“However can you tell from this far away?” Samantha countered, her eyebrows raising in disbelief.
Julia gave a shrug and turned back toward the window. “I just can,” she replied. “In fact, if I were to have my brother’s valet dress him, I would wager he could walk down Bond Street and everyone would think him a gentleman.”
Samantha’s mouth dropped open. “Wager?” she repeated in shock. “Julia,” she spoke in a scolding voice. “Be careful what you say, or I shall be tempted to dare you to do such a thing.” She paused, thinking of how those from the country sometimes sounded when they spoke. What if the man was from Wales? Or Scotland? Or any of the northern counties? “I rather think as soon as he opens his mouth to speak, anyone who hears him will know he is not a gentleman.”
A smile appeared on Julia’s face. “Indeed? Then I shall go one better. I believe he can be taught to speak like a gentleman,” she boasted, suddenly wondering from where the groom hailed. She could only hope he wasn’t from Wales or Scotland. Or any of the northern counties.
Rolling her eyes, Samantha grinned. “And perform a perfect bow?” She rather liked having fun at her friend’s expense. “He cannot be a true gentleman unless he can dance at a ball,” she teased.
Julia straightened when she realized what her best friend was doing. She was daring her to make a gentleman out of the groom! “He can be taught to bow. And to dance. I am sure of it,” she claimed, the color in her face turning to a pinkish blush as she made her case.
Samantha uncrossed her arms and stood up. “Alright, then. I dare you to do it,” she stated, the edges of her mouth curled up to indicate she wasn’t completely serious. How could Julia make such a claim? “I dare you to make a gentleman out of your groom.”
Crossing her arms and angling her head to one side, Julia regarded her friend for perhaps a few seconds too long. For just as she was about to admit she was perhaps a bit too boastful and concede defeat, Samantha said the only words that could make Julia change her mind again.
“I don’t just dare you,” Samantha whispered, her eyes closing to almost slits. “I double dog dare you.”
About the Author
A self-described nerd and lover of science, Linda Rae spent many years as a published technical writer specializing in 3D graphics workstations, software and 3D animation (her movie credits include SHREK and SHREK 2). An interest in genealogy led to years of research on the Regency era and a desire to write fiction based in that time.
Now running the front office of a busy print shop, she’s developed an appreciation for pretty papers and spends time using them in her scrapbooks. She can frequently be found at the local cinema enjoying the latest movie. During the winter, she hosts several junior hockey players, and an indeterminate number of tropical fish live with her year-round. She makes her home in Cody, Wyoming.
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