“Yeah, military,” Tate whispered.
“Or dictator of a large country,” Jack said.
Tate nodded in agreement. It was possible.
When Casey got back to the food tables, Olivia had finished putting out the desserts from the local bakery and people were helping themselves. Since Kit had announced who was going to play Lydia, most of the high school girls had left. There were still some minor parts to cast, but most of the people were waiting to audition for Elizabeth. Since everyone in town was sure Josh was going to be Darcy, a lot of women wanted the part. Several of them had tried for dates with him, but few had succeeded. Hope for the future was written on their faces.
Casey opened the pie containers Josh had set on the table.
“I’ve heard about some berry custard pie you make that’s supposed to be heavenly,” Olivia said.
“It’s not here. It was consumed in its entirety.” Casey’s voice was terse.
“Oh?” Olivia asked in an encouraging way. “What happened?”
“I guess his royal highness got hungry, but I still can’t believe he ate a whole pie. He probably had one slice, didn’t like it, and threw the rest out.”
“Who?”
Casey waved her hand. “It doesn’t matter, except that he’s going to be here in—” She broke off because a woman hurried to the tables. She was tall and strongly built. Her face was long, her hair dark, and her eyes seemed to be flashing in anger.
“It’s not fair!” she said to Olivia. “I wasn’t given a proper chance to be Jane. If I’d known that sucking up to that B-movie actor would get me the part, I could have dealt with it. Or I could have tried out for Lydia. But really! To give the part of Jane to that wimpy little Gisele Nolan was ridiculous. She—”
“Hildy!” Olivia said. “This is Casey, and this is my daughter-in-law, Hildy.”
She looked Casey up and down, as though appraising her. “What are you trying out for?”
Her tone of aggression, combined with her rather deep voice, made Casey blink. “Nothing. I’m just here to cook.”
“Good!” Hildy said. “Stick to that, although I must say that your shrimp was a bit too spicy for my taste. You should call me and I’ll give you my own recipe.”
“I’ll consider that.” Casey stepped away to the end of the table.
“Hildy, that wasn’t very nice,” Olivia said.
Hildy turned her piercing gaze on her mother-in-law. “What are you doing back here at the food tables? People will think you’re the maid. And what is this I hear about you trying out to be Mrs. Bennet? Are you showing off? You get a part but I don’t? Is that what you want?”
Casey didn’t like that this woman was taking her anger out on Olivia. Worse, Olivia was beginning to slump. Seconds ago her eyes had been full of laughter, and now her shoulders seemed to have fallen.
It wasn’t any of her business, but Casey went to the other end of the table. “You aren’t going to try out for Elizabeth?” she asked Hildy loudly.
Hildy glanced at Casey in dismissal. “This is a family matter.” She looked back at her mother-in-law. “I don’t think you should be in the play if I’m not. I’m sure this director will give you the part if you show him those ancient photos of yourself, but it wouldn’t be fair to me. Besides, you’re not exactly young, are you? This whole thing would exhaust you! I think—”
“Tate Landers is auditioning the Elizabeths,” Casey interrupted.
Again Hildy turned to her, but this time her dark eyes were blazing in anger. “I told you that—” She stopped as she realized what Casey had said. “Who?”
“The actor Tate Landers. He owns Tattwell and he’s a relative of Kit’s. Landers is going to read Darcy with the women who audition for the role of Elizabeth.”
Hildy blinked a few times, then she abruptly turned on her heel and left.
For a few moments it was awkward between Casey and Olivia, neither of them seeming to know what to say.
“I apologize for that,” Olivia said. “When she’s upset, Hildy forgets her manners.”
Casey wanted to ask how often a bawling out like that happened and why Olivia didn’t stand up to her. But it was too soon for personal questions like those. Besides, Olivia was so embarrassed that Casey thought she might leave. “What photos does she mean?”
“Oh, nothing,” Olivia said. “It’s just some long-ago history.” She looked relieved that Casey wasn’t commenting on Hildy’s anger.