That made John smile. He turned to Fitz, “Ah, so you likechildren?”
She hesitated but answered. “Yes. In their place. We were investigating the house and stumbled across the nursery.” She glared at Susan, who retained her composure. She was not about to give this woman the satisfaction of rilingher.
“Let me just finish here and I’ll be right with you,” John said to Fitz. “I’m so happy to find you’re interested in my family’s history. I have several more books and maps I can showyou.”
Fitz gave a syrupy smile as she withdrew her arm from John’s. “I’ll be waiting.” And she went backinside.
Susan could not help but notice that Fitz was making a play for John. Could he seriously be interested in her? But wasn’t she Sir Andrew’s companion? This was all too much for her to fathom. However, she could not deny that she was feeling a little jealous. And that was ridiculous—she hadDaniel.
John turned back to Susan andKatherine.
“Are you joining us for lunch?” heasked.
“Not this afternoon. I need to work with Elizabeth some more this afternoon, and she’ll be finishing her lunch in half anhour.”
“But you will join us for dinner? —both of you, of course. It would be a pleasure to chat with you more, MissKatherine.”
Susan seemed reluctant. She’d planned a girl’s night with the two of them gossiping and giggling, not getting dressed up and making small talk with a lot ofsnobs.
“I would really like you to be there, Miss Susan,” John said. And it sounded like an order, not arequest.
“If that’s what you wish, Your Grace, then we shall bethere.”
“Excellent,” he said and went back into thelibrary.
“I didn’t bring anything to wear for a formal dinner,” Katherine said with a hint ofdesperation.
“Oh, dear… and I doubt I have anything that would fit you,” Susan said. “Maybe Aunt Clarissa might have anidea.”
“I suppose I could drive home and bring somethingback.”
“Oh no, that’s too far, and we will miss out on our walk after the afternoonclass.”
Katherine pouted her bottom lip. “I shouldn’t have come while the Duke had guests. I’m just in theway.”
“Nonsense. We’ll figure somethingout.”
* * *
Katherine was not smiling.She had on a dress Aunt Clarissa had found at the back of her armoire. It was outdated, and its shape was reminiscent of a sack ofpotatoes.
“Hmm,” Susan saidintrospectively.
“That bad?” Katherinemoaned.
“A nip here and a tuck there and you’ll look just like a princess,” Susan said, suddenly sounding cheery andbright.
Katherine turned and looked at herself in the standingmirror.
“Oh-h-h. I don’t think so.” She lookeddeflated.
Susan went over to her sewing basket and returned with a pin cushion. She immediately began pinning the dress and in ten minutes Katherine turned back to the mirror andsmiled.
“Well, now that’s not toobad.”
“Take it off and I’ll alter it. And did you bring any jewelry? If not I can find you a nice necklace to go withthat.”
That reminded Katherine. “Oh, oh, oh… your gift from Daniel. I forgot to give that to you. Let me getit.”
