“I’m sorry about all of tonight—not just then,” he said. “It was probably my fault we argued. I know you can cope with the business alone—but I can’t stop being a father and trying to help…so I get in your way.”

“It’s okay. Really, Dad,” she insisted. “I lost it as well. It’s my awful temper. And I’ve had a busy week too.”

“So…you went to the theatre to get away from us all,” her father said. “You enjoyed it, I can tell. There is a look in your eyes…” He frowned and lifted her chin with his fingers, to examine her more closely. “You look as if you have been kissed tonight. Have you and Hugh already made up?”

She turned back to the percolator and her coffee cup and tried to maintain an even voice, despite the sudden thump of her heart. Could he really perceive that much in her face? “I haven’t seen him since I left you two in your study this evening. I assumed he’d stay here tonight.”

She felt her father move back to his seat at the table. “I don’t know,” he said candidly. “He might have. I offered him the guest room as usual but we ended up working in different rooms and I didn’t see him after that.”

“Neither have I.”

“You look quite different in that dress, Anna. With your hair down and in this light. I thought you were Kate for a moment and it startled me.”

Anastasia felt herself go cold. “Really?” she said, over her shoulder, forcing her voice to sound casual. This dress was like what her mother would have worn?

Her thirst evaporated. She pushed the half-made coffee to one side. “I’m going to bed.”