The Girl from Summer Hill by Jude Deveraux Page A

through the entire scene, but none of them displayed the emotion that Tate put into the role. Again and again he looked like a man in love but fighting inner demons.
    “Who are you going to choose to be Elizabeth?” Casey asked Kit.
    “None of them. They’re all dreadful.”
    “That Parker girl wasn’t bad.”
    Kit looked at her in disbelief. “She kept fluttering her eyelashes at Tate. I expected her to ask him on a date.”
    “The Brickley girl?”
    “Timid little thing. I think Tate’s passion scared her.”
    “Maybe the second half will be better,” Casey said.
    “What I need is someone who sees Tate as a person, not as a movie star.”
    “Good luck finding that in this crowd,” Casey said. “They’re all making fools of themselves over him. The way they look at him is sick-making. ‘Oh, Mr. Landers,’ ” she mimicked in falsetto, “ ‘please look at me the way you do those women in the movies. If you do, I’ll dedicate my life to you.’ Truly disgusting. It’s—” She broke off, as Kit had an odd expression on his face. “What’s that look for?”
    “I’m agreeing with you. I need someone who doesn’t see him as some mythical being in a pair of tight pants.”
    Casey smiled at the image. “It’s a good thing he’s not going to play Darcy in the real production. Have you worked with Josh yet?”
    “Yes, and I have to say that I have never seen anyone with less acting ability than that young man.”
    “Oh, no,” Casey said. “What are you going to do?”
    Kit gave a slow smile. “I think Tatton is doing a splendid job, don’t you?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Five minutes to curtain call,” he said loudly. “Places, everyone.” He went down the aisle to take his seat at the desk.
    “When I took the food to him, he was really nice,” Olivia said from behind Casey.
    Casey turned to look at her. “Please tell me you didn’t fall for him too.”
    “No,” Olivia said, “but it’s sad that he has to sit back there by himself. His only friend here is Jack Worth, and he left with Gizzy. And the poor man is starving.”
    “I don’t know how he can be, since he ate an entire pie. And for all I know, he cleaned out my fridge. I can’t wait to get home tonight and see what he did in my bedroom.”
    “Perhaps, but he did look rather lonely back there. It couldn’t be any fun having all those women act so silly around him.”
    “It’s only for a few hours. Then he can fly back to glamorous Hollywood, where there are more people just like him.”
    “I’m sure you’re right,” Olivia said.
    “Of course I am. How’s Hildy?”
    Olivia sighed. “On top of the world. Elated. She’s already called Kevin, my stepson, and told him she has the starring role. When she doesn’t get it…”
    Casey took Olivia’s arm. “Kit will fix it. He’s good with problems.”
    “Not with all problems, dear,” Olivia said in a tone she’d not used before. “Some things are too much even for him.” Abruptly, she turned away and went down the aisle.
    Casey was close behind her. “What do you know about Kit? He’s a great mystery to all of us. He said—”
    “The curtain is rising,” Olivia said. “Shall we watch?”
    For a moment Casey gazed at Kit. He was so tall, with such a commanding presence, that all he had to do was look at a person and any questions stopped. What did Olivia know about him other than that he’d seen her on Broadway?
    As though he knew Casey was staring at him, Kit turned toward her, but his eyes revealed nothing. Feeling as though she was prying into something that wasn’t any of her business, she looked back at the stage.
    If anything, the second batch of women was worse than the first. During the break, Casey had heard the women explaining why they were there. When it was announced that Tate Landers was reading with women who auditioned for Elizabeth, everyone had been giddy. It was a chance to meet, even to speak to, a famous movie star. An