T heo remained true to his promise. He committed by neither word nor deed to his stepmother’s dinner until five minutes before the guests arrived. He watched and listened to her fuss with a fair degree of amusement, then gave her no time for reprimands before the dinner began.
Artie made his own appearance and Theo just caught his sigh. He bent toward him enough that he could speak low. “You will survive one evening. You might be even less miserable than me.”
“I had work to do. If I’m going to plant the alfalfa on time, then I need to finish preparing the land.”
“There’s more to life than work, Artie.”
Artie shrugged. “Of course, there is. I just happen to have a lot of work to do right now.”
Theo growled. “You always have a lot of work to do.”
Theo did not envy Artie’s seating arrangements. Myrtle had everyone carefully assigned and Artie found himself sat beside the greatest gossip in the entire Valley. Or so Theo had long since dubbed her.
He, on the other hand, had been sandwiched between a silent and morose man, Phil Carter by name, and Kat Gilbert. Theo knew by experience that any attempts at discussion with Phil Carter would go nowhere. Kat, on the other hand, didn’t even need encouragement to begin.
“Has Artie seen any more of Dorothy Sinclair?”
Theo glanced toward his brother, who obviously could hear nothing else above the steady flow of gossip. “In a business capacity, yes.”
Kat raised one eyebrow, a grin just forming on her face. “Nerts! I didn’t expect he would have seen her again already. I just asked to start the conversation.”
Theo lowered his voice even further. “It’s business, Kat. He would have your head if he heard you thought otherwise.”
“Of course, it’s business! Holy Mackerel. I don’t say it isn’t. Right now.”
Theo rolled his eyes.
“I don’t suppose Mrs. Sinclair could have invited her to dinner.”
Theo cast another look toward his oblivious younger brother. “No. I don’t suppose that she could.”
“I wonder if she would help me bring Dorothy out into our set if I asked.”
Theo finally all but choked before turning toward the girl beside him. “I beg you not to ask her any such thing.”
“A cousin’s duty…”
“Does not extend to including the unwanted stepmother in her shenanigans.”
Kat’s face grew serious. “Come on, Theo.”
“I mean it. You leave her out of this, or I’ll tell Artie what you’re up to.”
“That won’t stop me!”
“No.” Theo tried to glare at her, though as usual, he didn’t succeed. “It will make your attempts infinitely more difficult though.”
Kat sighed, throwing her hair behind her shoulder. Picking up her fork, she stabbed with it rather savagely. “Very well. You can be such a gimlet. I’ll do it alone.”
Theo took a drink of water to prevent the need to respond.
“Maybe I’ll get Hazel to help me.”
Theo choked.
With a grin, Kat took a bite of food.
“Hazel is seven .” Theo could barely speak with clarity.
“I know.”
Theo started to forbid her from involving a seven-year-old in matchmaking but didn’t get the first word out.
“Seven is far too young to join a dinner party.” Phil Carter’s deep and morose voice joined them unexpectedly.
Theo looked toward the man in surprise. “She isn’t here. As far as I know, she went to bed.”
“Then, why ,” Phil stared at Theo through his spectacles, “why did you mention the child?”
He could only have heard my side. He wouldn’t wonder if he could hear Kat.
“She just came up in the course of our conversation.”
Phil Carter lowered his spectacles, peering over the top rim. “A seven-year-old has no business entering dinner party conversation any more than they have any business joining the table. Children should remain where they belong.” Without waiting for a response, Phil Carter pushed back up his spectacles and returned to his plate.
Of all the supercilious, arrogant, stuck-up people… Myrtle has to invite the worst collection of humanity…
“I’ve got the perfect dress for Dorothy.” Kat’s comment broke through his thoughts.
“You… You what?”
Did I miss something? What does she need a dress for?
“The perfect dress. It’s berries. The best color.”
I missed something.
Kat grinned. “Her eyes are going to pop .”
“Perhaps not the best thing to happen. She probably wants her eyes.” He could see a growing look of horror on Artie’s face as his brother stared at the table in front of him.
I wonder what story that woman is telling him now…
Kat had gone to scolding. “Oh, phonus balonus! You know what I mean. Artie will adore her in that dress.”
Theo turned in his chair. “Artie won’t even notice that she’s in different clothes.”
Kat started to cross her arms, but recalled she sat at the table just in time. “You don’t know that. You won’t know that until he sees her.”
Theo sighed.
“Oh, it will be the bee’s knees, Theo. Just you wait.”
Theo picked up his glass with another shake of his head. “You don’t know what you’re getting into, Kat.”
“Nothing more than my cousinly duty!” He looked down at her, but her smile effectively doused any attempt at reproach.
Theo sent one last glance of pity toward his oblivious brother. “Who knew that cousins could be so annoying?”