Page 47 of A Chance to Dance with the Duke
No. Likely not.
But he could try not to embarrass her as well. So he bided his time, greeting Albright when he passed, and then Rodrick and Franny.
He was waiting for his moment. But every time he risked a glance in Meg’s direction, she was in the midst of conversation with someone. Her parents flanked her on either side, and she seemed to be the center of attention with every guest who came to pay their respects to her father.
After his friends had moved on, Carver was startled by the arrival of one of Meg’s friends.
Franny’s sister Ann suddenly appeared at his side, fitting neatly in the small space between him and Kal.
“Good evening Your Grace, m-my lord.” She had her chin held high, but there was a tension about her as if she’d instantly regretted her decision to approach.
Carver found his manners first. “Miss Ann, how do you do?”
Kal said nothing, but his gaze was fixed on the girl. Ann didn’t miss it either if her blush and sidelong glance in Kal’s direction were anything to go by.
“Can I help you, Miss Ann?” Carver asked, hoping to break the tension that his too-serious cousin was making worse.
“D-do you…” She stopped and wet her lips. Then she drew in a deep breath. “Do you wish to marry my friend?”
He blinked, once. Twice. As he gaped down at the adorable little redhead, he felt like an ogre.
Anakedogre.
He had the unnerving sensation she was seeing straight through him.
“Because I think you do,” she said bluntly.
Yes. Clearly she saw right through him.
And despite the quietness of her voice, and the stammering which he knew she was teased for…there was a strength to her tone that had him straightening as if he were being confronted by a general.
He glanced at Kal to see if he noticed it too, and found that Kal was still staring at Ann, now with a fixed intensity that startled him.
But Ann ignored his stare and focused on Carver instead. “If you do…wish to m-marry Meg, that is…”
He found himself waiting to hear the rest of what she had to say with baited breath.
“Then tell her so,” she finally said after a long pause. Belatedly, she added, “Please.” And then, “Your Grace.”
Kal’s lips were twitching with barely restrained mirth as he turned to Carver. “You heard the girl. Go tell her how you feel before you make even more of a mess than you already have.”
Ann’s eyes widened with surprise but she muttered an excuse he couldn’t quite make out and then…
She ran.
And Kal’s gaze followed her until she disappeared into the crowd.
“Does that mean…” Carver started.
He had to stop to catch his breath because hope filled his veins with a fizzy feeling like he’d just downed a bottle of champagne. “Does she want…”
Even if he could have finished that thought, he wouldn’t have. Kal’s glare was far too frightening. “That’s a matter you ought to discuss with your intended, don’t you think?”
Carver nodded, his feet already carrying him toward the parlor where he’d last seen Meg with her family.
He found her, looking so dazzlingly beautiful, he forgot how to breathe, how to speak…
How to do anything more than gape at her for far too long.
