Leaning back, Nancy weighed everything he had told her. Part of her was still ticked off. If only she’d known in advance! It was sweet of him to have proposed to her first, but she would gladly have traded that proposal for some early warning from him about Jessica.
…
“What’s your plan?” Nancy asked. “Do you want me to help you investigate Jessica?”
“Yes. In fact, I think, she’s expecting it. After all, you’re a detective.”
“And your jilted girlfriend.” Nancy smiled. “I won’t have any trouble acting that part.”
“Good.”
…
Then he turned to Nancy and took her hand. “I’m really sorry you had to find out about Jessica the way you did. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Nancy.”
“I can see that now.”
“Can you forgive me?”
“Well, anything’s possible…”
But she was only kidding. It was a relief to hear that Ned didn’t really love Jessica. And she was proud of him for following his instincts too.
She wasn’t totally sure he was right however. It still remained to be seen whether Jessica was up to no good.
As the hygienist wheeled around to leave, Ned rose to follow her. Nancy stopped him with a touch. “Ned?” she asked, “I want to know one more thing. What would you have done if I had said yes when you proposed to me?”
“What do you think?” Ned answered, smiling.
Then, with a wink, he was gone.
Carolyn Keene, Nancy Drew Files #24: Till Death Do Us Part (1988)