Epilogue

EPILOGUE

" L ook, they're dancing again!" Felicity sat on the edge of her seat, watching from their table in the corner as the music started up once more. "I've never seen Meg so happy."

Jane craned her neck, but the fern still blocked her from view.

This was the downfall of hiding in corners. But, what Jane lacked in views, she made up for in evading attention.

There was an odd comfort that came with being invisible, and as it was one of the rare comforts Jane was allotted at events such as this one—she had no intention of giving it up anytime soon.

Of course, once she was married…

She shoved the thought out of her mind. She had no idea what to expect once she was married. The man she was to wed had never once spoken to her about his expectations in that regard.

She had to assume that as he'd not gone into this engagement blindly, he was not expecting her to be some charismatic, outgoing hostess.

Was he?

She nibbled on her lower lip. She supposed that was a question she ought to ask next time he visited.

And despite what everyone believed…he did visit her. He didn't entirely ignore her existence. Once a month he dutifully called upon her.

But Jane far preferred to be ignored. His visits were painful. They were brutal, really. He glared at her. Not in anger. It just seemed to be his default expression.

He'd ask some terse questions about something tedious….

How she was enjoying the weather, perhaps. Or what progress she'd made on her embroidery.

A shudder of apprehension rippled through her at the realization that one of these horrid visits was fast approaching.

Which was easier to bear than the realization that one day in the not-too-distant-future she'd be forced to share a home with the man. Interact with him on a regular basis, not just once a month.

Her stomach turned abruptly.

"Jane?" Ann leaned forward, her red hair dangling in front of Jane's distant gaze. "Are you all right?"

Jane blinked herself back to the present, and sighed with relief. She wasn't married yet. And it would be days before the Earl came for another visit.

She was safe amongst friends…for now.

"I didn't sleep well last night," she said.

This was true. She rarely slept well in the nights leading up to a visit. She spent too many hours staring at the ceiling fretting over what he'd ask, what she'd say….

"Do you see the way the others are staring?" Felicity's voice was laced with laughter, and Jane found herself smiling without even knowing the cause.

"Who is staring?" Ann asked.

Both Jane and Ann shifted to follow Felicity's gaze. Ann let out a loud laugh. Jane's giggle was far quieter, but she shared a look of amusement with Felicity.

The same ladies who'd sneered and laughed when Carver had hurt Meg's feelings at that first ball of the season were watching in ill-disguised jealousy as he danced with Meg now.

Their dancing was a bit chaotic. Some missed steps. And Meg stumbled now and again. But no one was laughing. Because the way they were gazing into one another's eyes was something to swoon over, not laugh at.

Their smiles were so genuine, the look of adoration in their expressions so perfectly sweet…

Jane sighed. "I'm so glad they finally realized that they love each other."

Felicity and Ann nodded in agreement. All three of them had seen it for ages now…the way Meg grew so uncharacteristically dreamy around Carver.

The way he only had eyes for her.

But it was that much more satisfying to see them finally realize it for themselves.

"No one deserves such happiness more," Felicity said. Then she turned to Ann and Jane. "Except for you two, of course."

Ann nudged Felicity. "And you. We all deserve such happiness."

Felicity shrugged. "I suppose. I'm just happy that such a pleasant ending came of that silly game of ours."

"Indeed," Ann said. "And we're not through yet."

Jane looked warily from Felicity to Ann; both of them had a decidedly scheming look in their eyes. She grew even more apprehensive when that look fell on her.

Apprehensive, but also…perhaps just a little excited.

"Meg was so brave," Jane said quietly. "I'm not sure I could ever be so brave."

Felicity tilted her head to the side as she considered Jane. "Meg was undoubtedly brave. But, if you'll recall, she did hide from Carver in the days after her first humiliation."

"That's true," Ann said. "But it wouldn't be bravery if one wasn't fearful to begin with."

Jane and Felicity both nodded at that.

"Quite right," Felicity said. "If there's nothing to be feared, there's no call for courage."

Jane's mind went back to those days when Meg avoided Carver's visits. "I've never even been brave enough to avoid the Earl."

The moment she said it, Jane wished she could call the words back. But it was too late, the others were watching her closely.

"I…I only mean…" She swallowed hard. "When he comes each month to visit, I wish…I wish I could do what Meg did."

"Evade the Earl the way he avoids you?" Ann offered.

Jane nodded as Felicity clapped her hands together. "Oh, that is the perfect dare. Nothing too frightening…"

Jane frowned. Wait, surely her friend did not mean?—

Felicity turned to her. "That's precisely what I challenge you to do." She raised a finger as well as her voice. "The next time your elusive earl comes to call…you shall find a way to elude him."

Jane blinked as panic swelled. But there was excitement there too. At the prospect of avoiding an awkward, painful visit, yes, but also…

At not being there when he came to call.

"He takes it for granted." The words escaped her softly.

Felicity and Ann leaned in to hear her over the music.

She cleared her throat. "He takes it for granted that I'll just…be there. Waiting for him. As if I have no life of my own. As if he can just take off for who knows where and when he returns, I'll just be…waiting for him."

Ann and Felicity shared a small smile.

"But this time you won't be," Ann said.

Felicity's grin was wicked. "This time you'll surprise them all. Especially the Earl."

Jane's own smile wobbled in fear and also…disappointment in herself. "Meg did something truly brave; isn't running away and avoiding someone a bit…cowardly."

"It's giving him a taste of his own medicine," Ann said.

Felicity nodded in agreement. "And it's only the beginning, dear Jane. It's the first act of rebellion, but I trust it won't be the last."

With that terrifying reassurance, Jane found herself returning their smiles despite her racing heart and clammy palms.

"All right," she said, her voice breathless with excitement and terror. "I'll do it. When he comes to visit…I'll elude my elusive earl."

This was met with cheers all around, before all three of them settled in to watch their sweet, kind, loyal friend Meg dance with her very own prince charming.

Thank you for reading! Check out Jane's story next in Charming the Elusive Earl. Turn the page for a sneak peek!

When the stern Earl finally notices his shy bride-to-be…

Lady Jane dreads her scheduled visits with the stodgy Earl. Like clockwork, her fiancé shows up in her drawing room, glowers at her until she quakes, and then takes his leave when a quarter hour has passed.

On one hand, Jane's grateful he doesn't wish to spend more time with her. His company makes her miserable, and their engagement is a far cry from the romantic tales she loves to read. But his disregard for her has made Jane a laughingstock amongst her peers, and she's more than a little peeved to be marrying a man who can't be bothered to know her.

Which is why, when her friends dare her to give the Earl a taste of his own medicine, Jane is quick to agree. All she has to do is not be there waiting for him when he arrives for the dreaded monthly visit. It's so simple. And yet, disaster strikes when he catches her in the lie. What's more, he spies her running away.

The Earl does the unthinkable—he gives chase. And soon they're in the woods, caught in a storm, evading thieves, and...stealing kisses. And now the Earl is out to prove that their betrothal isn't a mistake. Not at all. In fact, it might just be the romantic fairytale of her dreams.