Page 27 of A Chance to Dance with the Duke
“No,” she murmured. “That would be difficult to deny.”
His smile made her heart gallop. He leaned in closer. “Miss Taylor, you are a true beauty, with a kind heart, and a quick wit. Not to mention, your decorum and talents and?—”
“I do believe you have made your point,” she interjected.
He dipped his head with a chuckle. “What do you say, Miss Taylor? Will you allow me to set things right?”
Her mother’s needles clicked once more, but Meg had no doubt she was straining to hear every word.
Did she have any choice then?
Humiliation might be burning her skin and making her stomach churn, but if her mother and father knew she’d rejected a Duke’s suit merely for the sake of her pride…
She swallowed down the sick sensation that made her feel more pitiful than ever, and forced a smile. “What exactly did you have in mind?”
9
Carver had never felt so awkward.
Then again, he’d neverbeenso awkward.
He was all the more aware of his own awkwardness as he studied Meg’s profile, so serene and sweet beside him in the landau.
They passed one curious onlooker after another in Hyde Park, and he resented her maid’s presence, even though he knew he ought to be grateful.
She wasn’t just maintaining propriety with her presence this afternoon. The maid was most likely keeping him from uttering something completely foolish while she was at it.
His words from the day before came back to him anew.I want the world to know I’m in love with you!
Had he really blurted it out like that?
And, far more worrisome…had he meant it? Was that what this sensation was? Was it love that had him blundering his words and acting so rashly?
She turned to face him, and Carver’s heart went wild.
Her smile was small and winsome. “It’s a lovely day for a ride in the park.”
You’re lovely.He swallowed the words. “Indeed.”
“And as there are so many others with the same intent, it works well for your agenda, I should say,” she added.
Again. This was the third time since he’d come to collect her for their ride that she’d reminded him of the reason they were there.
He hated it more every time she mentioned it.
Her gaze swept over the others out for a ride. “Surely all of thetonwill be wagging their tongues after seeing us together today.”
He made a noise of agreement, but his muscles tensed as he watched her fingers curl into her skirts before releasing the material just as quickly.
Was she as uncomfortable as he was?
If so, she was doing a better job of hiding it. Just as she’d been doing a better job of keeping up a steady stream of light chatter, and as she’d done a better job of navigating their conversation the day before.
It had been she who’d sketched out a list of…well,rules, he supposed. How long this farce would last. How it would end.
It was the ending that had seemed to concern her the most. Particularly how they would explain to her father that he hadn’t been in earnest.
Because this wasn’t real…
