Married to the Rake (The Wallflower Brides Book 1)

by Samantha Holt

She nodded. “His estate is some four miles from here.”

  “Mr. Benedict does love to host a ball. I am thinking we can persuade him to hold one and invite both of our fathers. Though, we shall have to ensure that no news of either’s attendance reaches their ears.”

  “It shall not be easy to keep it a secret. Gossip runs rife in Hampshire.”

  “While you may think me optimistic, I think you underestimate yourself, Miss Larkin. I have every faith that you shall be able to keep our plans a secret.” He thrust out a hand and she stared at it. “Shake it,” he ordered. “And so begins our arrangement.”

  She stared at his hand for a few more seconds. Not once had she ever shaken a man’s hand. That was something gentleman did. Not young ladies. Regardless, she inched out her own hand and let it rest in his. He curled his fingers around hers and moved his arm up and down, taking hers with it. When he released her fingers, that strange tingling sensation was back and she could feel it yet again sweep up to her cheeks. He withdrew his hand and flexed his fingers, his penetrating eyes dashing over her.

  “I shall let you get back to your dinner party. But as soon as the ball is arranged, I shall send word.”

  Chloe nodded numbly, rubbing the fingers that he had held with her other hand. She found she could not move until he vaulted back over the fence and turned away. Why did she just feel as though she had made a deal with the devil? With all these supposed brains, one would think she would be more sensible than to get into an arrangement with Mr. Waverley. Still, if this meant no more late-night trips to the fence, it would be worth it.

  Chapter Four

  Brook took the tumbler of whiskey from Benedict and sank onto one of the worn leather chairs in the library. Benedict followed suit, taking a long sip and placing the glass down on the side table between them.

  “To what do I owe this pleasure?” Benedict asked.

  Brook glanced at his friend. Marriage suited the man. Benedict had been as much of a rake as Brook was reputed to be and his marriage had come as a surprise to many but Elizabeth was a fine woman and if anyone could tame Benedict, it was her.

  “It has been many months since I last saw you. How was the honeymoon?

  “Pleasant indeed,” he said with a grin. “But I doubt you wish to hear about my honeymoon. What is it you are after, Brook?”

  “Can I not visit without an ulterior motive?”

  Benedict shook his head. “I can count on one hand the amount of times you have visited me here. I do believe my London house was your preferred port of call.”

  “Alas, you know me too well. I have come to ask a favor of you.”

  Benedict lifted his glass and took another sip. “Unfortunately for me, I likely owe you a lifetime of favors.”

  “Hardly.” Though Benedict credited Brook with helping him and Elizabeth come together, Brook could not help feel that it was fate the two people should end up together. Both of them had been friends of his for some time and both were exceptional people. He was glad to have introduced them.

  “However,” Brook continued, if you do feel you owe me a favor, I would be remiss not to take you up on it.”

  “Get to the point, Waverley. What do you wish of me?”

  “You know well of this rift between my family and the Larkins,” Brook began.

  Benedict nodded. “Who in the area does not? It makes life incredibly difficult living in such a social sphere.”

  “Well, what if I told you that I intended to mend that rift?”

  His friend chuckled. “I would say that you are mad. No one has ever been able to repair the rift between your two families. What makes you think you have a chance?”

  Brook allowed himself a smile. “Because I have an ally.”

  “Ally?”

  Brook nodded and took a sip of the whiskey, letting it slide down his throat while he recalled Chloe in her evening gown that molded just so to generous curves. It was not the first time he had noticed her curves and it would not be the last. However, it was the first time they had been alone whilst she was wearing such a garment and he had been afforded the full opportunity to peruse her person. He should feel a cad for doing so but, after she had spit fire and brimstone at him, he could not bring himself to feel guilty.

  “Miss Larkin,” he said simply.

  Benedict released a choked sound. “Miss Chloe Larkin?”

  “Indeed.” Brook allowed himself a smug smile. He’d known he would have a battle on his hands with her but she had acquiesced rather more easily than he had hoped.

  “If her father hears of this, he shall call you out.”

  Shrugging, Brook drained his whiskey. “I have done nothing wrong.”

  Benedict gave him a look. “Yes, but with your reputation, it shall be assumed that you have most certainly done wrong.”

  “Your reputation was no better than mine, remember,” Brook pointed out.

  “Thankfully, he is a reformed man,” Elizabeth declared, sauntering into the room and snatching Benedict’s empty whiskey glass. She poured one of her own and drained it.

  “How could he not be, with you as his wife?” Brook said with a grin, standing to greet her properly. “You look as beautiful as ever, Elizabeth. I am glad to see Benedict is treating you well.”

  She waved away his flattery with a hand. “What is this I hear of you mending the rift between the Waverleys and the Larkins?”

  “Well, I shall need your help too, Elizabeth. I hope to persuade Benedict to host a ball.”

  Elizabeth chuckled. “Benedict will need no persuasion.”

  Benedict stood. “I might if there is to be bloodshed between the two families.”

  Elizabeth tapped her husband’s arm. “As much as the two families loathe one another, I am sure they would not be so rude as to disrupt a social gathering.”

  Benedict grimaced. “Lizzie, you have been lucky enough not to have been stuck in the center of these disagreements. Believe me when I say both men are entirely capable of disrupting any event.”

  “Well, I always said I enjoy a touch of the dramatic,” Benedict said with a resigned sigh.

  “Thank you. I meant what I said, I owe you.”

  “Nonsense,” said Elizabeth. She perched on the arm of her husband’s chair. “Did I hear mention of Miss Chloe Larkin?”

  Brook pursed his lips. “Listening at keyholes, are we?”

  Elizabeth perfected an innocent look. “Can I help it that you two have loud voices and this room echoes just so?”

  “I am working with Miss Larkin,” Brook admitted.

  Elizabeth arched a brow. “Be careful there, Brook. She is an innocent.”

  “I am aware of that. Though she is not as sweet as she may seem.” He thought back to her rather pointed remarks.

  “All I am saying is that should you get caught in a compromising position, it shall be assumed that you did so deliberately.” Elizabeth smoothed some lint from her husband’s shoulder and Benedict took her hand, keeping hold of it.

  Brook watched the small moment of affection and the slightest pang struck him. It had to be simply because he was in the country and not in the company of any of the delightful women of London. Nothing to do with wanting that sort of familiar affection. He had plenty of years to think about marriage. One day he would do it, he was certain, but he’d yet to meet anyone he could picture such moments with.

  “I will be a gentleman, I swear it,” Brook vowed.

  “It doesn’t matter if you are,” said Benedict. “Your reputation will be enough to ensure she is ruined.”

  “I have no intention of ruining her. And my reputation is greatly exaggerated as you both know. Do I enjoy women’s company, yes? But I have not flitted from bed to bed or seduced virgins or stolen women from their husbands.”

  Benedict held up a hand. “There is no need to defend yourself to us.”

  “I know, forgive me.” Brook grimaced. He never usually cared what was written about him or what others thought of him. Apparentl
y, Miss Larkin’s opinion on him mattered more than he had realised.

  “Well, I shall leave you two to discuss the ways of the world.” She leaned in to give Benedict a kiss on the cheek. “Try not to get into any trouble.”

  “Never,” Benedict promised his wife.

  Brook watched Elizabeth leave then turned to his friend. “I swear you took the only decent woman in England.”

  “Well, she is the most amazing woman in the world, but there are plenty more out there. Even one for you, I’d wager.”

  “Just one?” Brook quipped.

  “One day, you shall fall hard and I shall enjoy watching it, just as you did with Elizabeth and I.”

  “I only took pleasure in two friends falling in love,” he protested.

  Benedict shook his head. “That is a lie. You are happy for us, I know, but you cannot tell me you did not enjoy my lovesick behavior.”

  “It certainly made for some entertainment,” Brook admitted.

  “So you cannot begrudge me when I do the same.”

  Brook sighed. “I suppose I cannot. But before anything of the sort happens, I must address this situation with my father. This disagreement is taking its toll. My hope is to have this argument finally put to rest so he can do the same.”

  “Well I wish you luck, Waverley, I really do.”

  “But you do not think it will be that easy.”

  “Even with Miss Larkin’s aid, a centuries old rift will not be easy to repair.” Benedict stood and topped up their glasses before sitting once more. “I will do whatever you need, though.”

  Brook drained the drink quickly, allowing the alcohol to warm his insides and soothe away any doubt. He didn’t think it would be easy exactly but with Miss Larkin’s help, he could not fail surely.

  They whiled a few more hours away, discussing London and fellow acquaintances and Brook was grateful to forget the border matter for a while. By the time he returned home, however, his father was waiting for him in the entrance hallway. His cheeks were ruddy, making his white hair and sideburns seem more stark.

  “Where the devil have you been?”

  Brook finished removing his gloves before glancing at the top of the stairs, where his father waited. Taking the steps slowly, he descended them until he was in front of Brook.

  “Well?” his father demanded. “I hear tell that the boundary line has been moved again. I need to have it moved back as soon as possible.”

  Brook resisted the desire to roll his eyes. “You only checked yesterday, Father.”

  His father huffed, his creased cheeks turning red. “One day, this shall be yours. That land shall be yours and I would not have it stolen from you by those upstart Larkins. I would hope you care about your inheritance as much as I do.”

  “I am grateful for everything you’ve given me, Father. I care very much about our land. But —”

  His father spun on his heel, marching toward the library before Brook could finish his sentence. As Brook followed him, his father muttered to himself. Mostly of how ungrateful Brook was, and how horrible the Larkins were. Brook released a long breath. This feud needed to end. This anger and frustration was not doing his father any good.

  Brook pursued him into the library. His father sat by the fireplace and snapped open a book, apparently ignoring his son’s presence. Brook put himself directly in front of the fireplace where his father could not avoid him.

  “Father, I have no wish to anger you…” he began.

  His father snapped the book shut. “Then you would be as diligent at safeguarding your inheritance as you are to enjoying yourself.”

  “When the time comes, which is a long, long way away, I shall be as diligent as ever, I promise.”

  His father made a dismissive noise and turned his attention back to the book.

  “Perhaps if I understood exactly why you continue this dispute with the Larkins…” Brook had heard many tales of the history between the families, but if he could glean some extra information, something that would help repair the rift, it would be worth listening to his father’s side of things.

  His father’s jaw tensed. He eased the book shut once more and lifted his attention to Brook. “I do not continue this dispute. In fact, I would have put an end to it years ago, if it were not for what a bastard that Marcus Larkin is.”

  Brook scowled. As far as he knew, Marcus Larkin was well-respected. Was it his father’s personal feelings toward him coloring his view of him, or was it something else?

  “What do you mean, you would have put an end to it?”

  Easing himself out of the chair, his father came to stand beside the fireplace, propping an elbow on it. He stared briefly into the empty grate before glancing at Brook. “I had every intention of settling the dispute over the land when I was a young man. In fact, Larkin and I even discussed the matter.”

  Brook blinked. “You and Mr. Larkin had a conversation about the land?”

  “I was an idealist. I thought we came to an arrangement but I was wrong.”

  “What happened?”

  “He revealed his true nature.” His father curled the fist that was resting on the fireplace mantel.

  “True nature?” Brook echoed.

  “He took the woman I was to marry from me,” he spat.

  Brook stared at his father for a few moments. This was the first he’d heard of there being any woman other than his mother. As far as he knew, his parents were happily married and there had never been anyone else intended for them.

  “Who was this woman? How did he take her from you?”

  “The bastard bedded her, he did. Did it deliberately so that I would find them. Then, before she could change her mind, he wed her.”

  “You were in love with Georgiana Larkin?” Though Brook was sure Miss Larkin’s mother was a fine woman, he could not imagine his father having any feelings for her.

  His father shook his head. “No. Georgiana is his second wife. Julia died within months of their wedding. Consumption.” His shoulders rounded and he dropped his gaze to the floor.

  Brook pressed his lips together. No wonder his father was still angry. Marcus Larkin had stolen his father’s first love. Maybe, this was a big mistake. Maybe he should not be repairing the rift at all but should be taking up the mantle himself.

  Damn it.

  Chapter Five

  “Is this what you are looking for?”

  Chloe leapt away from the pillar on which she had been resting and gave her mother a sheepish smile. Mama handed over the letter and Chloe shook her head, recognizing the seal upon it. “It is addressed to Papa.”

  “Her mother pressed her lips together, the corners of her mouth curving slightly. “So why exactly have you been watching for the post every day recently?”

  Chloe clasped her hands together. She could hardly admit to her and Brook’s plan. While her mother was not wholly involved in the dispute between the families, she had always supported her husband in the matter. She would not take kindly to Chloe meddling.

  A knowing glint entered her mother’s eyes. “I think I know what is happening.”

  Chloe shook her head vigorously. “I do not think you do.”

  Her mother waived the letter. “I heard that Mr. Benedict was holding a ball to celebrate his return from his honeymoon. This must be the invitation.”

  “Oh really? I had not heard such a rumor.”

  “You are a terrible fibber, Chloe.” Her mother pulled a penknife out of the drawer of the side table and pressed open the seal.

  “That is addressed to Papa,” Chloe pointed out.

  “Oh, he will not mind. He could not give a fig about a ball.”

  “But he will want to go, will he not?” Chloe cursed herself for her eagerness. Her mother was bound to think something was wrong.

  “Do not fear, my darling. I shall ensure he goes.” Her mother peeled open the letter and scanned the contents. “I suspect there should be many eligible men in attendance. Mr. Benedict has several fri
ends of good standing.” That glint had entered her mother’s eyes again.

  “Oh no, Mama…”

  “Do not worry. I shall not say anything to your father. But, I must admit, I am glad you are finally showing interest in finding a husband. I have been waiting for this day for a long time.”

  Chloe grimaced. She supposed she understood why her mother would jump to such a conclusion. Why else would she finally be eager to go to a ball? She had certainly never been so before.

  “I shall have to ensure that none of the Waverleys will be attending,” her mother commented. “Though, they certainly would not be if we are. There is no chance Mr. Benedict would invite both families. He is no fool.”

  Chloe closed her eyes briefly. Now she regretted getting Mr. Benedict involved in the matter. Both families would be angry at him indeed at being invited. Still, if their fathers made friends, it would not matter at all. Goodness, they might even thank Mr. Benedict.

  “I do hope Papa would not make a scene if one of them were there,” Chloe said softly.

  Her mother gave her a look that told her that her father would most definitely make a scene if the men clashed. She only hoped they came to a resolution quickly and did not ruin Mr. Benedict’s ball.

  “I shall tell him you’re on the lookout for a husband. He will be well-behaved, I promise. But I’m sure there will be no Waverleys there anyway.”

  “I wish this feud never existed. It seems so silly arguing over such a small bit of land,” Chloe said.

  “But it is not just over a bit of land.” Her mother took the letter into the drawing room and seated herself at the writing desk, pulling out a fresh sheet of paper with a flourish.

  Chloe scurried after and sat on the chaise longue near her mother. “What do you mean it is not just over a bit of land? You mean what happened before? With our ancestors?”

  Her mother pulled out a quill and dipped it into the ink pot. “No, though goodness knows there has always been bad blood between the families. Even in medieval times they were fighting. Though, I could not tell you about what.”

  Chloe watched her mother pen the first few lines of the response confirming that they would indeed be attending the ball. “So what else happened?”