Page 10 of A Chance to Dance with the Duke
Felicity’s smile was sudden and bright. “Yes! You’re right, Meg.Hisactions might have been wicked, but that doesn’t change the fact that you were brilliant.”
“Youwerebrave, Meg.” Jane’s voice was quiet as ever, but the awe in her tone made Meg blush.
Ann nodded vigorously. “We all admire you tremendously. I’m not sure I could ever be so courageous.”
“Don’t be silly, Ann. You’re always brave,” Felicity said with a look of irritation. “Nearly every week you face your fears when you attend society functions.”
Ann smiled at that. “I do, don’t I?”
Meg laughed, along with Jane, but Meg’s laughter faded under Felicity’s meaningful stare.
Meg leaned back, away from her friend. “Felicity…why are you staring at me like that?”
“Because you’re brave too, Meg.” With an arched brow she added, “Typically.”
Meg’s cheeks grew warm as she shifted in her seat. “If this is about the Garners’ dinner party…”
“No one blames you for not wanting to attend,” Ann said quickly.
“No, indeed,” Felicity added. She wrinkled her nose as she looked toward the window as if Carver’s carriage might be out there right now. “And you don’t owe that man the courtesy of a visit after what he did. However…” She looked to Jane and Ann, and by their silent communication, Meg just knew they’d already discussed this prior to coming.
Her shoulders sank as she waited for it…
“You cannot hide away forever, Meg,” Ann said softly.
Meg nodded, her throat tight. “I know that. But…I’m certain everyone is still talking…”
They exchanged another look, and not one of them tried to deny it.
Jane shifted, her cheeks turning bright pink. “Carver asked after you.”
Meg straightened. “Pardon?”
“At the dinner party. I had to go. My father thought the Earl would be there, and…” Jane’s wry smile seemed all wrong for such a sweet girl. “He wasn’t, of course.”
Jane’s fiancé was renowned for being…elusive. He seemed to care not one whit what his bride-to-be was doing with her time, and made no attempts to accompany her in public.
Did he have any notion how humiliating his lack of attention was to the shy girl?
She hoped not. If he understood how hurtful he was by ignoring his betrothed, he wasn’t just neglectful—he was outright cruel.
“The Earl wasn’t there.” Jane met Meg’s gaze. “But Carver was, and he…he seemed disappointed that you would not be attending.”
Ann nodded. “He asked me about you as well. He wanted to know if you’d be at the Turners’ ball.”
Meg’s jaw dropped. She’d known he’d come to pay her a call. Twice, actually. Not that she’d tell the others that. And she’d suspected he meant to make amends.
According to her mother, the aunt who’d raised him had privately apologized on his behalf already. So yes, he’d no doubt been guilted into doing the chivalrous thing, especially as no one ever wished to offend her father.
But she’d rather hoped he’d given up.
Felicity wrinkled her nose. “He asked me as well. But I told him he had no business knowing your plans.”
Meg smiled at Felicity’s hard tone. She had no doubt her friend had made it abundantly clear just what she thought of the young Duke.
“The point is, dear,” Ann said, leaning forward to grasp her hand. “It was wonderfully brave of you to see through the dare and to say yes…”
“Very brave,” Jane added with an enthusiastic nod.
