Not that she was in love; she wasn’t. But she was close to it, she knew. If she looked down at her toes, she was certain they’d be flush against the line that marked friendship and love.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be a good idea to allow her relationship with Devon to progress into a more physical area. Perhaps—

“Hmph. I can see why ye’re hesitant about takin’ up wid the Sassenach. He’s well enough if ye like the tall, handsome, wealthy, titled sort o’ man.”

Kat sighed. “Don’t start, Annie.”

“Lord love ye, Miss Kat, but what’s not to like in a man like that?”

Kat wisely didn’t answer. She dug deeper in the wardrobe, but found nothing else even approaching an acceptable evening gown. “I should have never let Murien goad me so.”

“Aye, ye haven’t a decent gown.”

“I know, I know. But I cannot refuse to attend now.”

Annie snorted. “She taunted ye, did she? Now ye’ll go, come heaven or hell, come good weather or bad. Ye’ll go if ye have to walk the whole way barefoot and naked as the day ye were born.”

“I was rather hoping I could find something less dramatic to wear than my bare skin,” Kat said dryly. “Unfortunately, my wardrobe does not extend into our present decade.” She touched the sky-blue gown on the bed and sighed. “It looks as if I’m going to have to play the part of rustic dowd for the night or not go at all.”

From her position perched on the edge of the bed, Annie picked up the gown and shook it out. “Won’t this do? ’Tis of quality silk, and the color would look good on ye.”

“It’s sorely out of fashion. I’ll be a laughingstock, I suppose, but that’s nothing new. At least I won’t be sitting at home, moping about because some puffed-up piece of fluff ordered me to stay away. To Hades with Murien Spalding and her airs.”

“That’s the spirit, Miss Kat!” Annie jumped up off the bed, her thin face resolute. “And I’ll help ye, I will. I might have time to turn this gown into something acceptable, if we keep things simple.”

“Annie!” Kat said, touched by her housekeeper’s show of spirit. “Thank you.”