Page 9 of Every Wallflower Has Her Thorns (Revenge of the Wallflowers)

Chapter Nine

T he morning sun streamed through the lace curtains, casting a warm glow across the breakfast table adorned with delicate China and silverware. Alice traced the rim of her teacup with unsteady fingers, her mind abuzz with the details of the note from Calum that rested beside her plate. A mix of excitement and trepidation danced in her chest as she unfolded the missive.

“Calum says the special license is underway,” she read out loud to make it real, her voice carrying a hint of uncertainty. “We’ll be married in three days at his townhouse, a quiet affair, and then off to Scotland for a grander celebration on the Galloway Estate.”

The words hung in the air, both thrilling and daunting. The prospect of marrying the man she admired brought a flutter to her heart, but the pace of it all left her breathless. Her appetite waned, replaced by the weight of the impending commitment and the implications that brought with it.

Was love needed to make a happy marriage? Could she love enough for both of them?

Her brother George, with a plate in hand, joined the table. “Was that from Calum?” he inquired, his eyes reflecting curiosity and concern. She nodded, a conflicted smile playing on her lips. “We need to talk, sister dear. It was too late last night after Calum and I discussed the marriage contract and I didn’t wish to wake you. Are you all right?”

Awake most of the night thinking, she was not all right. “I’m fine. A little dizzy at the speed at which my life is changing. Through no fault of my own, I might add. Lady Penelope’s made a fine mess of things.”

“He’ll make you a fine husband,” George reassured, a supportive glint in his eyes. Yet Alice’s thoughts tangled in a web of uncertainty. “I bet Penelope’s sorry too. How I wish I could have seen the look on her face.”

“I think it’s so unfair that he has to marry me because of someone like her,” she confessed, a hint of resentment lacing her words.

“He has to marry someday, as will I. He’s made a wise choice.” That was the issue. He’d had no choice. George chuckled, a rare moment of levity breaking through the serious discussion. “She’ll probably think twice about trying something like that again.”

A giggle bubbled up from Alice. “That’s the only good thing to come from this situation—she’s been thwarted. But George, you must be on guard. Penelope will be looking for Calum’s replacement.”

“Don’t you worry. I shall ensure never to let any missive send me to any assignation .” Her brother’s fork paused mid-air as he processed her words. “Are you unhappy with this marriage? You do realize you have no choice.”

“I think we will rub along together well,” she responded, masking her inner turmoil behind a fa?ade of composure. George nodded, accepting her words with a stoic demeanor.

She wanted to say that she was unhappy and that she didn’t want this marriage—blow her reputation. But that would cause George distress, and he was the best brother a sister could ask for. Besides, her mother would have expected her to do what was right. Her refusal would also tarnish Calum and his good name, too. He didn’t deserve that after saving her.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a note to write. And I have to call at the Galloway town house to continue the chess training.” Alice’s thoughts raced as she pondered the impending match, a distraction from the whirlwind of emotions.

“Goodness, I’d forgotten all about the match in all this kerfuffle.” George frowned.

“It’s tomorrow, the day before the wedding.” A sense of urgency propelled her towards the door. “This is the last chance I’ll have to coach Cazenove, and I hope it’s enough to see him win. There seems to be a lot of money riding on this match. Men are so silly.”

“Well, if we win, I’ll finally be able to buy plenty of Marino sheep to stock our Yorkshire farms,” George mused, the practicality of his ambitions contrasting with the romantic chaos of Alice’s impending nuptials.

“I was hoping Calum might allow me some of his winnings. I promised Sarah I’d support her sister’s orphanage,” she revealed, her altruistic intentions overshadowed by the looming reality.

George said, “I think Calum was hoping to fund his trip abroad with the winnings.”

As she reached the door, George’s revelation halted her in her tracks. Her eyes widened, and she pivoted to face her brother. “But now that we are to marry…” Her words trailed off, realization dawning as she watched a look of horror and guilt flash across George’s face. A tumult of emotions surged within her, pride battling against the need for a difficult conversation, but one that had to be had with Calum. She would not start her marriage by putting George in the middle. “I see.” Turning away, she headed through the door. How on earth would she get Calum to fall in love with her if he was sailing away for twelve months without her?

Clarity struck as she entered the carriage to take her to the Galloway town house. It proved that Calum really didn’t want this marriage. She couldn’t marry him if that was the case. She wouldn’t do that to him. She thought about how she’d feel if she had to marry a man she didn’t want. No.

An idea began to form. One that made her chest ache and her heart stutter, but an idea that was right for all concerned.

* * *

“Excuse me, my lord. There is a Lady Sarah Abbottsford asking for admittance, and she is unchaperoned.”

Calum looked up from the papers he was signing. It was a bit early in the day for a social call. He had a lot to get done before the chess match and his wedding and their trip to Galloway. His butler’s face was troubled and Calum was about to say he was not at home, but that name sounded familiar. He’d had plenty of young ladies try to gain admittance to his house in an attempt to trap him or his brothers, but he relaxed. He couldn’t be trapped twice. Plus, he recognized the name.

“It’s all right, Franklin. Lady Sarah is a friend of Lady Alice. Show her to the drawing room and I’ll join her there. Perhaps some refreshments as well. Tea, I think.”

What on earth was Lady Sarah doing here? Perhaps she wanted to watch the final chess practice, which would happen after lunch. After taking the time to finish a few pieces of correspondence, he finally arrived in the drawing room and was surprised to find Lady Sarah pacing the room.

“Oh, Lord Skye. I know it’s not proper to visit the home of several bachelors without your mother in residence, but given the circumstances, I’m sure I could be forgiven.”

Calum indicated for her to take a seat. “I’m sure you must have a good reason. Perhaps you’ll tell me why you are here.”

She nodded. “I’m here because Alice is going to do something very stupid. And I don’t feel that because of Lady Penelope, she should have to sacrifice herself so.”

Calum raised an eyebrow and tried to keep his displeasure from his voice. “I hope you’re not implying a marriage to me is a sacrifice on her part?”

“Oh, goodness, no. It’s not you she is going to marry. It’s Lord Fenchurch. He’s the last man on earth any woman should marry. While he admires Alice, he would bore her to tears within a month and with his gambling and womanizing… Her fortune would be gone far too soon.”

Calum thought he was in a play that he’d missed the first act of. He took a deep breath and suggested she pour herself some more tea. He noted how badly her hands shook. “Perhaps you could start at the beginning.” He gave her a smile that normally charmed his grandmother. “I was under the impression Alice was marrying me.”

“Then you must do something immediately. I believe she is planning on meeting Lord Fenchurch tonight to head for Gretna Green.”

A muscle worked in his jaw, and he ground his teeth. Even though the sun streamed through the window, the room felt suddenly chilled. Did she really want to marry Fenchurch? Had he ruined her plan? He knew George was against the match with Fenchurch for good reason. Namely, he didn’t have a stick to rub together and was a wastrel. The cad was trying to seduce his way through the ton in need of a large dowry.

“Is she in love with Lord Fenchurch?” he said in a hiss.

Sarah put down her cup with a bang. “Of course not.”

He shook his head, getting more confused. “Then why on earth would she elope with the man?”

“Because she thinks you don’t want to marry her and she feels guilty about having put you in this situation. He was her only option to save you.”

He’d wring her pretty neck. Save him . “Save me from what?”

“From having to marry her, of course.”

Last night, during the carriage ride home, he thought he’d shown her that he had no objections to their union. He’d shown her how much he wanted her. There must be more to this.

“And,” Sarah continued, wringing her hands. “And she hates putting you in this position. Since you wish to marry her and sail off and leave her behind, she’s of the opinion that you are doing this out of a sense of honor.” Sarah looked up and said, “Are you? Are you only marrying her to save her and your reputation? Because if you are, then maybe marrying Fenchurch would be better.”

He rose to his feet, anger burning. “How can marrying a man like Fenchurch be better?”

Sarah sighed and sat back in her chair. “Because marrying a man who doesn’t love you is tolerable when you don’t love him back.”

It took a few minutes for her meaning to hit him squarely in his chest. His heart pulsed faster. “She’s in love with me?”

“She loves you so much she wants to set you free,” she said quietly.

He stumbled back into his chair. She loved him . The woman he wanted to marry, yes, he wanted to marry. He’d tried to deny his attraction, scared of being hurt again. What if Alice only saw him as a friend?

Yet, he’d known the minute he’d intercepted the note at the ball what he was going to do. He could have sent George or his brother to save Alice, or taken Lady Summerton with him to put paid to the entrapment, but he’d raced to the billiard room knowing what was likely to happen.

Yes, he wanted to travel, but he’d also used that as an excuse to keep from being hurt. It was obvious Alice hadn’t wanted to marry him. He’d hoped that a year apart might make her miss him enough to come to want him and this marriage. That she wouldn’t feel trapped. What a fool he’d been. If he’d only told her how he felt… But then she hadn’t told him either. Why was love so terrifying? Because it had the power to destroy. But it also had the power to make life wonderful, aspiring and complete… Alice completed him.

“I thought you should know. Even if you don’t love her, please stop her from marrying Lord Fenchurch. She’ll be miserable for the rest of her life, and that sacrifice is too great.”

He sat reveling in the truth. He was in love with Alice and wanted her as his wife.

He barely noticed Sarah standing. “I’ll see myself out. Please, I can see that you have feelings for Alice. If you don’t wish to lose her, speak to her. She is coming to help you with the final preparation for the chess match, but immediately afterward, she is meeting Fenchurch to head north. You must stop her.”

He scarcely heard Sarah take her leave. He sat for a moment, contemplating his situation and his next action.

If anyone was going to elope with her to Gretna Green, it would be him.

He jumped to his feet. He had preparations to make. He smiled all the way up the stairs to find his valet. Calum vowed that there was only one man this prickly wallflower would marry. And it wasn’t Lord Fenchurch.