by Helen Brooks
When Kate reached Mill House the door was standing open and Jack, wearing a more casual suit than usual, came to meet her with a golf umbrella.
‘Hi,’ she said brightly. ‘What a night! Am I the first?’
‘Yes. Come and talk to Bran before I banish him to the boot room.’
‘Hold on, I’m just collecting my shoes.’
When she slid from the car Jack shouted, ‘Sit,’ to the retriever as he came bounding towards her in welcome, and Kate bent to scratch Bran’s ear, full of admiration when he obeyed his master instead of jumping all over her as he obviously wanted to.
‘You are so gorgeous,’ she told him, and Jack laughed.
‘Just like his master.’
‘You wish!’
The dog trotted happily beside them as they went inside. In the small outer hall Kate exchanged her boots for the silverheeled black silk shoes and handed her coat to Jack, her eyebrows raised when he stood looking at her in silence.
‘You don’t approve?’ she demanded. ‘Should I have worn a dress?’
‘You look sensational and you know it,’ he said gruffly. ‘Your hair looks hellish sexy like that with the tailored suit.’
‘I wasn’t aiming for sexy,’ she protested.
‘Then God help me when you do!’
‘Did you get my message about the flowers, Jack?’ she said hastily. ‘They were lovely. Thank you.’
‘I aim to please.’ He clicked his fingers to the dog. ‘I’ll hang your coat in the boot room. Come and meet Molly.’
Two women turned round from the range, smiling, as Jack led Kate into the kitchen.
‘Ladies, this is my friend, Kate Durant,’ he announced.
‘I’m Molly Carter,’ said the young one, surprising Kate. ‘This is my mum, Hazel. She’s helping out tonight.’
‘Nice to meet you,’ said Hazel, a neat figure in a white lawn apron over a black dress. ‘I’m just the help. Molly does the cooking.’
‘And it’s wonderful,’ Kate assured her. ‘I tasted some of it the other night!’
Molly smiled, pleased. Small and sturdy in jeans and vast white apron, with blonde hair in a braid down her back, she was much younger than Kate had expected. ‘I hope you like the menu for tonight. It’s simple because the boss thought it best not to be too adventurous, but I hope it will suit everybody.’
‘No doubt about that,’ Kate assured her, as Jack came back from exiling Bran.
‘Right then, Kate,’ he said briskly. ‘Let’s have a drink before the others arrive. Any bits and pieces, Molly?’
‘Cold ones on the coffee table, Boss, hot ones to follow when the others arrive,’ she informed him, and went back to stirring something in a saucepan.
Kate followed Jack to the main room and stopped in her tracks. Spring flowers in a shallow creamware bowl sat between the promised dishes of canapés on the big rosewood table, but the sight that brought a smile to her face was the pile of large suede cushions stacked either end of the sofa.
Jack’s lips twitched. ‘Forster isn’t the only one who can take advice,’ he said smugly. ‘You mentioned something about cushions and a flower arrangement, I believe?’
She gave a snort of laughter. ‘I wasn’t serious, Jack!’
‘Now she tells me. What do you think? The official colours, I was informed, are caramel and mocha.’
‘You bought them here in town?’
He nodded as he removed the cork from a bottle of champagne. ‘And I ordered the flowers the same time as yours, but Molly did the arranging.’
‘Your Molly’s quite a star, isn’t she? But she looks so young!’
‘After catering college she couldn’t find a job which paid enough, so she answered my advertisement. She’s saving to open a place of her own one day.’ Jack filled two glasses and handed one to Kate.
‘Then I hope you pay her well!’
‘I do. And will pay more like a shot if someone tries to steal her from me.’ He touched his glass to hers. ‘Let’s drink a toast to my first dinner party.’
‘I’ve eaten dinner here before,’ she reminded him.
‘That was just family supper with Dad. Tonight’s entertainment is more ambitious—a first at Mill House.’
‘Why now?’
Jack shrugged. ‘I decided it was time to repay hospitality at home.’
‘You may regret it,’ Kate said ruefully. ‘After tonight, according to Anna, Lucy Beresford will be convinced we’re a couple.’
‘Don’t worry,’ he said casually. ‘At the Maitland party I told her that we’d known each other in the past. As far as she’s concerned, I’ve merely invited an old friend to make up the numbers.’
‘Thanks a lot!’ Kate chuckled. ‘More flattery like that and I’ll get above myself.’
Jack grinned and offered her the canapés. ‘Lucy needn’t know your support was vital to calm my nerves.’
‘Nerves, my foot!’ Kate bit into a delicious combination of shrimp and meltingly light pastry. ‘Yum, these are delicious! Molly made them herself, of course?’
‘As you say, she’s a star—and, don’t worry, I’m paying her a bonus; Hazel, too.’ Jack looked at his watch. ‘The others should be here any minute.’
‘Let’s wander into the hall, then. My sole reason for being here is to see the reaction when your guests arrive.’
‘Is that true, Kate?’
She sipped some of her drink and threw a smile at him over her shoulder as she strolled across the hall to the fireplace to look up at the portrait. ‘No, of course not.’
He followed her and stood so close she felt his breath on her neck. ‘Am I forgiven for last night, Katie?’
‘No forgiveness necessary or required, Jack.’ She turned to smile at him as tyres crunched wetly outside. ‘Show time.’
A peal on the doorbell brought muffled barking from Bran in the boot room as Jack went to admit his remaining guests, Hazel following to collect umbrellas and raincoats. ‘Good evening, everyone,’ Kate heard him say. ‘Welcome to Mill House.’
The Beresfords came in first, George balding and fifty-something with twinkling eyes, his wife forty going on eighteen in a pink prom dress. Lucy’s eyes widened as she took in her surroundings, then narrowed in swift speculation when she saw Kate standing near the fireplace.
‘How nice to see you again,’ she said, rushing to join her. ‘Isn’t this the most marvellous house? What a romantic driveway, Jack.’
Kate said the appropriate things and turned to kiss Anna. ‘You look ravishing in your new blue, Mrs Maitland.’
‘Thanks, friend. Clever of you to wear black with this background,’ Anna murmured. ‘What a place!’
Ben came to kiss Kate and Jack ushered them all into the main room, avoiding Kate’s eyes as Lucy went into more high-decibel raptures. Jack provided champagne; Hazel came in with a platter of hot canapeés and Kate stood with George near the fireplace, answering questions about the house she’d inherited.
‘I’ve been dying to see your house.’ Anna smiled demurely at Jack. ‘Kate’s told me so much about it.’
Lucy glanced across at Kate, sharp-eyed. ‘You’ve been here before?’
‘My father knew Kate when she lived here in the town as a child,’ said Jack blandly. ‘He insisted I invited her to kitchen supper to talk about old times.’
Anna choked on a mouthful of pastry and Ben proffered a napkin.
‘Steady the buffs,’ he murmured, smiling at Kate.
Conversation grew general with the second glass of champagne, and by the time Hazel returned to announce dinner Jack Logan’s first guests at Mill House were in mellow mood.
The dining room was smaller and more intimate than the main room, but Jack had kept to his white theme for the walls, with a large pencil drawing of Bran as the only artwork. The furniture was modern and very plain, the table set with white porcelain and gleaming crystal, which reflected flames from thick white candles in heavy glass holders. Once everyone was seated,
Hazel came into offer a choice of lobster ravioli or pears with Stilton for the first course.
‘Molly thought the lobster might not suit everyone,’ said Jack, smiling. ‘Being a mere male such things never occurred to me.’
‘You need a woman in your life, Jack,’ said Lucy, and gazed at her husband in wide-eyed innocence when he frowned at her.
‘Anna says you’ve finished your decorating, Kate,’ said Ben swiftly.
‘I certainly have.’ She smiled at him. ‘My garden’s the next thing on the agenda.’
‘You’re so self-sufficient!’ exclaimed Lucy. ‘Anna tells me you’ve painted your entire house yourself. Amazing. I wouldn’t know where to start. Did you go on a course?’
‘No, I just cheated a bit. I had the ceilings, cornices and gloss paint done by a professional before I moved from London. He relined the walls too, ready for me to start painting. I finished the last room this very afternoon,’ said Kate.
Anna smiled at her affectionately. ‘Thank goodness for that. I hate the smell of paint.’
‘No wonder, in your condition—’ Lucy bit her lip, eyeing Ben in contrition. ‘Sorry. My big mouth.’
‘Not to worry,’ said Ben easily, and smiled across the table at his wife. ‘This is as good a time as any to make the announcement. We’re expecting our first child in the autumn.’
Jack sprang up to shake Ben by the hand, careful to avoid Kate’s eyes as he asked permission to kiss the mother-to-be. ‘Congratulations. Let me give you some more champagne.’
Anna shook her head regretfully. ‘I’ve had my quota for tonight. Mineral water from now on, please.’
It was a very animated gathering who went on to eat hot glazed ham with spinach soufflé, followed by simple, perfect apple pie and local cheese served with Molly’ssavoury biscuits. When they went back to the main room the fire had been replenished and a dish of petitfours placed beside a coffee tray.
‘Marvellous meal,’ said Anna, sitting by Kate with a sigh. ‘My compliments to the chef, Jack.’
‘I’ll pass them on to her.’ He smiled at Kate. ‘If you’ll pour the coffee, I’ll pass the cups round. Hazel’s helping Molly clear up.’
Having diligently avoided the slightest suggestion of acting as hostess up to that point, Kate had to give in about the coffee, conscious of Lucy Beresford’s eyes boring into her as she filled the cups. Jack could do what he liked with the cakes, she decided, and leaned against a suede cushion beside Anna, out of range of Lucy’s eagle eye. But Lucy wasn’t done with her.
‘I hear you have the most extraordinary job, Kate,’ she said, leaning forward in her chair. ‘Anna says you work from home as a virtual assistant. What on earth does that mean?’
Kate gave a brief, succinct explanation.
‘She works with five clients, and doesn’t make coffee for any of them,’ put in Jack, picking up the plate of cakes. ‘Can I tempt you, Anna?’
‘Unfortunately, yes.’ She sighed and chose a morsel smothered in chocolate.
Lucy did the same, but Kate shook her head, also refusing the brandy the men accepted.
‘I’m driving, Jack.’
‘So are you, dear,’ George told his wife, who pouted girlishly, but made no protest.
‘I wouldn’t mind a nice little job like Kate’s,’ she declared, ‘but George won’t let me work.’
From the look on his face, Kate took it this was news to him.
‘I never minded making coffee for my boss. In my opinion you just can’t beat the personal touch,’ Lucy went on relentlessly. ‘The man I worked for was utterly devastated when I left to get married.’
‘How about you, Kate?’ said Ben, taking the chair nearest to her. ‘Did your boss tear his hair when you resigned?’
She grinned at him. ‘She paid far too much to her hairdresser to do that.’
‘I’d hate to work for a woman,’ said Lucy promptly.
‘Kate worked with one, not for one,’ said Anna, licking her fingers. ‘She was Deputy Director of Human Resources by the time she resigned her London job.’
Lucy was silenced for a split second. ‘Goodness, life must be very different for you in a quiet town like this,’ she said, regrouping.
Anna got up. ‘If Kate will direct me, I need to find the ladies’,’ she announced.
‘You’ll have to ask Jack,’ said Kate, smiling at her. ‘I don’t know where it is.’
‘Really?’ said Lucy, brightening. ‘I’ll come with you then, Anna.’ She took Jack’s arm, smiling up at him coquettishly as they left the room.
‘You mustn’t mind my wife, Kate,’ said George kindly. ‘She’s got this boundless curiosity. She’s probably nagging Jack to show her round the entire house right now.’
Kate gave him a friendly smile, and got up to take the coffee pot. ‘I think I’ll ask Molly for a refill. I do know where the kitchen is,’ she told Ben as he opened the door for her.
Kate met Jack in the hall. ‘I’m on my way to ask Molly for more coffee.’
‘Good idea.’ He grinned conspiratorially. ‘How are you, Katie?’
‘Bearing up,’ she returned, rolling her eyes, and he laughed, smoothing a hand down her hair as she went on her way.
The kitchen was already tidy and the redoubtable Molly had a thermos of fresh coffee waiting to refill the silver pot.
‘Mum can take it in.’
‘Thank you,’ said Kate gratefully. ‘It was a fabulous meal, Molly,’ she said as Hazel went off with the coffee. ‘I hear you want to open a place of your own one day. When you do I’ll be your first customer.’
‘First dinner on the house then,’ Molly assured her, beaming. ‘You think the meal went down well tonight? I hope it wasn’t too boring.’
‘It was perfect. You must have seen the empty plates coming back! Mr Maitland had two helpings of everything. He said the apple pie was even better than his mother’s.’ Kate smiled at the sound of an imperious bark from the boot room.
‘I think someone wants to say hello,’ said Molly, and handed over a small dish of titbits. ‘You can give Bran his treat, if you like—only mind that velvet.’
Kate received an enthusiastic greeting from Bran, who fussed over her in delight for a while, then wolfed down his goodies and went to stand pointedly at the outer door.
‘You go back, Miss Durant. I’ll let him out,’ said Molly. ‘The downstairs cloakroom is second on the right across the hall, by the way.’
Kate spent a few minutes there to marshal her forces, then went back to join the others.
‘You’ve been a very long time,’ commented Jack.
‘I had a chat with Bran.’
‘You were so long I poured the coffee,’ said Lucy sweetly. ‘Who’s Bran?’
‘My dog,’ said Jack, and smiled as he took hairs from Kate’s sleeve. ‘You’ve been cuddling him.’
‘Guilty as charged,’ she said, and resumed her seat by Anna. ‘How do you feel?’ she said in an undertone, as Lucy fluttered round the men with the coffee pot.
‘Fat,’ said Anna ruefully. ‘I shouldn’t have eaten so much, but the food was so gorgeous I couldn’t resist.’
‘I relayed the praise to Molly.’
‘Is Hazel her daughter?’
‘Hazel is Molly’s mother,’ said Kate. ‘How old is Molly, Jack? She looks like a schoolgirl.’
‘Twenty-two and born old, according to her mother. There’s a mature brain under that mane of blonde hair.’
Kate could practically see Lucy’s brain ticking over. Blonde? Twenty-two?
‘They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,’ warned Lucy sharply. ‘You’d better be careful, Jack. Maybe your Molly has designs on you.’
‘You bet she has,’ he said, unperturbed. ‘She wants my backing when she opens her own restaurant.’
For the rest of the evening Jack did his best as host to keep the conversation general, but Lucy aimed barbs at Kate so often that at last George Beresford turned a look on his wif
e that plainly said ‘enough’ and she pouted and turned all her attention on Jack. Eventually Ben decided his wife looked tired and asked Lucy if she was ready to drive them home. Jack kept Kate firmly at his side while he received thanks for his hospitality. Anna and Ben kissed her goodnight, and George did the same, winning a sharp look from his wife, who kept her kissing strictly for her host. Jack stood in the open doorway as his guests hurried to the car under umbrellas, then went back inside to Kate with a sigh of relief.
‘Thank you,’ he said simply, running a hand through his hair.
‘What for?’
‘Just for being here.’ He grimaced. ‘I’ll make sure I have a previous engagement when Lucy Beresford invites me to dinner again. I had a meal there once, purely because she wouldn’t take no when I drove George home from a meeting.’
‘She insisted you came to Anna’s party as well,’ Kate reminded him as they went back to the living room.
‘For that alone I’m grateful to her,’ admitted Jack, and put more logs on the fire. ‘What can I give you to drink, Kate?’
‘I should be going home.’
‘Let’s unwind for a bit first. Lucy gave you a hard time tonight. What got into the woman?’
‘She resents me.’ Kate kicked off her shoes to curl up in a corner of the sofa among the new cushions. ‘Before Anna’s party the Beresford dinner table was the only one in town you’d graced with your presence, so Lucy feels possessive where you’re concerned. I’m afraid she took one look at me when she arrived tonight and jumped to the obvious conclusion. She was jealous.’
Jack groaned. ‘Dammit, Kate, the woman’s married to someone I do business with, and has a couple of teenage children. Besides, I don’t find her remotely attractive.’
‘Maybe not, but Lucy lusts after you, Jack.’
‘God!’ He rubbed a hand over his chin, his eyes eloquent with distaste. ‘Next time George needs a lift home I’ll get him a taxi.’
‘In the meantime I’ll take you up on that offer of a drink. I’d like some tea.’
