Sarah laughed. “Hardly. Theytolerateour friendship, but only because Meg insisted to our parents when they had their falling-out that she didn’t care what had transpired between them, she refused to lose her closest friend as a result.”
Lucy’s eyes widened, and regarded Meg with respect in their depths. “Well done of you, Miss Timmons. I’m impressed.”
Meg gave Lucy a tentative smile. Sarah’s parents had allowed Meg into their home, but she’d never been truly welcomed there.
“Don’t let her fool you,” Sarah said, squeezing Meg’s hand and smiling at her. “Our Meggie has a spine of steel.”
“I’ve recently learned as much,” Lucy said with a sigh.
This time Meg gave Lucy a what-are-you-doing look. If Lucy forgot herself and revealed their plan to Sarah, Meg would never forgive the duchess. Sarah had told Meg often enough that Hart would break her heart.
Lucy flourished a hand in the air and addressed Sarah again. “Regardless of your parents’ silly concerns, Hart is one of the only remaining bachelors I know. Most of my friends have been properly married recently. Frankly, your loving husband, Berkeley, used to be the one I’d ask to do such things, but you’ve snapped him right off the marriage mart.” Lucy winked at Sarah. “Besides, it’s only a dance, for heaven’s sake. Surely your parents can abide one dance. We’ll wait right here while you speak to your brother.”
Meg closed her eyes, wanting the floor to open and swallow her. This was not how she’d envisioned this evening. In her mind’s eye, she’d pictured herself floating into the ballroom wearing this gorgeous gown, Hart seeing her and losing his breath, rushing to her side to ask her to dance posthaste, and falling in love with her that very evening. Of course, she’d known that wasn’t likely, but it was also a far cry from Sarah cajoling her brother into asking Meg to dance.
“Lucy, I simply don’t think Hart will agree,” Sarah began. “He’s on the hunt for a wife these days and is spending his time looking for one.” Sarah paused and gave Meg a sympathetic smile.
“Has he found anyone yet?” Lucy asked while Meg held her breath and said a brief prayer to the heavens that the answer would be no.
“No,” Sarah said.
Meg expelled her breath.
“He seems wholly uninterested in everyone here,” Sarah continued, shaking her head.
“Perfect,” Lucy replied. “Then perhaps a turn around the room with Meg will give him a new perspective.”
Meg wanted to elbow Lucy in the ribs, but she remained frozen in her spot, a calm smile (the exact opposite of how she felt) plastered on her face.
“What if I cannot get him to agree?” Sarah tossed Meg another sympathetic look. This time it included a telling wince.
Lucy crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her fingertips against the opposite elbows. “Oh come now, dear. You are a younger sister. I suspect you know thepreciseway to persuade your brother to do something you think he might otherwise decline.”
That appeared to stump Sarah. She knitted her dark brows together and tapped her slippered foot against the parquet floor. “He tends to do the opposite of what Father tells him to do.”
“Excellent,” Lucy exclaimed, while Meg fumbled in her reticule for her fan. It had become exceedingly hot in the ballroom, and she had no doubt this was going to end in tragedy like a sad Shakespearean play.Hamlet?Macbeth? PerhapsKing Lear.
Meg was still contemplating tragedies when Lucy cleared her throat. “Go and tell your brother you overheard your father say how desperately he hopes toneversee Hart dancing with Meg.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Sarah was midway through her explanation of why Hart should ask Meg Timmons to dance when Hart made up his mind that he would do exactly that. There were several reasons for his decision. First, Sarah had never asked for his help before, and elevating the status of her friend in the marriage mart was not too great a favor to ask. He would do anything for his sister.
Second, his father would hate it, as Sarah had just finished pointing out. Riling his father might be the only entertainment Hart claimed at this mind-numbingly boring event.
Third, Hart was going to ask Miss Timmons to dance because he wanted to. Although she was exceedingly ineligible for him tomarry, she was the only young lady who’d impressed him enough to ask for a dance.
Fourth, he was intrigued by the notion that Sarah apparently thought his reputation so great he could somehow turn an infamous wallflower into a sought-after dance partner.
Fifth, he couldn’t stop remembering the kiss they’d shared in the park. Had the passion he’d felt from the little miss been a figment of his imagination? What sort of dance partner would she be? Laughing and entertaining? Coy and flirtatious? Or quiet and shy, which had been his assumption about her all these years until that kiss.
He’d learned that night how much she truly cared for Sarah. She’d put herself in danger in more ways than one, and she’d done it because she was concerned about Sarah’s future. Clearly, Miss Timmons was good at heart. Was there more to his sister’s friend that he’d yet to learn? Hart decided to find out. It was time to stop avoiding Meg Timmons.
***
Meg soon discovered that a new gold ball gown, straightened hair, and some rouge, did, in fact, serve to elevate her from the status of wallflower. A discovery that was a bit disconcerting to her. Being lonely and ignored had always held a sad sort of comfort. She’d attempted to resume her usual position on the outskirts of the ball. Only this time she had company in the form of the dashing Duchess of Claringdon whose lovely, popular friends kept stopping by to greet her. One did not simply hide in the corner when one was accompanied by Lucy Hunt.
As a result, Meg had made the acquaintance of the Viscount and Viscountess of Cavendish, Lord Owen Monroe and his lovely wife, Alexandra, and Sir and Lady Cavendish, the viscount’s twin brother, Cade,and his wife, Danielle. These glittering, gorgeous people were nothing but kind to Meg, and after some time had passed, she took a perverse sort of pleasure in her newfound popularity.
