But Casey lifted her hands and blocked his touch. “I wouldn’t have you if—”
Tate had taken both her wrists in his hands. Slowly and seductively, he kissed her palms. He looked at her with heavy-lidded eyes, as though he expected her to fall into his arms and forgive him all.
Casey felt nothing. His action was so false, so meant-to-impress, that she had no response. She gave him a cool gaze. “Sir! I demand that you release me.”
Tate was so shocked that she knew she’d struck home. He’d used his most seductive acting maneuvers on her and had failed.
He dropped her hands and stood there staring at her, seeming to have no reply.
Casey couldn’t resist an extra punch. “Tonight I will enjoy dining with the brother-in-law you have discarded.” When she saw that she’d rendered him speechless, she went back to the script—and there was genuine venom in her voice. “ ‘From the first moment I heard you speak, I have seen your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain for others—all of which have built within me an unbreakable dislike of you.’ ”
She stepped so close to him that her breasts were almost touching his chest, and she looked up into his eyes. She was glad to see that she’d erased the smugness from them. “ ‘Sir! If you were the last man on earth, I would not marry you.’ ”
Tate stepped back from her. “ ‘That is enough! I understand your feelings and am now fully ashamed of my own. Forgive me for taking so much of your time. I wish you health and happiness in your life.’ ” Turning, he left the stage.
Casey stood where she was, watching him walk away, his steps angry, then she started to walk toward the other side to leave.
That’s when the cheering erupted. Startled, she turned toward the audience and saw that everyone was applauding and calling out. Electricians in the rafters, gardeners from outside, all the women, everyone was clapping and shouting.
“You go, Casey!” they yelled.
“Tell him for us!”
“Brilliant!”
Casey felt blood rushing to her face. During the…whatever it had been, she’d forgotten about the people watching. She had only been aware of shooting barbs back and forth with that detestable man.
However, the applause and the cheers did feel good. She gave a bit of a curtsy, then ran off the stage.
Jack opened the door of the Big House.
“I’m sorry this is such a simple meal, but the auditions ran late.” Casey was standing outside the entryway. “Plus, I have a dinner guest coming soon, so I didn’t have much time to prepare.” She held out a big basket to him.
He took it and opened the door wider. He was grateful for his own acting experience because he was able to keep smiling. Tate had returned to the house looking like he wanted to murder someone—and it was a toss-up between his ex-brother-in-law and Casey. All Jack had been able to get out of him was that Haines was going to play Wickham and Casey was his champion. Jack wanted to hear everything that had happened.
But when he asked Casey to come in, she backed away, her hands raised in horror. “No thanks. I have to get ready for dinner, and besides, it’s been a very long day.”
“Mind if I walk you back?”
“Please do,” she said.
He put the basket down and they walked toward the guesthouse. “I heard that you auditioned for the role of Elizabeth Bennet.”
“Not really,” she said. “I mean, I did sort of.”
“What did Kit say about it?”
Casey stopped walking. “Sorry, but…Men! The audition was a fiasco. I got really angry and was embarrassed by what happened, but people cheered and—” She waved her hand. “Kit loved it. He was ecstatic. I was still in the dressing room when he came in and told me I was going to be Elizabeth. Then he left. Just like that! He made an autocratic decree about me, and added—like it meant nothing—that the movie star was probably going to play Darcy. Then Kit just walked away like it was a done deal. I ran after him and told him I’d sooner cook with aluminum pans, let my knives get dull, whatever, than be in a play with Tate Landers. I said— Oh.” She looked at Jack. “Sorry again. I know he’s your friend, but he makes me furious. But then, if you spend a lot of time around him, I’m sure you’re used to women saying that.”
“No, actually,” Jack said, “you’re the first.”
They were at the guesthouse. “I suspect the women were too dazzled by his good looks to notice what he’s really like. If he were ugly, women wouldn’t have anything to do with him.”