“One was that she didn’t make anything worse,” Jane pointed out.
“Oh, Meg, dear,” Cass finally said. “Do hear Lucy out. She wants to make things better for you.”
Meg crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Lucy. “How do you intend to do that? I’m quite through with your scheming. I believe I was entirely clear on the multiple occasions I told you that I never wanted Hart forced into marriage.”
Lucy cleared her throat and sat up straight. She glanced at Sarah as if to confirm her permission. Sarah nodded. “First, I would like to point out that you are married to the man of your dreams as a result of my scheming.”
Meg opened her mouth to retort.
“Lucy… you promised!” Sarah nearly shouted.
“I know. I know. But I think it’s a relevant fact that should not beentirelyoverlooked,” Lucy said.
“And?” Sarah prompted, eyeing Lucy warily.
Lucy turned back to face Meg. “Delilah has a great deal of potential as a plotter, but I’m afraid she’s still a bit rough around the edges. I would like to apologize for the method in which I carried out my plot. It was poorlydone of me.” Lucy finished by folding her hands in her lap.
“An apology?” Jane asked, scratching the tip of her nose with a finger. “I honestly didn’t think Lucy had it in her.”
“Of course I do.” Lucy sniffed and lifted her nose in the air. “I know when I’ve made a mistake and I can admit it.”
“Really?” Jane looked skeptical. “When was the last time you were wrong?”
Lucy’s brow wrinkled into a frown. “Well, I…” She tapped her finger against her cheek. “I…”
“I’ll wait,” Jane replied sweetly, batting her eyelashes at Lucy.
Lucy tilted her head to the side. “I’m certain there have been other times. I simply cannot remember any at the moment.”
“Please ladies, can we return to the matter at hand?” Cass asked. “Lucy was apologizing to Meg.”
“Yes,” Sarah added, nodding to Lucy again. “Go ahead, Lucy.”
Lucy straightened her shoulders. “As I said, I’m ever so sorry for the way in which I bungled things and I would like to offer my assistance in making everything right.”
Meg smoothed her hands over her skirts. “Thank you for the apology, Lucy, but I’m afraid there’s nothing you can do to make it right. I will, however, repay you for the expenses you incurred on my behalf for the gowns and—”
Lucy clenched her fists. “I don’t give a damn about the money for the gowns,” she nearly shouted.
All four ladies gasped. Lucy traced one brow with a fingertip and took a deep breath. “What I mean to say is, there must besomethingI can do. Tell me what Hart said to you last night and I’ll think of something to help.”
“He called me a liar,” Meg replied sweetly. She’d love to see Lucy Hunt talk her way out ofthiscircumstance.
“No!” Sarah gasped.
Lucy winced. “And?”
Meg took a deep breath. “And he accused me of orchestrating the entire charade in the garden along with you, Lucy.”
“No!” Cass said this time.
“But you must have… made up before you… you know?” Sarah’s face turned pink.
Meg’s cheeks burned, too.
“What? What is it, Meggie?” Sarah leaned forward and patted Meg’s knee.
“I can’t. I just can’t say.” Meg’s face was on fire.
