“Not romantic, merely determined,” Lucy replied with a resolute nod.
Minutes later, when Cass returned from the dance alone, Lucy snatched her into the corner with the two of them.
“What did he say?” Lucy’s own voice took on a high note this time.
Cass’s face was bright pink. She shook her head. “He paid me lovely compliments and said he should like very much to call upon me tomorrow. Oh, what am I going to do? I want to discourage him, but the words just will not come out of my mouth. I simper like a fool when he speaks to me. Not to mention that Mama has insisted that I encourage him. She’s been watching the entire time.”
Lucy and Cass turned their heads simultaneously to see Cass’s mother, Lady Moreland, eyeing them approvingly with a pleasant smile on her plump face. Clearly, the woman had visions of a dukedom dancing in her head.
Jane had pulled a book out of her reticule and was busily reading it, obviously no longer that interested in her friends’ antics. She pushed her spectacles up on her nose and nodded absently toward Lucy and Cass. “It’s too bad you two cannot switch bodies for the evening. I’ve every confidence that Lucy could set the duke back upon his heels in mere seconds.”
Lucy clapped her hands and Jane’s head snapped up from the book.
“That’s it!” Lucy cried.
“What’s it?” Cass asked, her eyes wide.
Lucy rubbed her gloved hands together with glee. “Jane’s perfectly right. Each of us is good at something different, correct?”
Jane eyed Lucy curiously. “I’m not entirely certain I follow.”
Lucy grabbed her friends’ hands. “I’m adept at speaking my mind and being quite blunt. It’s a curse, I know. I’ve never been able to curb my tongue. Mama’s told me often enough. And then of course there was the incident with the queen at my come-out.”
Cass bit her lip. “Yes, that was unfortunate.”
“A memory I rarely dwell upon, I assure you. But I long ago made peace with my reputation and my penchant for forthrightness.”
“Yes, you’re quite good at speaking your mind,” Cass agreed with a nod.
“And you are good at attracting gentlemen and looking stunning and befriending everyone you meet, Cass,” Lucy said.
Cass smiled at that. “I suppose I am.”
Lucy continued, “And Jane is good at—”
“Oh, this I simply cannot wait to hear,” Jane replied with something of a smirk on her face.
“Stop it,” Lucy replied. “You’re good at being exceedingly clever and knowing things none of the rest of us know. Why, if you were allowed to be in Parliament you would have negotiated the peace years ago and would have the taxes set to rights while you were at it.”
“Please tell that to my mother,” Jane said with a laugh. “She doesn’t quite see the merit in all my reading and writing.”
“I still don’t understand, Lucy,” Cass replied, her blue eyes cloudy with confusion.
“Don’t you see?” Lucy said. “We all must help one another. Help one another to get what we want. We’ll each do the thing the others cannot do and assist one another.”
“What do you mean?” Jane asked, looking more interested by the moment.
Lucy smiled brightly. “I want to marry well. I don’t need love or any of that nonsense, but I’m expected to make a decent match, if I can ever find a gentleman whom I can stand that is—” She drew in a breath. “To date, I’ve been a spectacular failure. I frighten gentlemen away. Cass can help me be more, ahem, attractive to men. Or at least not send them running.”
“Go on,” Cass prompted, blinking rapidly.
“And Janie, you want to remain entirely unattached, do you not?” Lucy asked.
“Absolutely!” Jane replied. “Entirely and forever.”
“Repelling gentlemen is my specialty. I can help you immensely.” Lucy laughed.
Jane smiled at that. “I need you to convince my mother that she can stop making me attend these odious social evenings.”
“I’ll help,” Lucy agreed.
“And Cass?” Jane asked.
Lucy pulled them both closer. “I already have a plan. Cass wants to have her chance with Julian, correct? True love and all that. But you can’t do it if your mother is encouraging the Duke of Claringdon and insisting that you accept his suit. I’ll be your voice, Cass. I’ll tell you exactly what words to use to dissuade the duke from pursuing you.”
“You will?” Cass’s eyes were round.
“Yes,” Lucy replied. “I shall help you with the duke. Now you must send him a note. We must get him out of this ballroom and away from your mother’s prying eyes.” Another quick glance at Lady Moreland assured them that her eyes were indeed, still prying. “Ask him to meet you outside tonight, beside the hedgerow in the gardens. I’ll hide behind the bushes and whisper what you need to say and you’ll repeat it.”