Page 33 of A Chance to Dance with the Duke
To think, Rodrick had spentyearspining after Franny. Even after they’d formed an arrangement, the young lord had believed it merely a marriage of convenience on her part.
It was only recently that the two cleared up any misunderstandings about their feelings and finally faced the fact that they were both well and truly smitten with one another.
Carver straightened his cravat, nodding to an acquaintance or two as he followed Kal into the parlor where his friends were gathered.
“So you’ve agreed to share Franny at last,” Carver joked when he greeted Rodrick. “Her family must be so pleased that you’ve finally let her out of your sights.”
Well used to the ribbing, Rodrick ducked his head with a smile. “Not willingly, I’ll admit. But it’s been pressed upon me that it’s not attractive to be so doting.”
“Franny said that?” Albright asked in surprise.
“No. My mother.” Rodrick’s wince was good natured. “But, fortunately for me, our families have agreed to move the wedding forward. So we won’t be apart for much longer.”
“That is good news,” Albright said with a grin.
His felicitations were not surprising. Albright had always been eager to marry—hence his quick engagement nearly the moment he was of age.
What was far more surprising was Kal’s nod of encouragement. “Well done, Rodrick.”
Carver arched his brows and exchanged an amused look with Albright at Kal’s expense. But Rodrick changed the topic before either could comment on Kal’s uncharacteristically optimistic take on an upcoming wedding.
“I hear you may be next to marry,” Rodrick said to Carver, laughter making his eyes glint.
Carver winced. He supposed he deserved some teasing. His gaze trailed over the crowd that was rapidly filling this small room, and he turned to Kal. “Where is she? Your mother said she’d be here.”
“It’s still early, Romeo,” Rodrick said. “If Miss Taylor has agreed to attend this evening, then I’m sure she will be here.”
Carver turned to Rodrick. “Did Franny say she’d be here?”
Rodrick’s brows arched in surprise. “I haven’t spoken to her today. She’s already left with her mother to visit family.”
“What about her sister?” Kal asked.
Carver and the other two turned to him in surprise.
Kal looked as cool as ever, but Carver’s eyes narrowed on his cousin. There was something about his nonchalance that felt a bit…off. Forced, even.
Rodrick’s eyes widened slightly. “Pardon?”
“Franny’s sister,” Kal clarified. “The girl with the auburn hair. I thought I saw her earlier. She’s a friend of Miss Taylor’s, is she not? She’d know if Carver’s young lady will be here tonight.”
Carver’s young lady.
Carver’s heart leapt. Oh, he liked that moniker far too much. But Carver glanced at Albright, who was watching Kal closely as well.
It seemed he wasn’t the only one who thought Kal was acting oddly.
Rodrick nodded eagerly. “Ann? Yes, you’re right. Ann is a close friend of Miss Taylor’s. In fact…”
Rodrick’s gaze grew sly as he slid an amused look in Carver’s direction. “They’re so close that Ann is well aware of your plan, Your Grace. She told Franny all about it, too. And I must warn you, my beloved fiancée will be watching you closely to ensure you don’t hurt that girl again—intentionally or not.”
TheYour Graceonly made it that much clearer that he was being mocked. His friend’s were only ever deferential when they were in jest.
“Miss Taylor told her friends of your true intentions,” Albright mused. “That’s interesting.”
Carver lifted a shoulder, feigning indifference, but really…he was wondering how to ask all the questions that filled his head.What exactly did she say? How does she feel about it? What did she say about me?
But his friends would only pounce if he gave in to the urge to pry. So he feigned indifference as he shrugged. “Who Miss Taylor confides in is her concern, not mine.”
