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Felicity frowned. “I don’t need to worry? I know. I was going to tell you that you don’t need to worry.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if he doesn’t present you, you are my friend now. I will do what I can to help you meet people. I will make a point to go on walks with you and ask you over for tea all the time. If you just have the opportunity, then I’m sure someone will still fall for you. Even if all you had was your limited social circle, I don’t doubt you will find a way to make someone fall for you.”

She looked away. Amber forced a smile on her face at the woman’s kind words, trying to push away the burning behind her eyes. Why couldn’t they have met even just a few weeks prior?

If they had, perhaps Amber’s situation would be different. Perhaps she might have met a kind young man she could have gone to when Simon told her his plan. Perhaps she could still have at least some of the future she’d always dreamed about.

But that door had already slammed firmly shut, locking her out forever.

Of course, she couldn’t tell Felicity any of that. She’d already told the other women far too much as it is. She couldn’t say any of what was really on her mind, couldn’t dare give breath to any of the thoughts racing around in her chest, so instead, she simply smiled and said, “That’s very kind for you to say.”

Felicity crossed her arms, a small pout coming to rest on her small heart-shaped face. Amber had never seen a woman who managed to look pretty while pouting, but somehow, Felicity managed, looking sweet rather than petulant, like Simon had always told Amber she looked. Though to be fair, he said that regardless of what face Amber felt like she was making. “It’s not kind. It’s true. Give it time. I’m sure you’ll see I’m right soon enough. I doubt it will even take all that long. I can’t imagine it taking more than a few months.”

Amber forced a smile against the way her heart was breaking. It was a shame she didn’t have that long left.

She wanted to tell Felicity it was a waste. That marriage was off the table for her, and it was better to simply accept it, but that would only lead to more questions. In the end, she simply smiled and said, “I suppose only time will tell.”

“It’s all right to let yourself get excited,” Felicity assured, leaning in once more. “Once I have decided to meddle, I rarely let it go until I’ve gotten my way, and Amber, I have decided to meddle until you are at last presented in the way you deserve.”

Amber forced her smile to stay in place despite herself. “Is that right?”

“It is! Oh, you won’t have to worry about a thing. I’ve already begun working on a plan that I just know will work perfectly.” Felicity beamed at her.

“Did you? Well, that was fast!”

“It’s important to work fast on these kinds of things.”

Amber couldn’t help but chuckle. Felicity had no idea how right she was, but no matter how fast her plan was, it would still be far too slow to save her.

“It’s a shame it took us so long to meet,” she said.

“I couldn’t agree more!” Felicity gushed. “But at least we finally have, and now that we have, I can help you.”

“So you keep saying, but you have yet to explain how you can do that.”

She put a finger to her lips. “It’s a secret.”

“A secret, but why?”

“I can’t tell you that. That’s what a secret means.”

“Of course, but you will tell me someday?” Amber wasn’t sure why she asked. She knew whatever plan Felicity might have was all for not. There was no point in giving herself any kind of false hope.

Still for the moment, it was rather fun to give in and let herself pretend.

“Of course, I will! The second I pull it off, then I will tell you every detail of it! Oh, it will be so wonderful to see you out on the floor. I’m sure you must be a wonderful dancer.”

Amber laughed. “Actually, I’m probably a terrible dancer.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because I’ve never learned.”

“You haven’t?” Felicity gasped. “Well, try not to worry; that is an easy enough fix. We can make plans for you to learn with me until your cousin agrees. You can come over my place, and we can practice together. How does that sound?”

“Heavenly,” she answered honestly for once. Even if it was just a daydream, in that moment, it truly seemed like the sweetest one Amber was capable of imagining.