Chapter 1

One

L ady Lilah Stevens was on a mission. One of great importance. At least to her… A certain viscount, one who shall remain unnamed, had ruined her. Not by actual deed, but by his damning words. If possible, she would have throttled him for being so inconsiderate. The reprobate had been foxed and slurring his words when he’d told his tale. But of course his word was above approach. Because he was a man. A man’s word had to be trusted. A wallflower of little import? Not in the least…

She had hated being a wallflower, but there had been some comfort in being overlooked. Lilah had understood her place—even if it was undesirable. No lady wished to be relegated to the sides of the dance floor. But she had accepted her unwanted identity. Lilah had been a wallflower. Emphasis on the had been part. Now she was the infamous wallflower. They still referred to her in her wallflower capacity, but with loud whispers and how she had taken liberties upon that infernal viscount that no proper young lady should have.

As if she would ever… She shuddered. Lilah did not want a scoundrel for a husband. She would much rather become a spinster and live alone for the rest of her days. If she married, she wanted to at least have mutual respect between her and her husband. How could she hold the Viscount of Harcrest in high regard when he didn’t seem to have any appreciation for himself. He did not live a respectable life, and he certainly did not care how his actions affected others. In short, he was a complete arse that deserved to be punished.

Which was the reason she was about to meet with her fellow wallflowers. They had made a pact. One that would ensure that each of their acts of revenge would be successful. They were all wallflowers. No one noticed them. That was the beauty of being a wallflower, or at least it had been. Now that she was notorious everything had changed. Lilah did not have the luxury of hiding in the shadows any longer. She would have to depend upon her friends to aid her cause.

They were meeting at Hyde Park. Not during the fashionable hour of course. They did not wish for anyone to witness their gathering. A wallflower might go unnoticed, but someone might comment upon Lilah being in the park. Many gentlemen kept their distance from her when she was in their general vicinity. As if she might accost them in some fashion. Because of this she’d become resigned. There was no helping her situation now. Lilah would be a spinster, and she’d accept that fate. After, she taught that bloody viscount a much-needed lesson anyway.

“Must you walk so fast,” Cora, her sister, asked, a little breathlessly. “I can barely keep up with you.” Cora was older than her by a year and also a fellow wallflower. This wasn’t her first season, and it may be her last as well. Unfortunately, Lilah’s new reputation flowed downhill to the rest of her family. She still had not spoken directly to her father about the incident.

“My apologies,” Lilah said. “I’m just so…errr.” She opened and closed her fingers into fists. “I want to hit him.” It would not solve anything, but it would feel good to release some of her pent up frustration.

It had been merely a sennight since he’s callously ruined her. She still wondered why he’d done it. What had she done to him to make him think speak so ill of her? If only she could understand his reasoning. Perhaps then she might not be quite so angry with him. Lilah considered it… No, she would still be livid. But that didn’t mean she did not still wish to understand the rotten scoundrel’s motives.

“And you have every right to that anger,” Cora said. “We all understand it. However, please do not take it out on me. I’d like to be able to walk home later. At this pace, I’ll be exhausted before we reach the park.” Cora tucked a strand of her black hair behind her ear. Her brown eyes were filled with concern as she gazed upon her. She was correct. Cora hadn’t been the one to cause her harm and she shouldn’t take it out on her.

Lilah sighed and slowed her pace. They didn’t live too far from Hyde Park, and before her reputation had been ruined, they had gone there during the fashionable hour often. They enjoyed going to the park. Now it was almost impossible for them to go anywhere without whispers following them. “I truly am sorry,” she told Cora. “I’ll endeavor to not take out my frustrations on you. Forgive me?”

“Of course, sister dear,” Cora told her. “I’m here for you. As is Victoria, Emma, and Selena.”

Emma was the true surprise. Her brother was the blasted viscount that had ruined Lilah’s good name. She had fully expected Emma would bow out on this scheme. But she’d said her brother should have known better and someone should show him the error of his ways. For that reason alone, Lilah adored the woman. As wallflowers, they had all known each other existed. One didn’t hug a wall all season and not notice the rest of the ladies being ignored. However, they hadn’t truly talked until that fateful evening of Lilah’s ruination. In was then they had made their pact. They all had reasons for enacting a plot of revenge, and by the end of the year, they intended to see them fulfilled.

Lilah’s would be first. Depending on its success, they would move on to the next wallflower. They still had not decided which one of the ladies would be next. After Lilah got her revenge, they would make that decision. “I’m grateful to all of you.”

“I still cannot believe Lord Harcrest said all of that.” She shook her head and sighed. “And we have already discussed this ad nauseam. We don’t need to do so again. I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Lilah told her. “You’re not the one that wronged me.” They reached Hyde Park and headed to the area they had agreed to meet. There was a tall shade tree at the back of the park close to the Serpentine that would be perfect. It was only noon, and they had much to discuss before the fashionable hour. They did not wish to be in the park when everyone started to make their appearances. They had roughly four hours. Not that she thought they would need that long.

“There they are,” Cora said, and gestured in the other ladies direction.

Victoria, Selena, and Emma were sitting on a blanket under the tree. They had brought a picnic basket so they could eat while they talked. Lilah’s stomach growled as if on cue. She hadn’t realized how hungry she had gotten. Her anger had masked it as they walked.

They hurried over to the other women. They had brought a blanket as well. Cora spread it out, and they both sat down on it. “Now that we are all here,” Lilah began. “Has anyone thought about what we should do?”

“I have,” Emma said. She twirled a stray blonde lock as she stared at Lilah. “It is the only thing I can think of that would both terrify and anger my brother.”

That piqued Lilah’s interest. “And what would that be?” Whatever it was, she would see it happen. That man had to pay for what he’d done to her.

“He needs to wed,” Emma said.

Lilah wrinkled her nose in displeasure. She’d thought she’d do anything, but apparently she had a line she would not cross. “I am not marrying your brother.”

Emma laughed. “And it’s understandable that you do not wish to be tied to him forever. What he did to you is bloody awful.” She held up a hand. “But please listen to what I have to say. You don’t have to be the one marrying him. But we can ensure that he is trapped, nonetheless.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “My brother should have married by now. In a way, I’m doing him a favor.”

“And who would the unlucky lady be?” She wasn’t certain she wanted to tie any woman to him, and she didn’t question Emma’s last statement either—that was none of her business. What woman would deserve to be his wife? Lilah couldn’t think of one. “And why is this a deserving punishment?”

“Because he has boasted on several occasions he will never marry,” Emma said. “For any reason and to any woman. He has even said that he didn’t care if he was caught in a scandalous fashion with a woman. He would not marry her.” Emma sighed. “He has a duty to his title; however, he refuses to accept that and find a wife.”

“Then how are we going to force his hand?” Lilah wasn’t so certain this would work.

“That’s easy,” Selena said. “We put a woman in his path that he can’t refuse.”

“But Emma just said…” Lilah was so confused.

“My brother may think he can refuse any woman, but we all know that isn’t true. There are ladies that have fathers or older brothers that will ensure he’s at the altar and saying those vows.”

She was right. “Unless he wants to find himself in a duel of some sort, that is true.” Lilah turned toward Emma. “Would he risk that?”

She shook her head. “My brother’s honor is questionable, and he values his life too much to risk it in a duel. He’d rather marry than face death.” Emma grinned. “And that will be his undoing. Truly, this is for the best. For everyone.” She had a faraway expression on her face that made Lilah wonder what Emma hadn’t said.

Lilah didn’t have a father or brother willing to fight a duel for her. Her father was too old to take such a risk. Not that she wanted to marry Lord Harcrest. Lilah wanted the impossible—her bloody reputation back. “Then what is the plan?”

“And that’s my cue,” Victoria chimed in. Lady Victoria Spencer had brown hair and hazel eyes. She was curvy and beautiful. “I have convinced my brother we must have a house party, and only the best guests are invited.” She popped a chunk of cheese into her mouth and chewed. “Which means you will all be there, of course.” She motioned toward Emma. “And that scoundrel brother of yours will have to escort you there. So, he’ll be in attendance.”

“Indeed,” Emma agreed.

“Now,” Lady Selena Brooks began. “As to Lord Harcrest’s potential bride.” Her blue eyes gleamed with amusement. Her golden-brown hair was pulled into an elegant chignon, not a hair out of place. She was a true beauty and her wallflower status shocking to them all. Unless one knew about the dire straits her family had been in. Her brother had turned the tables on their fortune, but that hadn’t saved Selena in time when she was launched into society. She had a dowry now that rivaled some of the wealthier families, but she didn’t let that secret out. If a man only wanted her for her money, then she wanted nothing to do with them. “I have a few ladies on my list that will be perfect. One is the daughter of a duke and is beyond haughty. I cannot count how many times she’s turned up her nose at me.”

“As the daughter of a duke she’ll have a good dowry. Does Lord Harcrest deserve a rich wife?” Cora asked.

“Normally I would agree with you,” Selena said. “But for this to work, we have to pick a lady that will be formidable, and that her family will protect at all costs. That means money. For some, their reputation means more than their coffers. Well, to a certain extent.”

“That’s true,” Lilah said. “It’s not a perfect solution, but you know either way the viscount will hate being forced to wed anyone.”

“Absolutely,” Emma said. She turned her head thoughtfully, as if considering her next words carefully. “Trust me. My brother will fight this to the bitter end. But when it is all said and done, he will not have a choice. He’ll accept his fate, even if he resents it.”

“So is this what we’re going to do?” Victoria asked. “I’ve already insisted on this house party. My brother didn’t like the idea, but he’s agreed.”

“I believe it is our best choice,” Lilah said. “It doesn’t seem enough, though.”

“Well,” Emma began. “We can also slowly torture him while we are at the house party. Play little tricks on him. You know, like small children do to their governess.” She grinned mischievously. “I’ve always wanted to play pranks on him.”

“Oh,” Cora said. “I like that. We will have to come up with a few awful things to do to him. I’ll start a list when we return home.”

That was Cora, always making lists. “You all are the best. Thank you for helping me with this,” Lilah said, gratitude evident in her tone as she spoke.

“It is our pleasure,” Selena told her. “He deserves this. He will learn that it is never a good idea to ruin a woman. Especially without cause.”

“One would hope…” Lilah blew out a breath. “But clearly, he’s not one that thinks before he acts. He may never truly learn anything.”

Emma shrugged. “He will pay for his actions. We’ll have to accept that and live with it.” Her lips twitched. “And I’ll start this out with something that will guarantee to get his attention. It’ll lay the groundwork for our little scheme.”

“And what is that?” Selena asked.

“He started a scandal that spread rumors faster than we can blink,” Emma said. “We’re going to use that to our advantage. Give a few of the more reliable gossips something to that’ll gladly spread around.”

“What did you have in mind?” Lilah asked with interest.

“Let it be known that one Viscount Harcrest is ready to wed and that all interested parties be prepared to present themselves for consideration.” She winked. “That way when he is caught inflagranti delicto at the house party it won’t be such a surprise to him that a lady tried to catch his interest.”

“That’s rich. Considering how much he’s made it known he’ll never marry.” Emma grinned. “I like it. This is going to be fun.” She rubbed her hands with glee. “I know, I’m terrible. This is my brother we’re discussing. It really is for his own good, though. The title does need an heir and he will never do it on his own. I’m helping. Truly.”

“You do not need to convince us,” Selena said, then shrugged. “We all want this to succeed.” She grinned too. “And you’re right. This is going to be fun.”

She nodded. This was what they were going to do. They had a plan. Now they just had to ensure it all went smoothly. In approximately a fortnight, the viscount would understand how wrong he’d been. At least that was the hope…