“Up, ye sleepyhead!” Annie called out merrily. “Ye’ve a bath to take and measurements to take afore I cut the cloth for yer gown.”

Kat started to sit upright, but then remembered that she was as naked as the day she was born. Belatedly she snatched up the cover and held it before her.

Simon and Hamish were still arguing in heated whispers about a meeting of some sort, and had missed her error. But Annie’s eyes widened, her gaze seeking and then finding the discarded night rail pooled on the floor. That sent Annie scurrying, admonishing the men to begin fetching the pails of water as soon as it was hot. She whisked them from the room and closed the door.

“Och, Miss Kat, ye went and fergot yer night rail. ’Tis on the floor.” Annie placed Kat’s old ball gown over the back of a chair and went to collect the forgotten night rail.

Kat held the covers a bit tighter. “I, ah, got very hot last night. So I took it off and threw it on the floor. I meant to pick it up, but I slept in.”

“Hmph.” Annie’s gaze scrutinized her features. “I canno’ fer the life o’ me believe ye were so hot that ye took off yer rail. ’Twas cool last night after the rain.”

Kat didn’t know what to answer, so instead she glanced at the old gown and said, “I’d forgotten about the ball.”

Annie stopped, astonishment on her face. “How can ye say that? ’Tis to be a grand affair.”

“I know, I know! I’m just a little—” What was the word? In lust? She certainly wasn’t in love, that would require…well, it would require a man who was capable of caring about one for more than a two-month period.

A little of her happiness dimmed. He would leave soon, and she needed to remember that, first and foremost. Her heart sank as she realized how soon he would be gone. “I am looking forward to the ball.” If nothing else, it might well be one of her last chances to see him, talk to him, laugh with him.

Ever.

Somehow, before this moment, the enormity of that fact had escaped her. In a way, she’d used it as a shield to protect her from caring too much. But somehow she had allowed her heart to become entangled. She loved him. With all her heart, she loved him.

The realization stole her breath. Tears threatened to clog her throat. Good God, when had that happened?

She loved a man who had plainly told her that he would not, could not love her.