The Girl from Summer Hill (4 page)

Jack, used to seeing spectacularly beautiful young women, could only stare.

“Darn!” Casey said loudly. “Gizzy didn't wear any makeup today. When she does, she's a knockout.”

Turning, Jack looked at Casey in disbelief, then gave a little guffaw of laughter. “Is that local humor?”

Casey smiled. “It is. If you want to meet her, I suggest you get over there fast or you'll lose your place.”

Three young workmen were putting down their hammers to go toward her. Jack covered the distance in just a few steps.

Olivia frowned. “That guy's a movie star. He'll leave soon. Gizzy's dad won't like that.”

“I have an ulterior motive. In high school, Jack played Mr. Bingley, and he doesn't have a movie until the fall. If he could be enticed to stay here and be in our little local play, we'll be sure to have sold-out performances. And since it's all for charity…”

Olivia smiled. “So you're dangling Gizzy in front of him as bait?”

“Oh, yeah. There always have to be sacrifices for the greater good.”

Olivia laughed. “Somehow, I don't think Gizzy is going to mind. But since you and Jack seem to get along so well, why don't you dangle yourself?”

“As much as I love Jack on the screen, seeing him in person isn't the same. Actually, I was wondering who the guy onstage is. He's not from around here. If I could act, I might try out for Lydia. Think I could pass for fifteen?”

“I think you should try for Elizabeth. Who's going to be Darcy?”

Casey lowered her voice. “Josh doesn't know it, but Kit plans to coerce him into playing the role.”

“Josh has no idea what's in store for him?”

“None, but if I've learned anything since I've been in Summer Hill, it's that Mr. Christopher ‘Kit' Montgomery gets whatever he wants. The owner of this warehouse said he would absolutely, positively
never
sell this place.” Casey waved her hand. “You see what happened there. So anyway, if I played Elizabeth, I'd be pretending to fall in love with my brother. Yuck!”

Olivia smiled. “I can see your problem. Too old for Lydia, Lizzy is out, and Jane…”

“Will be given to Gizzy.” She nodded toward the doorway. Jack and Gizzy were talking, and they made a very good-looking couple. As tall as Gizzy was, Jack was taller still, and her very feminine good looks were balanced by his rough handsomeness.

“I see you've done my work for me,” Kit said from behind them.

Immediately, Casey understood what he meant. “You must know that Jack doesn't have a movie until September and you probably know he played Bingley in high school. Did…” She paused. “Did the other one tell you?”

Kit's eyes widened. “Are you referring to my cousin Tatton as ‘the other one'?”

Casey shrugged. “Sounds like him to rat on his friends.”

Kit made a sound of astonishment. “I thought he was the heartthrob of all women.”

“Not this one,” Casey said. “You want something to eat? I have some of those orange crêpes you like.”

“No time now, but please save some for me.” He was studying her in speculation, as though trying to figure something out.

“So how are you going to get Jack to agree to be in the play?”

“I'm going to wait until he comes to me and begs for the role.” He looked at Olivia, lowered his voice, and spoke directly to her. “It was Elizabeth, but now it's to be Mrs. Bennet.” Turning, he walked away.

“What was that about?” Casey saw that Olivia's face was red.

“Nothing,” she said. “Do you think I should go buy some more pastries? Or cupcakes for lunch?”

“It's too early to know if we'll need them.” Casey was staring at her, but Olivia wouldn't meet her eyes. “Did Kit mean he wants
you
to play Mrs. Bennet?”

“I have no idea.” Olivia busied herself with rearranging food containers.

Three men came to the table asking for coffee and more doughnuts. Their conversation was full of “not fair” and “who does he think he is?” and “he should go back to Hollywood where he belongs.” When they left, Casey and Olivia burst into giggles.

Jack and Gizzy had moved out of the doorway but were still talking. When he caught Casey's eye, he excused himself and came over to the table. “You have any more of those…” He trailed off as he glanced at Gizzy, then back again. “She's smart and funny and as delicate as glass. I've never met anyone like her.”

Casey glanced at Olivia, then back at him. “Look, Jack, we don't know each other very well, but you'll have to trust me on this: Gizzy is
not
made of glass.”

Jack didn't seem to hear her. “She's trying out for Jane, and of course she'll get the part.” He hesitated. “I was thinking I might audition for Bingley.”

“What a great idea,” Casey said. “Have you asked Kit yet?”

“Yeah, but he doesn't like it. He said some L.A. guy will call me and I'll fly away and leave them hanging. But I'm free until September and I could stay at Tate's house.” He gave Casey a pleading look. “You'll cook for me? Fill that big shiny box in the kitchen?”

“I could do that.” Casey tried to sound as innocent as she could manage. “If you can persuade Kit, that is. Hey! I have an idea that might help your case. If you have some L.A. publicity people, maybe you could get them to promote the play. Tell Kit they'll do it for free. After all, it is for charity.”

“Brilliant idea,” Jack said. “I'll make some calls and get it done. Wish me luck.”

“I feel in my heart that Kit will consent to give you the role.”

Smiling, Jack went back to where Gizzy was waiting for him.

Olivia was shaking her head. “I'm worried whether you and your co-conspirator are going to get into heaven.”

“I think He forgives more when it's for charity. Besides, who knows? Maybe Jack and Gizzy will be a match.”

Casey and Olivia looked at each other. A lot of men fell for Gizzy's outward beauty, but when they got to know her, they were turned off. She was a fearless daredevil inside the body of an angel. “Nah,” they agreed. “It won't happen.”

At quarter to ten, the auditions began. The first was to be for the role of Lydia. Casting the part would get rid of twenty-some giggling, excited girls—and a few women who thought they could still pass for fifteen.

Kit, who would direct the play, told the girls that although the part of Lydia didn't have a lot of lines, it had to be believable that she had something about her that would attract an older man. True, she was giddy and frivolous. “But then, we men tend to like that,” he said in such a suggestive way that everyone laughed.

All the girls with
L
YDIA
on their badges went backstage, and as their turns came, they were helped into the high-waisted, low-cut dresses of the Regency era. Since the man playing Wickham was in costume, the girls would be too.

The first up was a local girl, a senior in high school, who was the head cheerleader and very popular. What she did and wore were constant topics of conversation among the girls at her school. The gossip was that three girls had dropped out because they were sure she'd get the role.

But she was awful! Olivia and Casey stood in the back, watching in horror as the girl showed what she thought was sexy. She played Lydia like a forty-year-old vamp from a black-and-white movie. All that was missing was a cigarette dangling from her lips.

When she finished, Kit graciously thanked her and she left the stage, smiling as though she knew she had the role.

Josh was standing by the food tables. “You have any more—?”

“Help yourself.” Casey looked at Olivia. In silent agreement, they hurried down the center aisle to sit in the row beside Kit, who was behind a temporary desk.

“Did you come to watch a catastrophe?” Kit said under his breath.

“Oh, yes,” Casey said. “So far it's more exciting than Jack Worth's last movie. Did you accept his offer of free publicity?”

“Of course. Next!” he said loudly, then removed an envelope from his pile of papers, reached across Casey, and handed it to Olivia.

She opened it, began to pull out a photo, then quickly put it back inside.

“What's that?” Casey asked.

“Nothing.” Olivia's eyes were fixed straight ahead, on the stage.

Kit was also looking at the stage, where a girl was waiting. “Begin.”

The second audition was as bad as the first. The girl stuttered over her lines and tripped on her skirt.

“My kingdom for some popcorn,” Casey said.

It took two hours to get through all the auditions. They were mostly bad. The girls couldn't seem to disassociate real life from the character they were playing.

As for the man—Casey learned his name was Devlin Haines—he was excellent. No matter how many times he said his lines, they were always with feeling.

“Studied in New York,” Kit said when Casey asked about him. “Gave up acting when he got married and had a kid. Said he needed the security of a regular job.”

“Married?” Casey's voice showed that she didn't like that news.

“I believe he is now divorced.”

“Interesting.” Casey turned her attention back to the next audition. This Lydia—who was thirty if she was a day—said, “Shouldn't we kiss? That would make the scene more believable.”

“Not in Austen,” Kit said. “But maybe next time we'll do
Fanny Hill
.”

“What's that?” she asked, but Kit didn't answer. Olivia and Casey had to bend forward to hide their faces so their laughter couldn't be seen.

By noon everyone was hungry and wanted a break, but Kit said there was one more girl they should see.

The girl who'd taken the pastry and juice came onstage. She had on the costume but wore a big cardigan over it, and she still looked so shy that they wondered if she'd speak.

“You're Lorraine Youngston?” Kit asked.

“Yes, and it's Lori Young,” she answered rather timidly.

“She's spending the summer with her grandmother at the lake,” Kit said to Casey and Olivia, then louder, “Begin, please.”

Lori took her time removing her sweater and putting it on a chair. The stage hadn't been fully set but there were a few Regency-style props scattered about.

For the audition, Kit had written a scene that wasn't in the book and wouldn't be in the play—it was the first time Lydia and Wickham were alone.

Everyone watched as Lori walked across the stage to stand in front of Devlin. Then she changed. In a flash, she went from shyly slumping to shoulders back, her chest stuck out. When she smiled at Devlin, for a moment he seemed to lose his composure.

Her quick change in personality was similar to what Jack had done earlier. Casey looked at him, standing against the wall, and mouthed, “Like you.” Nodding in agreement, Jack gave a thumbs-up.

Lori's performance was mesmerizing. She smiled and laughed—and tempted. Devlin, who had been so in charge in all the other auditions, so perfectly in control, twice stumbled over his lines.

When Lori finished, she abruptly put her concealing sweater back on, resumed her shy expression, and stood there looking at Kit.

He took a moment, then said, “Thank you, Lydia. Shall we break for lunch?”

Lori left the stage, smiling in a quiet, unassuming way.

As they were serving lunch, Casey realized that she'd left six pies on the counter at her house. They were already having to supplement with food and desserts from local stores, so they needed the pies. Besides, she'd promised some people a slice of her berry custard pie.

She saw that Gizzy and Jack were sitting close together in a corner, full plates on their laps. She asked him if she could borrow the truck and said, no, there was no need for him to drive her there and back.

Jack handed her the keys and as she headed for the door, Casey told Olivia that she'd be back in a few minutes.