The Wicked Wallflowers

by Tammy Andresen

  He leaned closer, not wanting to be overheard. “Thank you,” he said again. “Though I would like to assure you that I am exceptionally trustworthy. You, Lady Helena can trust me with anything you’d like to share.” He had to confess that he was enjoying this immensely. Though he didn’t feel any particular attraction to Helena, he liked her company. What was more, whatever she didn’t say was far more interesting than any conversation he’d likely have here. Pierce hadn’t participated in society much since taking over the title. Not only did he have far too much work but it mostly seemed a vapid waste of time to him. That, and he wasn’t invited to a great many events thanks to his brother.

  She lifted her brow. “I doubt very much that you are a man to be trusted.”

  He heard a quiet gasp behind him. Normally he wouldn’t have heard the noise in the crowd but whoever had made the sound was nearby. Though it was unlikely the gasper was listening to their conversation, as several were happening around them at once.

  Lady Helena was right. They needed more privacy to finish this discussion. “Perhaps we can step out onto the quieter veranda?” He started to pull her toward the open doors.

  She came willingly, her head bending toward his. “I wish to be clear that I don’t want to marry you under any circumstances.”

  Interesting. “Fine with me.” He would not state that he didn’t want to marry her either. It was rude and ungentlemanly. “Let’s declare our relationship one of acquaintance, perhaps to bloom in friendship later.” He caught a hint of her scent, too flowery, too sweet and his nose wrinkled a bit.

  Her shoulders slumped. “That’s an excellent idea.” They moved to a quiet corner of the veranda where they could still be seen but speak without being heard. Lady Helena leaned closer. “I’m not certain I want to marry at all but mother is rather insistent.”

  A chuckle threatened to bubble out. He knew all about that. “I understand entirely.”

  She shook her head. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do but you don’t understand at all.”

  Another party of guests stepped out into the cool summer night. Two women and a man, all of which he recognized. Lord and Lady Dryden were followed by Lady Caroline Bixby. His gut clenched. Caroline’s mass of blonde hair was piled on her head and a few stray curls danced around her face. Her supple body was encased in a red silk dress that hugged her lush curves. Every muscle tightened as he watched her walk.

  He heard Lady Helena swallow next to him. “What a beautiful…dress.”

  He ripped his gaze from Caroline, looking at Helena as she stared back where he’d just been looking. “Are you referring to Lady Caroline?”

  “Yes.” Her voice took on a breathy quality as her eyes travelled up and down Caroline and then repeated the glance. She pressed a hand to her throat. “It’s stunning.”

  Pierce had to agree. And Helena had been right. He hadn’t understood why she didn’t want to marry but he did now. Helena preferred the company of women. This conversation was more amusing by the minute. “I quite agree.”

  “Do you know her? Lady Caroline?” she asked, still staring.

  “We’ve met.” They had. Twice. Both times he’d had a similar reaction to the woman. He could not make himself look away. It was a pity her reputation was in tatters. Otherwise, she’d be exactly what he was searching for.

  A lady with an ample dowry, she was beautiful, soft-spoken, perhaps too much so, but she’d make an excellent wife he’d wager. Still, he had his own tarnished reputation to contend with, he didn’t need to take on hers.

  So he turned back to Helena. “Lovely girl.”

  “And ruined,” Helena breathed even as she bounced on her tiptoes. “How did it happen?”

  “I don’t know,” he answered. He’d heard rumors of course. But who knew if they were true. He didn’t like spreading lies, or in this case, potential lies. Especially not about a woman he quite liked.

  Helena tugged on his arm. “May I ask you a question?”

  Had she done much else? “Of course.”

  She was steadily moving them toward the shadows. “You said you didn’t care that I don’t want to marry you.”

  “That’s correct,” he replied. Now he really was confused.

  “But you came tonight. Why?”

  He let out a small sigh. The details of his situation not the most comfortable topic. “I do need to marry. My title and reputation require that I do.”

  Shadow surrounded them as Lady Helena leaned closer. “Perhaps I want to marry you after all.”

  What the devil? “You don’t mean that.”

  “Let’s do an experiment. Shall we?”

  He turned to ask her what she was talking about but then, her mouth crashed into his in the least pleasant kiss of his entire life. Which was saying something. He’d kissed a fair number of women. Helena’s was all thin lips and teeth and the sweet scent of overpowering rose water.

  And just when he thought the moment could grow no worse a melodious female voice tickled his ear.

  “Am I interrupting, Lord Marksman?”

  Bloody hell, it was Lady Caroline.

  * * *

  Caroline’s first reaction to seeing the kiss was white-hot anger coursing along her skin. She’d already known that Lord Marksman was a rake. Hadn’t the man undressed her with his eyes the two previous occasions they’d met? At least, that’s the way he’d made her feel. He stared at her almost without interruption.

  And her reaction to that stare, well, it was honestly wanton. Her body had heated everywhere and an ache had filled her nether regions. He was a rogue. She should not respond to him in such a way and so she’d amended to stay away from Lord Marksman.

  But when she’d realized the couple had slipped into the shadows, her determination to help the woman who’d fallen prey to such a rake had propelled her to hurry across the stone. At least that’s what she told herself. It was for the other woman’s good. Certainly not her own.

  “Oh,” the woman gasped. “Oh, this is horrible. I…we…you can’t…”

  Caroline held up her hand. “Your secret is safe with me.”

  The other woman gave a sigh of relief, the contours of her face softening.

  Marksman, however, simply stared. Not like before. There was no heat in his gaze, no answering prickle of awareness along her skin. Well, perhaps that was a lie. But this time, as he drew himself up, he appeared…irritated. His shoulders were straight and his chin notched at an angle that said he was serious.

  “What are you doing?” his voice rumbled with an irritation that made it low and her own breath caught.

  “Keeping this lady from making a terrible mistake.” She forced her chin higher and resisted the urge to wet her lips.

  But she clasped her hands. Perhaps rakes didn’t like being interrupted. Had this been a tactical error on her part? She’d meant to seduce a rake, not call him out.

  She didn’t think she could allow Marksman that close, however. His gaze always flustered her. Even now, his anger made her hectic inside. Not frightened exactly but…

  “Lady Caroline,” he rumbled deep in his throat. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.” Then, without another word, he pulled the other woman away whispering in her ear all the while.

  She looked over at her best friend, Chloe, who stood with her husband, the Earl of Dryden. Chloe glanced back, turning her head in question. Caroline waved her friend away. It was likely a terrible idea but she’d face Marksman when he returned. He needed to know that someone watched him and that someone wouldn’t sit idly by and allow him to ruin a lady.

  Chapter Three

  Pierce returned Lady Helena to her mother, promising a dance later and then stalked back out to the garden. That little minx, Lady Caroline, required a good talking to about interrupting. He’d like to teach her the lesson by kissing her senseless.

  Then he slowed his pace. Where Caroline was concerned, he clearly lacked reason. His fist clenched and unclenched. She’d been ruined
and now attempted to keep another woman from suffering the same fate. That much was obvious. Still, she played a dangerous game.

  Walking back through the doors, he scanned the terrace but didn’t see Caroline among the few people still out. Then he caught the briefest movement in the shadow he’d just vacated. Meandering his way over, he entered the darkness, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dim light. The first thing he noticed was a hint of red.

  “My lady.” He stepped closer. He hadn’t used her name in case this wasn’t her but as she turned, her aroma wrapped about him. Her scent, like summer dew on fresh grass, made him stop and draw in a deep breath.

  “My lord,” she replied.

  Her voice held not the promise of summer as her voice usually did, but a wintery chill to be certain. She was angry. “You misunderstand the situation.” He moved until he was only inches from her, blocking any view of her the shadows might reveal. It was for her protection, but he had to confess the proximity made his pulse race faster.

  “I misunderstand that you were kissing Lady Helena in the garden under the full moon?” She crossed her arms and her glove just brushed his jacket. He wanted to grab that hand and pull off the glove and kiss her palm. Then he’d take one of her fingers into his mouth and…

  He forced himself to stop. “Lady Helena’s mother and mine are discussing a match. I—”

  She sniffed. “Your mother? Aren’t you an earl? Your mother is matching you?”

  Quick as a snake, he reached up and grabbed her hand, pulling her closer until her body bumped into his. Because she had a bloody point. “That is none of your concern. Neither is anything else that transpires between myself and Lady Helena.”

  “Once you’ve offered for her hand, as per your mother’s request—” She yanked her arm away from his. “You are absolutely correct.”

  This time he didn’t grab her hand but her hip. Which was a mistake. The curve molded to his fingers, the tiny waist accentuating by the flair of her ample hip. “I don’t need to explain myself to you or anyone else.”

  “Except your mother?”

  Blast it all to hell, anger and desire coursed through him. He could hear her breathing, shallow and breathy. The thought that he should teach her a lesson surfaced once again. She did not have the docile personality he’d supposed. He found this feisty side of her intoxicating. He leaned down until his lips hovered above hers. “I thought you were a different sort of woman.”

  She shuddered, the vibration traveling through his hand. “You’re not alone.” Her voice trembled a bit. “I’m a disappointment to most.”

  His grip softened. He’d found her weak spot too. “Not disappointing.” He let his nose touch the tip of hers. She shook again, but this was more of a shiver. One of her hands rested on his chest. Did she mean to push him away or pull him closer? She didn’t do either. Instead, she held still. “You are more than I thought you’d be from our last two meetings.” Her fingers curled into his jacket.

  “Don’t be fooled. I am less.”

  He wanted to kiss her. Was it out of desire or a need to soothe her? He wasn’t certain. “You are more. And so am I,” Pierce said. “At least I am more than a man who does what his mother says. In fact, I almost never do what she asks, which is why our relationship grows increasingly strained.” Why was he telling her this? If he were honest, sharing the truth with Caroline felt good. “So I thought I’d give listening to her a try.” And he couldn’t afford to alienate the families she’d contacted. He had so few friends these days.

  “How’s it going?” she asked, softening under him. Which was dangerous. He wanted to pull her closer still and press his lips to hers.

  “Dreadful,” he answered. “Lady Helena is hatching a plan and I’m not sure I want to know the details.”

  She backed away. Just a little. “You expect me to believe that?”

  He tightened his hand again. Caroline wasn’t going anywhere.

  * * *

  Caroline needed to get out of this shadow immediately. First, she hadn’t intended to allow Pierce so close. She’d discovered this evening she didn’t quite have control where he was concerned. Which was why he was the one rake she couldn’t attempt to research. She knew she wouldn’t be able to withstand the heat he effortlessly brought out from her core.

  But he was like a hypnotist. She was caught in his gaze. She’d attempted to place distance between them by throwing those silly barbs about his mother, but all that had done was bring them closer together. What to do? She tried to think of a plan but the heat from his body was seeping through her red silk dress making several places in her body tingle with desire.

  His fingers flexed on her hips. “Hmm. Let me think. An eligible earl with a need for coin. Lots of ladies are hatching plans. The difference between them and Lady Helena is that she seems to want to strike an open bargain built on mutual dislike.”

  His bold words caught her off guard. “Dislike? That’s why you were kissing her?”

  He let out a short breath. “A man does not divulge a woman’s secrets.”

  She arched a brow and pushed at his chest a bit. Not so much that he moved, but just enough that he understood there should be more distance between them. “Does he keep those secrets even when her reputation is tarnished?” Is that what Lord Parks said to himself? That he was keeping her secrets? That made anger flare inside her filling her chest. “If I tell all of London about your kiss would you leave her to ruin?”

  Still holding her hip, he began a gentle massage. The touch stole her breath. “No gentleman would if he’s worth his salt.”

  She swallowed and looked away. They were lovely words. The sort that a few years ago, she would have believed without question. “So that’s why you pulled her into the shadows? Because you are a gentleman?”

  “How do you know that I pulled her?” His voice was quiet but it held a challenge. “I didn’t pull you.”

  Her heartbeat moved faster and faster. “And I suppose she kissed you too?”

  “Suppose what you like.” His lips brushed the tip of her nose.

  His warm breath blew across her cheek. She caught the scent of brandy. Intoxicating. “I suppose that you did. After all, you are holding me against you and you won’t let go.” She knew what his proximity was leading to. She’d done this very dance with Lord Parks once before. Caroline would not, under any circumstances, share a kiss with a man who’d been kissing another woman in this very spot minutes before. Not even she was that ninny-headed.

  “Then I shall let you go.” Finally he took a step back. The air rushed from her lungs partially in relief but mostly in regret. For whatever reason, she was attracted to the worst sort of men. Lord Marksman was no exception. She’d seen him with Lady Helena and yet still her body responded to his. Traitor, she berated herself.

  “Good.” Why did her voice crack like that?

  “Good night, my lady,” he whispered as he slipped from the shadows and into the light. Caroline watched him return to the party. She stayed in the shadows for several more minutes before she followed. Yes, she’d stopped Lord Marksman from ruining Lady Helena, and she’d proven the man was a rake. But she couldn’t research him without risking herself. Not her reputation, that was long gone, but he made her feel raw and vulnerable. And so, she’d have to find another man.

  But she couldn’t allow him to hurt Helena. The woman had clearly fallen under his spell, or Caroline assumed so. Tomorrow, she’d visit Helena and find out for certain.

  Returning to the ballroom, she found Chloe and Fin sitting in a corner. Chloe jumped up the moment she saw Caroline and reached for her hand, pulling her close. “What were you thinking?”

  Caroline drew in a long breath. “Chloe, this was your idea, remember? You wanted to write the book.”

  “I know but you were alone with him and I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Like a hungry wolf looks at sheep.”

  Caroline leaned closer. “I’m already ruined. Is it possible to be more ru
ined?” She shook her head. “I don’t think so. Besides, how else am I supposed to research rakes? You know that this was your idea.” She wasn’t being nice to Chloe and she wasn’t usually so frank. But something inside her was wobbly.

  Chloe bit her lip. “I know that the book was my idea but…” Chloe drew in a breath. “He frightens me.”

  “He frightens me too.” She squeezed her friend’s hand. She didn’t believe these words for a minute, but Chloe needed reassuring. “You didn’t like Annie’s husband at first either and now look how that turned out?” Luke was a scarred marquess who appeared quite intimidating but turned into a lamb with his wife.

  Chloe’s eyebrows rose. “Oh. Do you think he might be the man to marry you?”

  Caroline nibbled on her lip. She’d only meant that Marksman might not be as bad as Chloe feared but she’d gone and insinuated they could have a future. A shiver rolled down her spine. “I don’t know.” And now she was lying to her friend. What was happening to her?

  “Just be careful,” Chloe said pulling Caroline toward the chairs.

  “I will.” Another lie. But for what she had planned, she needed Chloe to cooperate.

  Chapter Four

  The following day, Pierce sat next to Lady Helena, wondering what he’d done wrong in his life. He should ask his mother. She’d have loads to say on the topic.

  Gone was the woman who’d been articulate and interesting from the night before. In her place was a buttoned-up, frowning, complaining lady unimpressed with his company.

  “You needn’t have come,” she said for the third time, poking a needle into the needlepoint she was crafting. “I said all I needed to last night and my stitching would come out much better if you weren’t distracting me.”

  “I thought our conversation needed finishing.” He quirked a brow. When he’d gotten home, he’d considered what Helena might be proposing. A match of convenience. He wasn’t sure he was interested, but the idea was worth considering with some additional information. Would there be an heir involved? An open marriage? These details should be sorted before they went any further.