Page 2 of Summer Storms

Will laughed, his blue eyes sparkling. “Good, we wouldn’t want to lose you.”

Christine felt a warm bloom of pleasure at his words. She wanted to ask if he meant them, but he was already rising to his feet. “I’d best get on with it if I am to make it to the dinner tonight.” And with a smile, he left her to her solitude.

What she had said was true. If her admirers realised she was merely a country girl playing a part, she was sure they would be bewildered and probably despise her. Sometimes it was exhausting being Miss Christina Silk, actress, rather than plain old dull Christine Starling.

CHAPTER TWO

Ansford Keep was lit up like a fairytale castle. The sun was setting, and the shadows fell deep across the land that Lord Reeve Ravenhill farmed. Abby met her sister at the door, embracing her despite the awkwardness of her large belly. She was due to give birth at any time and was clearly weary of waiting.

Reeve was beaming, his face alight with the pleasure of seeing Christine because it made his wife happy. Will had been right about him, Reeve would do anything for his wife.

Christine had arrived in the coach with Will and Molly. Her sister, Breana, and her husband, Theo, had arrived not long after. The younger Starlings had not been invited, remaining at home with their parents, and her other brother, Josh, was otherwise engaged at Allingham Farm. Christine would be sure to see him before she returned to London. She and Joshua were closest in age, and sometimes she missed him most of all.

Those who had already arrived were gathered in the drawing room, sherry glasses in hand, when the door knocker rattled. The servants were busy loading up the table with far too much food, so Abby struggled to rise and greet whoever the latecomer was. But Christine decided she would be a good sister today.

“Never you mind, Abby. I’ll go.”

Abby gave her a grateful smile. “By the time I got to my feet they would probably have given up and gone home.”

“Then stay right where you are,” Christine ordered her in her best bossy voice.

When Christine reached the door, she found that the butler had already welcomed the guest inside. At first she could not see who it was—his back was turned to her while he said something to the butler which made the old man smile. It wasn’t Joshua, which had been her first thought, but Abby had not mentioned inviting anyone else.

Then the man turned around, and a shock of recognition tingled all the way down to her toes.

It had been awhile since she had seen him, but Zek Nash was still the same boy she remembered. Back then he had been poor and ragged, and always glared at her as if he’d rather have been anywhere else. She always resented him coming to their Christmas luncheons, wondering how her parents could have allowed it. It spoilt everything! And now he was here?

“You!” The word burst out from her like a gunshot.

But even as she said it, she realised he wasn’t the same. His clothing was fashionable and well-made: a dark jacket over a gleaming white shirt, and beige pantaloons with shiny boots. His dark hair was tidy and brushed back. She was shocked to see he was no longer a boy, but a man. One with an air of quiet confidence.

Zek Nash raised one of his eyebrows at her. He stepped forward until he was only a foot or so away, on purpose she was sure, because it forced her to look up to meet his gaze. In that he hadn’t changed. He still looked as arrogant as ever, and with no reason for it that she could see—other than the fact she had just shouted at him like she’d caught him stealing the silverware.

“Miss Starling,” he said in a voice that still carried the soft burr of Barton Lacey. “Still the same delightful personality, I see.”

“What are you doing here?” she snapped.

There was amusement in his dark eyes, but also a hint of exasperation. “Why, exactly, shouldn’t I be here?”

“Because...” she began but couldn’t finish.

Because I don’t like you and never have, seemed unreasonably harsh.

A voice rose up behind her. “Ah, there you are, Zek!”

Reeve came over and shook the man’s hand. “You know Mr Nash, do you not, Christine? He and I are business partners in a little venture I⁠—”

“Business partners?” she echoed. “I wouldn’t have thought Mr Nash had the capital for any sort of business. Unless he stole it.”

The words came out of her mouth before she could stop them, then seemed to just lay there between the three of them in a great mess of uncomfortable rudeness.

The two men stared at her. Zek coughed as if suppressing a laugh, but Reeve looked unhappy and concerned. He was never rude to anyone, so her behaving in such a way in front of him made Christine suddenly embarrassed and ashamed. Thankfully, before she could stammer out an apology—and why should she, really?—Abby appeared on the scene.

“Oh, there you are, Zek!”

Her sister waddled toward them, and Reeve immediately took her arm to steady her. She looked hopefully over at Christine. “I thought I could even up the numbers for dinner tonight by inviting Zek,” she said, but her voice began to lose its certainty before she had even finished.

She must have noticed the looks on their faces and felt the awkwardness in the air.