Free Almost A Spinster by Jenna Petersen

question, wasn’t it? The one that had haunted her for a long time, the one she’d been able to ignore until she struck her bargain with Wesley. The one she’d been too cowardly to answer, even for her own benefit.
    Her hands shook as she moved away from Felicity. She leaned on the terrace railing and looked out over the dark park in the distance.
    “I do care for him. More than a friend.” She sucked in a wavering breath. “I believe I may be in love with him.”
    In the next moment, Felicity’s arms were around her and she was squeezing Jane until she could scarce draw breath.
    “I’m so happy for you!” her friend whispered as she released her. “Oh, you’ll be very good together. Wait…” Felicity tilted her head. “You don’t look pleased. What’s wrong?”
    Jane sighed. “Just a short time ago, I was making plans to be another man’s wife. There were times I thought myself in love with David, even. At least… I liked him a great deal. What if I am simply a fickle debutante? And what of Wesley? His reputation does not show him to be the kind of man who would truly settle down with one woman alone. What if I’m simply a challenge to him and once he has won me, he bores of me.”
    Felicity leaned back and her mouth twisted. “Pardon me for speaking plainly, but you are being a complete ninny.”
    “What?” Jane sputtered.
    “Honestly!” Her friend threw up her hands. “Did you really love David? Or did you just convince yourself that he would have you despite your lack of fortune? I’m sure you cared for him, but did you ever get a thrill when you looked at him? Did you ever lay awake at night thinking about him? Did you ever kiss him?”
    Jane folded her arms as blood warmed her cheeks. “No,” she admitted softly.
    “And do you feel that thrill, that ache for Wesley?”
    She thought of all the sleepless nights she had spent lately. The anticipation that filled her when she knew he would be at a party or ball. She had felt that way for a long time… even before they struck their bargain.
    “Yes.”
    “And what about deeper feelings?” Felicity continued, unrelenting in her interrogation. “You are friends, are you not?”
    She nodded.
    “Do you enjoy talking to him? Respect his opinions? Look to him for advice and support?”
    Jane thought of all the times she had turned to Wesley. When she needed help after David’s engagement, she hadn’t once thought to turn to her family or even Felicity. It had been Wes that she had sought out. Trusted.
    “Yes.”
    “Then it sounds like what you feel is based on something real.” Felicity smiled. “A foundation of friendship and respect is far better than what many society marriages build upon.”
    “But what about him?” Jane asked. “What about his temperament? His reputation?”
    “Bah!” Felicity shook her head. “Anyone who isn’t blind can see he’s only had eyes for you for a long time. I somehow doubt he was running around town asking any woman he flirted with for ‘everything’. Jane, you know him. Better than I. Better than David. Better than anyone, I would wager. Do you truly think he would ask you for something so serious without genuine intentions?”
    Wesley’s image, so clear that it was almost like he was really there, came into her mind. His smile. The comfort of his touch as he guided her through a crowd. The sound of his laughter. No matter what, he would never hurt her. Unlike David, he actually had some consideration for the feelings of others. For her.
    And he always had.
    “He would not hurt me. He would rather hurt himself, I think,” she whispered, tears beginning to gather and tingle in her eyes.
    “Then I don’t see what kind of advice you need, Jane.” Felicity shrugged. “You know what you want. You know what you need. It is nearly eleven o’clock. Why don’t you find Wesley? I’m sure he’s here by now.”
    Jane met her best friend’s stare as hope and excitement unlike any she’d