The Girl from Summer Hill Read Online Free PDF Page A

filling mugs from the big urn, while Olivia opened more boxes of doughnuts. The tables were soon surrounded by workmen getting coffee and pastries—and they didn’t seem to want to leave. “At this rate someone will have to make another run to the bakery,” Casey said. “I think I’m jealous. What did they put into these that makes them so popular?”
    “It’s not the doughnuts, it’s the Lydias. And the girls are here for Wickham,” Olivia said. “Look.”
    A table had been set up by the exterior door, and names were being taken and badges handed out. All the
Pride and Prejudice
characters were represented, but Lydia was four to one. Many women had a badge saying L YDIA clipped to their shirts.
    “What in the world is going on? I thought there’d be a lot of competition for the lead roles.”
    Olivia nodded toward the stage. There in the center, talking to Kit, was a very handsome man. Dark-brown hair, broad shoulders, all of it encased in the red uniform worn by the officers in Meryton.
    “Another one!” Casey said under her breath.
    “Another one what?” Olivia asked.
    “Beautiful man. It’s my day for them. I’m beginning to feel like a magnet attracting bits of very pretty steel.”
    “Hey, Casey!” Josh called from atop some scaffolding. “You gonna try out for Lydia?”
    “No, but I think
you
should try out to be Wickham.”
    There was a collective gasp from half a dozen young women who gazed up at him with smiles and fluttering eyelashes.
    “I’ll get you for that.” Grinning, Josh returned to plastering the wall, his back to the girls.
    Eight of the Lydias hurried to Casey.
    “Do you think Josh will play—”
    “Will he audition with—”
    “Can he wear a uniform?”
    “Have no idea. Doubt it. Absolutely not,” Casey said. “Who wants an eight-hundred-calorie pastry?”
    All the girls backed away except for one. She too had L YDIA pinned to her top, but she didn’t look like the other girls, all of whom had on enough makeup to start a business. This girl was pretty and blonde, tall and thin, and she kept her head down as though she was too shy to meet Casey’s eyes. She took her doughnut and a mug of orange juice and went to the side of the room to sit down and read her copy of
Pride and Prejudice
.
    “What an extraordinarily pretty young woman,” Olivia said in such a way that Casey glanced at her. She was about to ask a question that might get Olivia to reveal something about herself, but Jack came to the table.
    “Where have you been?” Casey asked. “Hiding from the autograph seekers?”
    “Are you kidding?” he said. “All the prettiest girls are chasing the uniform.” He looked toward the stage, where the man in red was contemplating the girls sitting in the front row. It was a whole line of Lydias.
    “You poor guy,” Casey said, “but I’ll tell you a secret.” She leaned toward him. “I just saw Reverend Nolan’s van pull up.”
    “What does that mean?”
    She stepped behind him, put her hands on his shoulders, and turned him to face the exterior door. “Keep your eyes on that doorway and you’ll see what I mean.” She went back to the other side of the table.
    “I take it this means Gizzy Nolan is going to audition,” Olivia said. “Elizabeth or Jane?”
    “Sorry,” Casey said. “She’s going for Jane.”
    “Poor Hildy,” Olivia said.
    Jack was watching the doorway but nothing was happening. He was about to turn away when an incredibly pretty girl walked in. She paused a few steps in and looked around. The bright outdoor light was behind her and a breeze moved her long, thick hair. The shape of her was extraordinary, tall and slim but with a magnificent bosom. Small waist, curvy hips, and long, long legs. But her body was nothing compared to her beautiful face. She was like the princesses described in fairy tales: blonde hair, eyes like sapphires, full pink lips.
    Jack, used to seeing spectacularly beautiful young women, could only