Page 3 of Every Wallflower Has Her Thorns (Revenge of the Wallflowers)

Chapter Three

T he twitter of fans, and the chatter filled with excited tones, surged through the room as Alice entered Lady Eversham’s elegant home, her arm linked with Lord Skye. The significance assumed by those in the room regarding his escort made her feel both nervous and oddly regal, as if she’d stepped into a role far grander than her usual station. Calum’s presence by her side was a reassuring anchor amidst the curious gazes and whispered conversations that swirled around them.

Calum’s protective demeanor, as he sat beside her during the initial part of the recital, drew glares from Penelope, whose envy was palpable. But Alice knew the truth; Calum’s regard for her was as a cherished sister, not a potential romantic interest, despite the whispers and assumptions of others.

As Calum momentarily departed to fetch refreshments, her dear friend Sarah approached, her eyes alive with curiosity and mischief. “What’s the tale with Lord Skye? He seems rather attentive.”

Alice sighed ruefully, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s a role he’s playing, mistakenly thinking it’s in my favor. He’s not pursuing any romantic interest, I assure you.”

Sarah’s lips curved in a knowing smile. “Lady Penelope certainly thinks otherwise. Rumors of his gallantry at the ball last night have spread.”

Glancing toward Calum, now surrounded by admirers, Alice couldn’t help but bite her lip in mild exasperation. What was it about him that attracted so much attention? It wasn’t merely his looks; it was his commanding presence and undeniable charm, qualities that drew eyes and hearts alike.

“He was merely being courteous,” Alice insisted, though Sarah’s teasing nudges at romantic notions only fueled her own quiet desires. He’s not for you.

“He does have the air of a hero,” Sarah remarked whimsically. “A big, strong man to protect you from the wolves.”

Alice shook her head, bemused by Sarah’s fanciful notions. “Lady Penelope’s nose is very wolf like,” she responded and laughed. She’d seen Calum grow from a young lad to a mature man, and his appeal had only intensified. Her heart wished for something more, but her mind knew the unlikelihood of a romantic connection with a future duke, especially given her perceived and real shortcomings.

Seeing how determined Calum was to show she would not end up a spinster, Alice had resigned herself to her fate, realizing that being thrust into the ton’s spotlight could invite cruelty, especially if Calum’s efforts for her did not meet expectations. The thought of being discarded when his task proved fruitless weighed on her.

“Could Lord Hampton not attend tonight?”

Oh, dear. Alice plastered on a smile as she turned to address Lady Penelope. “Unfortunately, no.”

“I knew that would be the case. He’s asked Lord Skye to accompany you in his place.”

What could she say? “Of course. Lord Skye is a close family friend.”

“More than a friend, surely Alice.” A husky voice sounded above her. She looked up into Calum’s face and once again she saw an expression that sent her heart pounding. When she looked away, she could almost see steam coming from Penelope’s ears.

Lady Penelope’s smug remark about Lord Skye’s presence only served to stir irritation within Alice, even though she knew the truth behind it. Calum’s interruption, with his husky voice and meaningful gaze, momentarily stirred a flutter in her chest, though she knew the look was more protective than amorous.

Alice tried to redirect the conversation, but Lord Skye’s attention on her, his words tinged with an unexpected warmth, made her cheeks flush, leaving her momentarily flustered amidst the scrutinizing stares of the guests.

Calum’s sudden interjection had thrown Alice into a whirlwind of emotions. His piercing gaze held a weight that made her heart skip a beat, and when she averted her eyes, she could sense the frustration emanating from Penelope.

Before the tense silence grew too heavy, Sarah, always quick on her feet, stepped in. “Have you enjoyed the music tonight, Lord Skye?”

Lord Skye’s gaze shifted to Sarah, a charming smile gracing his lips. “Immensely, Lady Sarah, especially in such delightful company.” His eyes, however, lingered on Alice, causing her cheeks to flush deeper.

As the intermission piano played by Lady Eversham’s daughter filled the room with elegant melodies, Alice sat gracefully on the edge of her seat, her fingers lightly tapping, along with the music. A small crowd had gathered, drawn not just by Calum’s presence, but also by the unexpected sight of Lord Hartley and Lord Walters engaged in conversation with her.

Lord Hartley, with his charming smile and polished manners, leaned in slightly, his eyes alight with interest as he addressed her. “Miss Alice, I must admit I did not know your appreciation for music rivaled the mastery displayed tonight.”

Alice glanced up, her cheeks faintly flushed from the unexpected attention. “Lord Hartley, your words are far too kind. Music has always held a special place in my heart.” That was true. She loved to play. One thing a girl who could no longer run and jump about could do was play the piano. She’d learned quickly that the music room allowed her talent to shine without focusing on her limp.

Lord Walters, known for his quick wit and affable nature, interjected, “Indeed, Miss Alice. Your brother often speaks of your love for literature and the arts. It’s a delight to finally make your acquaintance and discuss such refined interests.”

The fact he’d made her acquaintance on numerous occasions must have slipped his mind.

The other guests stole curious glances, murmurs rising among them as they observed the interaction. It was a rare sight to witness two esteemed lords vying for the attention of someone they had previously overlooked.

Alice, though taken aback by the sudden spotlight, maintained her composure, engaging in the conversation with grace and wit. “I find solace in the works of Austen and Bront?, much like the comfort I find in the melodies that fill the air tonight.”

Lord Hartley nodded, his gaze admiring. “A shared love for literature is a rarity, Miss Alice. It’s refreshing to find someone who appreciates the nuances of storytelling as much as I do.”

Lord Walters, ever the opportunist, joined in eagerly. “Ah, Miss Alice, would you do me the honor of sharing your thoughts on the latest exhibition at the Royal Academy? Your insights would undoubtedly enrich the discussions we’ve been having.”

Heavens. Was this what it was like for the most popular ladies? The polite conversation and ridiculously wasteful topics must be tiring not only on the person but on the mind. Already her teeth wanted to grind at the mundaneness of it all.

Alice couldn’t help notice the onlookers exchange surprised glances, astonished at the sudden focus on a previously overlooked figure in their midst. The sight of three esteemed lords engaging in earnest conversation with a young woman known to be more of a wallflower left them intrigued and perhaps a touch envious.

Calum sat grinning as if this was a marvelous outcome. He didn’t seem to realize that she did not look on this attention favorably.

Amidst the soft murmur of the crowd and the gentle notes of the piano, Alice found herself at the center of attention, with the two lords seeking her favor. Neither one of them was of any interest to her, but now she’d had to agree to a visit to the Royal Academy.

As the orchestra took their places to begin the second half, Calum smugly whispered in her ear, “I predict spinsterhood is not in your future.”

Alice predicted Calum was getting too far ahead of himself. Presenting her to two gentlemen who she had no interest in at all did not lead to marriage. She was infatuated with only one man and predicted that no other gentleman would suffice, even though that man wanted to see her married to somebody else.

And wasn’t that just heartbreaking?

* * *

As predicted, her excursion to the Royal Academy with Lord Walters was a disaster. Her leg hurt after the first gallery and by the time they came to leave, she was almost crying in pain. She’d fallen down the large marbles steps at the front of the academy upon leaving, and Lord Walter could not even look at her when the carriage dropped her home.

Thankfully, Turnbull had rushed out to help her, and give her his arm, but as soon as the front door closed behind her, she collapsed to the floor, tears of pain and humiliation rolling down her cheeks. Stanford, one of their footmen, was sent for, as he carried her to her room when her leg was too sore to walk. While she waited, she leaned against the base of the grandfather clock in the front foyer, rubbing her leg, and mopping up her tears. The pain eased to a dull ache and she gulped in air.

To her horror, this is the position Calum found her in when he arrived to see her brother, who wasn’t even home.

He dropped to his knees beside her. “What happened?”

“You and your stupid ideas are what happened,” she said through gritted teeth. Thankfully, her tears were dried, but she must look a pathetic mess.

“Did Walters hurt you? I’ll kill him.” Anger scored his mouth.

Gosh, he looked like an avenging Greek god. His face was black as thunder. “In a manner of speaking.” Calum was in his riding gear and there was something so commanding about a man in hessians. Or was it the muscled thighs above the dark leather? “Please don’t fuss. He made me walk all afternoon.”

Only then did Calum sit back on the floor next to her. “Did you not ask him to let you rest?”

“No.”

Calum cursed. “But why are you sitting here on the floor?”

Before she could answer, Turnbull arrived. “Stanford is not in at present, Lady Alice. Perhaps I could…”

Calum looked between Alice and Turnbull, and saw the situation clearly. He swore before scooping Alice into his arms and carrying her upstairs.

“I don’t know why you’re so angry. I told you this was a terrible idea. I am not like other ladies.”

Her cheeks flushed with a blend of embarrassment, but with a gracious nod, she accepted his gallant gesture, feeling a rush of butterflies in her stomach as his powerful arms enveloped her delicately.

Calum’s touch was both reassuring and stimulating as he lifted her with the utmost care, ensuring her comfort as they began the ascent up the ornate staircase. Alice couldn’t help but steal glances at his profile, illuminated by the soft glow of the flickering candles lining the walls.

Their proximity ignited a palpable tension, a silent exchange of unspoken sentiments lingering between them. Alice found herself captivated by the subtle scent of his cologne, the warmth of his breath against her cheek, and the steady rhythm of his steps, each one resonating with a quiet strength.

As they reached the top of the staircase, Alice felt a pang of disappointment, realizing their brief but intimate moment was coming to an end.

He strode in silence to the edge of her bed and held her, his eyes searching her face as if he wanted to learn something. “I’m angry because you should have told Walters you needed to rest. I bet he had no idea you were in such agony. Why did you do that?”

She couldn’t look at him. The heat from his body, his arousing scent, sucked in on each breath, and the strong arms holding her as if she weighed nothing set her body on edge. She couldn’t concentrate.

“Well?”

“I didn’t want to let you down. If I had to ask him to allow me to rest, he’d know my issues and you seem to want me to shine. I’m not shiny, I’m tarnished.”

She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, as she dared not look at him. Slowly he lay her on the bed and, still leaning over her, he used his hand to cup her chin and made her look at him. “Never do that again. I don’t expect you to be anything other than who you are. A man good enough for you will love you just the way you are.” And then he pressed a swift kiss to her cheek. She went still as stone. He’d kissed her. Why?

Before she could find her voice, he straightened. “I have a meeting with George. We have a chess wager to discuss.”

“You just won against him.”

He laughed. “Not against George, with George. We’re teaming up to take on Lord Southfields and Lord Crispen. Our chess prodigy against theirs.”

She rose on her elbows as she heard her lady’s maid Betsy organize her bath. “Who is your prodigy?” Did he just wince?

“George and I have backed John Cazenove.”

“Oh dear, then I gather the lords have Jacob Sarratt? Sarratt’s the better player. He has developed some interesting plays. You’ll need all the help you can get.” And she lay down, tiredness and pain making her a tad dizzy.

Suddenly, her bed dipped beside her. “Do you know these new moves? Could you coach Cazenove for us?”

She flung her arm over her eyes. “Ask me tomorrow when I’m feeling better. Right now, I’m not inclined to do you any favors. Your meddling is very upsetting.”

He didn’t move or say anything. Finally, she removed her arm from where she’d flung it across her face and looked at him.

“Will you help us if I promise not to introduce you to anyone you don’t approve of? I’ll still be your advocate in the marriage mart, but I promise no more, Lord Walters.”

That sounded interesting. “I agree on one condition.” At his raised eyebrow, she continued. “You keep Lady Penelope away from George.”

That saw the smile wiped off his face. “How am I supposed to do that without seeming as if I’m interested in the young lady myself? Which I absolutely am not. I don’t want to find myself leg shackled, let alone to a woman such as her.”

She could see Betsy hovering near the entrance to her bathing chamber. She sat up and slid her legs over the side of her bed. “I’m sure you’ll think of something, given how clever you were thinking up a plan to see me launched into society. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to bathe before the water gets cold.”

He rose to take his leave. “I’ll have to be super clever to defeat a woman as hell bent on marriage such Lady Penelope. I wouldn’t put it past her to try to trap me into marriage.”

Alice’s heart flipped, and she thought it best to remain sitting. She couldn’t bear to think of either Calum or George married to that snake. Perhaps she’d made a mistake in her challenge. Calum should stay away from Penelope, too.

Watching him depart with a mix of longing and admiration, Alice couldn’t help but drink in his fine form. He was correct in his thinking that Penelope would stoop to anything to get what she wanted. Only now, Alice couldn’t bear it if it was Calum that Penelope chose to target for marriage. A dreadful thought flashed through her head. Which man did she save?

Dear God, Alice. Not George. But neither should it be Calum.

Her heart sped up. But Calum? Why should she care? Calum would never think of her as wife material either. Too much the sister.

You want him for yourself. What a ridiculous thought.

“I can’t really blame Penelope. Isn’t it ironic that a young lady has to think about matrimony the minute she is out of the schoolroom? But a lord tries everything to avoid the noose for as long as he can. It puts us all in conflict from the start.”

He turned and smiled that knee quaking smile of his before saying, “You’re probably the only young lady I know who is not manipulating the marriage mart to her advantage.”

She shrugged. “No. You’re doing it for me.”

His smile fled like a mouse being chased by a cat. “You are not manipulating. You are merely exposing your finer qualities that no one seems to have noticed.”

“I wonder why no one’s noticed,” she said under her breath, rubbing her twisted leg.

Calum ignored her comment. “Cazenove will be at my house at eleven tomorrow. Please get George to escort you.”

“Of course.” She couldn’t be seen entering a bachelor’s house unescorted.

“I’ll go and find your brother. I hope your leg is feeling better soon. Until tomorrow.” On a smile that could melt snow, let alone her guarded heart, he took his leave.

Betsy arrived to aid her in undressing for her bath. Her maid already had the salve ready to rub into her leg afterwards, and she couldn’t wait.

As she soaked in the soothing hot water, Calum’s words about entrapment roared through her head. She could not shake the idea that is exactly what Lady Penelope would do.

It was up to Alice to save her brother, and his best friend, from Penelope’s machinations. She’d become Penelope’s shadow and forestall any dubious plan.

* * *

Calum’s anger built again as he descended the stairs toward George’s study. His hands clenched into fists. He really would like to find Walter and thrash him for his inconsideration of Alice, but knew it would hurt his cause of trying to make society see her as he saw her. That she was a young woman worthy of any man’s attention.

When he’d arrived to find her on the floor, the pain on her face had driven him to his knees. He’d wanted to pull her into his arms and protect her.

His foot hesitated on the last step.

He could protect her. He could marry her himself. He’d already catalogued her suitability. She was the one woman that had never tried to trap him, manipulate him or even shown any romantic interest in him at all. Alice was perfect for a man who thought love was merely an annoying four letter word. She had no notions of romance. So his heart would never be threatened, torn up and shredded again.

She would make him a perfect wife. Intelligent, easy to get along with, they were already firm friends… and he did find her attractive.

He hated feeling like he was being hunted. Every ball saw him as the target of many mamas’ machinations. In his younger, less experienced days, he’d let a young lady into his heart, only to learn that she’d wagered with the debutantes of the season that she could snag a duke. She had no feelings for him except for his potential title. He’d overheard her say, “A duke’s a duke even if he has a lowly Scottish title.”

Alice didn’t care about titles or money. What did she care about?

He needed to learn more about the woman he’d always thought of as a sister. He critically observed that she was pretty, and the feel of her curves in his arms had been unsettling. Her breasts were high and full. Her waist was small and her hips nicely rounded. In the cold, dispassionate light of day, she was a woman who could stir any man’s desire. He didn’t care about her limp. A limp didn’t matter lying down.

Something stirred within him. The image of Alice lying naked on his bed. Her reddish fair hair spread across his pillows and her creamy skin was his to touch and taste. He froze. He wanted her.

But he also wanted to travel. To adventure into the wide world before duty took over. He could do both. They could simply have a long engagement. She would be happy to wait, he was sure.

Now all he had to do was talk to George and get his approval. His friend would never object. He was about to enter George’s study when he heard his friend bounding up the stairs toward him.

“What’s that grin on your face?”

He followed George into his study and took a seat. The late Lord Hampton’s portrait hung above the fire and he thought he could see him smiling down at him as if he approved of his idea. “I have a story to tell, but I require a brandy first.”