Cass tugged on her gloves. “When he looks at me, I want to shrink back against the wall.”
Lucy had just opened her mouth to offer some additional comforting words when their third friend, Jane, came hurrying up. Jane had chestnut-brown hair, wide brown eyes that were framed by a pair of silver-rimmed spectacles, and a lovely face that she usually kept buried in a book. Despite Jane’s desire to remain unattached, Jane’s mother dutifully dressed her up and trotted her out at every ball every Season, hoping her bookish bluestocking of a daughter would eventually catch some gentleman’s eye. She never did. Which is precisely how Jane liked it.
Jane reluctantly spent her time at these affairs badly pretending to enjoy herself, famously scribbling notes for her future books, and biding the time until she grew old enough that her mother would give up and allow her to remain at home in peace.
And that was why, at the ripe old age of twenty-three, Cass, Lucy, and Jane were all solidly on the shelf.
“What’s happening?” Jane asked, slipping into line beside the two of them.
Still tapping her foot, Lucy shrugged. “I’m enjoying the music, and Cass here is hiding from a duke.”
Jane’s head snapped to the side. “A duke?”
“The Duke of Claringdon,” Cass replied in a hushed whisper. “He’s watching me.”
Jane snuck a glance at the duke. “Ooh, he is watching you. Who knew he’d be so large? And handsome? I expected him to have scars, perhaps be missing an ear or something.”
Cass slapped at Jane’s light blue sleeve. “Good heavens, that’s positively morbid. You and your writerly imagination.”
Lucy eyed the duke, arms crossed over her chest. “He doesn’t look as if he’s missing anything to me.” She shook herself. “But that’s not the point. If Cass isn’t interested, she isn’t interested.”
“Do not worry,” Jane replied, addressing her remarks to Cass. “Simply tell him so. He’s certain to immediately retreat. Men like him usually have enormous overconfidence that is easily deflated.”
Lucy glanced over at the duke, who was still eyeing Cass like a prize horse. “Something tells me it won’t be that simple. The man seems to be quite used to getting his way.”
Cass was busily smoothing her skirts, her eyes downcast. “Lucy’s right. But even if I wanted to, I couldn’t tell him I’m not interested. I’m not like you, Lucy. When I’m frightened, words completely leave my head. I wish I had a bit of your gift for witty repartee.”
Lucy snorted again. Oh, she might as well completely give up attempting to be ladylike. It just wasn’t in her. “And I wish I had your ability to keep my mouth shut when I ought.”
“It’s easy, truly. You simply have to— Oh good heavens, he’s coming over.” Cass’s voice reached a high note Lucy had never heard before.
“He surely will ask you to dance,” Lucy said, watching the duke’s inexorable advance.
“Just thank him and tell him you’re not in the mood for dancing at present. That should be that,” Jane added with a resolute nod.
“Be bold.” Lucy whispered her most famous bit of advice.
“Easy for you to say,” Cass squeaked.
Lucy squeezed Cass’s shoulder lightly. “We’ll be right here.” She and Jane moved quietly back toward the wall.
Cass took two brave, if shaky, steps forward to meet the duke. Lucy and Jane watched as the two spoke for a few moments—and the next thing Lucy knew, the duke led Cass onto the dance floor. Oh Cass, no. Lucy threw up her hands and turned to Jane. “She really does have a problem saying no to anyone.”
Lucy watched Cass and the duke whirl around the dance floor, Cass with her pretty honey-blond hair and the duke with his striking dark features.
“Poor Cass,” Jane whispered. “If she wasn’t so in love with Julian, she and the duke might make a beautiful couple actually.”
“She’d be miserable with Claringdon,” Lucy replied matter-of-factly. “Besides, I for one say she may well have a chance with Julian when he returns from the Continent.”
Jane arched a brow, giving her a highly skeptical look. “There are plenty of men to choose from. I’ve never understood why Cass is so set on that particular one.”
“She loves him, and I intend to assist Cass in remaining completely unengaged this Season until she can have her chance with Julian at last,” Lucy replied, twisting her mouth into a half smile.
“Why, Luce, I never realized what a romantic you are.” Jane sarcastically batted her eyelashes at her friend.