The Girl From Summer Hill (Summer Hill 1)

“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.