‘I see,’ Peter said. ‘Well, then, I’d like to ask that you not share with the children about the rides at the zoo today until they too can look forward to their own rides.’
‘Of course,’ she replied.
‘Thank you,’ he said, with a smile that was indeed sincere.
She stood where she was, waiting for the smile to disappear and for him to bring up the dinner invitation she had accepted for the evening.
He lifted a brow. ‘Is there something else you wanted to discuss?’
‘Not necessarily,’ she replied.
He frowned slightly. ‘Then is there something I can help you with?’
Perhaps he hadn’t heard about the message she’d sent to the duchess. If that was the case, she’d prefer to keep it that way. ‘No, nothing that I’m aware of.’
He nodded slowly, then replied, ‘If there ever is, you can come to me. I’ll do whatever I can to help.’
Once again, she saw nothing but sincerity on his face and heard it in his voice. ‘I know.’ She gave him a nod and turned about, walked to the door.
‘Oh, one more thing, Meridith,’ he said.
Her hand was on the doorknob, and she squeezed the metal a bit harder as she twisted her neck enough to look over her shoulder.
‘Enjoy your evening with the Duke and Duchess of Turnbill,’ he said, smiling. ‘Please give them my best.’
‘I will, thank you,’ she replied, and left the room, not sure if she was smiling because he hadn’t been able to keep her from attending the dinner or because he hadn’t even tried. It truly didn’t matter. She was simply happy to be going and happy that she would be able to take her nieces and nephews to the zoo again.
Her thoughts quickly circled back around to Drake, and she wondered when she might see him again.
It was an unusual thought for her to have about any man, but she had to be honest with herself. She hoped it would be soon.
Their next meeting happened sooner than later, for when she arrived at the London home of the Duke and Duchess of Turnbill, Drake’s coach was parked along the side of the street.
He exited his coach at the same time she stepped out of her carriage. Not only did the flutters erupt in her stomach, but her heart started hammering so hard it caused her breath to stall. Her mind was in chaos, too. Wondering if Rosemary had said that Drake was also invited tonight. Meridith couldn’t remember if the Duchess had or not, but it made sense now that she thought about it, because Drake was their friend.
‘Good evening,’ he said, approaching her.
‘Hello,’ she replied. ‘I hope you don’t mind that Rosemary invited me to dinner, as well.’
‘Of course not.’ He offered his elbow to escort her to the door.
She laid a hand on his arm and held her breath at the warmth that raced up from her palm and entered her entire being. The way he made her feel was almost alarming, while also being exciting enough to make her short of breath.
‘You and Rosemary have become fast friends,’ he said.
‘She’s very likeable,’ Meridith replied, but was thinking of him as much as she was the duchesses. That had to be the explanation for the way he made her feel: he was just so very likeable. His extension of friendship was the first one she’d had in a long time, and the first from a male that she’d had since childhood. Even back then, she hadn’t had many friends, because she hadn’t needed them. She’d had her father, and they’d done so many things together. And ever since his death,though her family hadclaimedthey wanted her to have friends, their focus had only been on finding her a husband.
It was good to have a friend. Rather than questioning her warm feelings towards Drake, she should be embracing them.
‘How was your afternoon?’ he asked as they walked towards the front door of the large brick home.
‘Well, Peter is anxious for me to find out when rides will be offered on Hugo again. He would like his children to experience it.’
‘You could have brought them with you today.’
‘I told you that I was forbidden from bringing them to the zoo.’
‘I remember, and I remember that they claimed you were spending time with the children rather than searching for a husband.’
