Page 2 of His Lady

Jane waved her hand in the air. “He doesn’t count. I was infatuated with his charm, and we both had consumed too much champagne that evening.”

“Yes, and weren’t you a little foxed the night you met Wayne Nichols?”

Anger shot from Jane’s piercing glare. “I’veneverbeen foxed. Ladies do not get intoxicated.” She pushed her wine glass toward Regina. “Since you believe I drink too much, be the considerate friend and finish my drink before it becomes a temptation.”

Regina hated how her friend made it sound like all of this was her fault. Grumbling, she took the glass and quickly drank it.

Jane arched an eyebrow. “Splendid. Now you won’t have to worry about me.”

As one of the servants passed by, Regina placed the empty glass on the tray. She wanted to remind Jane she had partaken of too many glasses of champagne the night she’d met Mr. Nichols. Although she should hint at Jane’s frame of mind that night, Regina didn’t dare. Jane was already upset at her for trying to stop the engagement.

Jane’s gaze moved past Regina toward the crowd. Within seconds, her expression changed again, and a bright smile lit her face. Regina glanced over her shoulder to see what her friend was looking at, and when four of their friends walked up to them, Regina sighed in defeat. Jane would be too preoccupied now to listen to Regina’s reasoning.

She groaned as she squeezed her eyes shut. Her fingers massaged her forehead, but it didn’t make the constant pounding disappear. When someone tapped gently on her shoulder, she turned to see Rhonda Parry. Rhonda was the one woman who agreed with Regina about Jane’s choice of beaus, especially the one with the name of Wayne Nichols.

Trying to give Rhonda a genuine smile, Regina sighed and stepped toward her friend. Rhonda was taller than most women, but her curly black hair and blue eyes drew men to her easily.

“It’s good to see you again, Rhonda. I’m glad you came to the ball tonight.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Jane told us that Mr. Nichols would be in attendance, and we are all eager to meet him.”

Confusion filled Regina. “Tonight? Jane is going to introduce him to everyone at the ball?” That could only mean one thing. Jane’s father intended to make the grand announcement.

Rhonda nodded. “Jane said the man she loved would be here later.”

Regina groaned. She would not have any time to talk to Jane now.

Rhonda leaned in closer to Regina’s ear. “Have you said anything to Jane yet?”

“Yes.” Regina’s frown deepened. “Sadly, our talk did not go as planned.”

“Perhaps we shouldn’t say any more. Look at how happy she is tonight.”

Regina growled under her breath. The other friends had made Jane happy, but not Regina. But they were the kind of selfish friends who didn’t try to help others.

“I have seen her this happy before, and usually, she’s holding a glass of champagne or wine.” Regina glanced toward Jane, who still had a drink of punch in her hand. Regina suspected the drink had been laced with spirits. “Although she seems happy, the brief time I had met Mr. Wayne Nichols, I knew he would never make our Jane truly happy.”

Rhonda shrugged. “I suppose you are correct. I have heard rumors about him.”

“As have I.”

“However,” Rhonda quickly added, “I think we should give Mr. Nichols a chance to prove his worth to us before we try to ruin their engagement. Jane says he is very charming, and maybe he will be the man to love Jane for herself instead of what’s in her father’s trust fund.”

“Yes, perhaps.” Regina mumbled, although she knew the man would only hurt her friend after they were wed.

The subject was dropped as men came to claim dances with Regina and her friends. Although she danced with a few lords, she continued to watch Jane. Perhaps the key to breaking up this ridiculous engagement wasn’t trying to change Jane’s mind but to coerce Mr. Nichols to withdraw the proposal.

An hour passed, but Mr. Nichols had yet to make an appearance. It irritated Regina that he would take so long to arrive. Then again, he probably didn’t want to be seen with aplainJane just yet. More than likely, the man was with his mistress.

The pounding in Regina’s head never left. Instead, it grew worse and was accompanied by her stomach churning. She couldn’t stay at the ball feeling this way. Yet she couldn’t return home, not until she settled the issue between Jane and Mr. Nichols.

Regina weaved through the throngs of people at the ball again, on her way to talk to Jane. The throbbing headache made Regina dizzy, but she pushed forward. Her friend stood with a few men, which Regina had already danced with. The way her friend flirted with these other men made Regina wonder if her friend was in love with Mr. Nichols, as she had proclaimed.

“Pardon my intrusion,” Regina said politely, interrupting the small group’s conversation. “I need a private word with Miss Meyers if you don’t mind.”

The men bowed, turned, and left. Jane’s flirtatious mood disappeared, and a scowl replaced it. “Now what?”

Regina took hold of her friend’s hands. “I’m not feeling well, and I need to leave. But will you promise me something?”

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