to do up here in the sticks. Time certainly hasn’t hung heavy so far.’
CHAPTER FIVE
INCONFIRMATION of this a message was waiting on Kate’s telephone when she got home that evening.
‘Richard Forster here, Kate. If you’re an Oscar Wilde fan The Importance of Being Earnest is on at the Playhouse this week. I can get tickets for Wednesday or Thursday if you’d like to see it. We could eat somewhere first—or after. Let me know.’
When Kate rang him Richard sounded so delighted to hear from her she wouldn’t have had the heart to say no even if she’d wanted to. Friendship with Jack Logan, she reminded herself stringently, needn’t exclude all other men from her life.
‘I love Oscar Wilde,’ she told him. ‘Thursday would be good. How are you?’
They chatted together for a while, arranged times and discussed eating places for their evening out, and Kate rang off at last, feeling rather pleased with life. Her good mood lasted for all of fifteen minutes, until Jack rang.
‘You’re hard to find,’ he said irritably. ‘You were out this morning, the line was engaged just now—and you’ve had your mobile switched off all day.’
‘And hello to you, too.’
‘Where were you?’
‘Out,’ she said baldly.
‘I gathered that. I went for a run in the park with Bran and called at your house afterwards.’
‘Apologise to Bran for me.’
‘I told you I’d call in next time.’
‘Surely you don’t expect me to hang around on the off chance! Anyway, now you’re on the line it saves writing to thank you for last night.’
‘The kiss was thanks enough,’ said Jack, in a tone that curled her toes. ‘Look, I’m tied up the first half of the week, but how about dinner on Thursday?’
‘Sorry,’ she said sweetly. ‘I’m going to the theatre that night.’
‘Pity,’ he said, after a pause. ‘Another time, then.’
‘Lovely. Goodnight, Jack—’
‘Hold it. Where were you today, Kate?’
She ground her teeth. ‘Sunday lunch with the Maitlands. Satisfied now?’
‘Not by any means. Goodnight.’
A slow smile spread across Kate’s face as he disconnected. How lucky that Richard had asked her out first. Otherwise she might have been tempted to say yes to Jack. Instead he could just wait until she invited him to supper with his father. She liked Richard Forster’s restful, unthreatening brand of charm, whereas there was something about Jack these days that made her uneasy. Not just the kiss last night, though that had been scary enough, if only because it made her crave more of the same. But she had a feeling that deep down, offers of friendship or not, he had some kind of hidden agenda. Kate’s eyes narrowed darkly. If there were any grudges to be harboured she had far more right to them than Jack. She’d been so young and trusting back then. She’d never dreamed that he would refuse to see her again after she left for London. She’d fondly believed that they’d kiss and make up once she made the first overture. She kept on believing it—right up to the day she heard Jack had married Dawn Taylor.
The next few days were fully occupied. Kate got up early each morning to work on her computer, and in the afternoons went on with her decorating. By Thursday the evening with Richard Forster was a welcome change from wielding a paint roller. The acting was good and the small theatre full, and afterwards they discussed the play over supper at a new restaurant near the Guildhall.
‘So how are you settling in?’ asked Richard later, over coffee Kate had asked for very deliberately so he wouldn’t expect any when he drove her home.
‘I’ve just finished painting my bedroom. Tomorrow the new mattress arrives and with luck I’ll have the room ready to sleep in by bedtime.’ She smiled cheerfully. ‘After that it’s one more room to go, and then I start on the garden.’
‘Do you like gardening?’
‘I used to when I was growing up here, but I haven’t done any for years. I’ve been watching TV gardening programmes lately to pick up tips.’
‘You might want to find someone to do the rough work if the garden’s been neglected,’ advised Richard.
‘It’s been kept in pretty good nick, fortunately, and it’s not big. I can easily manage it myself. I’ve invested in some spanking new garden tools, so once the weather gets warmer I’ll make a start.’
On the journey back to Park Crescent Richard asked if Kate was free for dinner on Saturday, but she shook her head.