get on your feet at all?’

‘Yes, of course.’ Cat was stung. ‘It’s just once I’m on my feet I’m entirely stuck. Unless I hop.’ She frowned, as if contemplating it.

‘Come on, then.’ He held his hand out. ‘I’ve got you.’

She looked at him for a moment, then struggled out of the Bath chair.

Will helped her get her balance, and then steadied her. ‘Now. Let’s get on that horse,’ he said, and picked her up.

Cat shrieked, then started to laugh as he hefted her onto the horse, bareback. Beauty shifted a little, but he held onto them both as Cat settled herself in an awkward parody of her usual elegant side-saddle. She leaned forward and stroked Beauty’s white mane. ‘Oh, I’ve missed you so much,’ she murmured. ‘Hello, Beauty. I’ll ride you again soon.’

‘You can ride her now. Here, let me just get a leading rein on her.’ Will found some rope and deftly tied it onto the horse. He clicked his tongue and the horse put her beautiful head up and whinnied. She trotted out of the stable, with Will walking alongside. He looked up at Cat and the sun was glinting off her hair, turning it to flames before his eyes. He realised that her smile not only lit up her face, but made his life worthwhile.

Chapter Thirteen

Jenna had been flicking through a fashion magazine, looking eminently bored when they reached the museum. Kate wouldn’t have minded so much, had she not been lying full length on the church pew and padded a cushion out of a jacket that had been left on a picnic bench earlier that day.

The girl didn’t even look up guiltily or try to sit upright or anything like that. She just gazed lazily at Kate and licked her finger to turn the page. Then her eyes moved to Theo and flared, momentarily. ‘Hello, Theo. Great to see you again.’ It was only then that she stretched and sat upright. ‘What brings you here?’

‘I’ve got business in the area and I had half a ticket to use up.’

‘Oh. I’m afraid that’s quite unusual, and I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that before. Let me see it. Just for proof.’ She put her hand out expectantly, completely ignoring Kate.

‘Jenna, you can leave now.’ Kate was curt. ‘Theo doesn’t need to prove he’s got a ticket. I can remember selling it to him.’

‘Of course you can.’ Her voice was smooth, creamy and completely insincere. ‘Oh, well. If you don’t need me, I’m happy to go. There’s nobody left on site anyway. I’m not surprised. This place is dull as ditch-water. I’ll be glad when I finish my penance here. Bye, Theo. See you soon.’ She stood up and grazed a fingernail gently down his chest. ‘I’ll be at the wine bar later.’

Theo just smiled and stepped to one side, allowing Jenna to slither out.

‘Jeez,’ muttered Kate as Jenna vanished into the late afternoon, eyeing up Theo’s van as she passed it in the car park, assessing it, Kate thought bitterly, as if she was planning to lie full length in the back of it. ‘I don’t mind anyone having a bit of fun, a bit of downtime, but she’s so . . . nasty with it. She doesn’t want to be here, and I don’t want her here. If her father wasn’t the Chair of the Board . . . anyway. Here we are.’ She swept her hand around expansively. ‘You can see what a marvellous collection of clocks we have. My favourite is the cuckoo clock.’ She smiled and pointed to the little wooden clock on the wall.