The Girl From Summer Hill Read online

  Kit looked at each of the dozen women standing in a line before him. “I want no more teenage, starry-eyed gaping at Mr. Landers. I want you to show him what Virginians can do. Show this actor what you can do!”

  Olivia and Casey were behind Kit and saw the way the women stood straighter at his words.

  He continued. “While you are going over your lines—this time with serious intent—another actress is going to show you how the scene should be played.”

  Nodding, Casey looked at Olivia. “He means you.”

  She shook her head. “I’m too old. Maybe it’s that girl who played Lydia.”

  “She’s a kid,” Casey whispered back.

  Kit stepped aside so the women could see Olivia and Casey.

  “It is you.” Casey was smiling.

  Kit held out his arm. “Coming to us from our nation’s capital, I give you Miss Acacia Reddick.” He sounded like a circus ringmaster.

  Casey blinked at him. Smiling, Olivia stepped away, and when the applause started, she joined in.

  “I can’t—” Casey began, but Kit took her arm and led her toward the door to the backstage area. When they were in the hallway that led to the lower level, she halted. “Are you crazy? This is ridiculous. I’ve never acted in my life.”

  “Sure you have. Haven’t you heard that all of life is a stage? I know you know the lines, so there’s no problem.”

  “I can’t do this. And besides, I can’t stand the actor. I’ve never met a more arrogant, self-satisfied—” She broke off, her eyes wide. “Like Elizabeth thought Darcy was.”

  “Exactly,” Kit said. “And wouldn’t you just love to tell him off? To break that cool smugness he has on the stage? All these women fawning over him haven’t made him so much as hesitate. Tell him what you actually think of him—in Austen’s phrasing, if possible. Think he could handle that?”

  “I…” Casey began, but then a slow smile took over. “He would be shocked if he walked out there and saw me, wouldn’t he?”

  “He’d probably completely lose his composure.”

  Casey’s smile broadened. “Seeing that would make it worth getting up there.”

  “You can show the players someone who isn’t awed by a man just because he looks good in front of a camera.”

  “Yes!” Casey said. “Where do I change?”

  “Straight down there. First door on the right.”

  “Corset, here I come!” She hurried down the corridor.

  —

  Smiling, Kit turned away. He’d always meant for young Tatton to play Darcy. He just wasn’t sure who would be Elizabeth. But now he was almost certain that he’d found her.

  “Hello” came a male voice from the doorway.

  Casey was sitting at the dressing table putting on a third coat of mascara. She had on the costume, but she wanted to look her best when she went onstage. Turning, she saw the man who was to play Wickham holding a pretty bouquet of spring flowers. He had on dark trousers and a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves. He looked really good!

  “These are for you.” He rather shyly stepped forward and put them on the edge of the table.

  She thought how refreshing it was to meet a man who seemed humble rather than acting as though he owned the earth. When he started to leave, Casey said, “Wait!”

  He turned back, smiling, but he didn’t step inside the little room.

  “If you got those for the winner of the role, that isn’t me,” Casey said. “I’m just supposed to…Well, I’m not sure, but I think my job is to give Mr. Landers a hard time.”

  The man’s handsome face instantly went from shy happiness to appearing almost afraid. “Are you sure you want to do that? Landers is a big name in Hollywood.”

  “Maybe he is,” Casey said, “but for me, telling him off is going to be easy.”

  His face relaxed somewhat, but the man still seemed worried. “I understand wanting to do that. By the way, I’m Devlin Haines and I’ve been cast as Wickham.”

  She liked that he didn’t assume she knew who he was. “I saw you perform and you’re very good.”

  “That’s kind of you to say.”

  Casey got up and went to shake his hand. It was big and warm and he had truly beautiful eyes. Wish he had showered on my porch, she thought, and reluctantly pulled her hand away.

  Politely, he stepped back from her. “I don’t mean to put my nose where it doesn’t belong, but you should be careful of Tate Landers.”

  “From the sound of it, you know him well.”

  “Unfortunately, I do. He used to be my brother-in-law.”

  Casey’s eyes widened. “Are you Emmie’s father?”

  His words came fast. “Yes, I am! Have you seen her? Is she going to be here soon? What did she say? Did she mention me?” He took a breath. “Sorry, it’s just that I haven’t been allowed to see my daughter for weeks. Excuse me.” For a moment he turned to the side and Casey thought maybe he was wiping away a tear. When he turned around, his smile was forced. “I apologize for that, but I’m a bit daft when it comes to my daughter. How do you know her?”

  The deep emotion of the man, his sense of loss—his tears—seemed to fill the room. “I just heard her over the phone. She laughed, that’s all.”

  “Ah, yes. The sweetest sound on earth. The music of the angels. It’s been so very long since I heard it.”

  “Casey,” the stage manager said from the hall, “they’re ready for you upstairs.”

  “I’m coming,” she answered, then looked back at Devlin. “I don’t mean to pry, but what do you mean that you haven’t been ‘allowed’ to see your daughter?”

  He took a deep breath, as though trying to gather his courage. “I guess the most diplomatic answer is that my famous ex-brother-in-law is a very rich and powerful man. He could afford to give his sister, my wife, the very best of lawyers. I’m sorry. I came back here to wish you luck. I don’t know what is causing me to bare my soul. But there’s something about you…Again, I’m sorry to be rambling on. You must think I’m an idiot.”

  “I don’t.” Casey was solemn as she thought about what he’d just revealed about Landers. It was one thing to trespass but another to use the legal system to take away a man’s daughter. She smiled at Devlin. “After I get this done, why don’t you come to my house for dinner—if His Royal Highness hasn’t thrown me out because he owns the place, that is. We can talk about…things.”

  “I would like that very much.” Life seemed to be coming back into Devlin’s eyes. “You know, there aren’t many people—especially women—who are perceptive enough to see beneath how Tate presents himself to the world.”

  “Casey!” the stage manager shouted. “You need to come now!”

  “Tell His Majesty Landers to keep his shirt on. And I mean that literally. I’ll be there in a minute.” As she plucked a little blue flower from the bouquet Devlin had given her and stuck it into her hair, she smiled at him warmly. “This isn’t Hollywood and he doesn’t rule here.” She started down the corridor, walking backward. “Eight P.M., my house. You know where Tattwell is?”

  “I rented a house here for the summer just to be near it. I’m hoping that my daughter will visit and I’ll get to see her.”

  “You will,” Casey said.

  “The moment I saw you standing by the food tables and laughing, I knew you were special. I felt it.” Devlin was grinning, but then he grew serious. “But be careful of him. Tate doesn’t like to be crossed, so tread lightly.”

  Casey gathered her long skirt and ran up the stairs. “No, I don’t think I will be careful,” she said quietly as she took her place on the stage.

  Casey didn’t look at the audience. But then, it was mostly the women from town who’d come to drool over a movie star. Besides them, there were a few workmen who were still planting the garden and some electricians in the rafters, putting in the lights. She didn’t know if Josh was around or not. And there was Kit, behind his desk and watching, with Olivia not far away.