Chapter 1

Five years later…

Lady Victoria Spencer was tired of being a wallflower. She didn't want to live the rest of her life in the shadows and forgotten. She wanted to be known. To be seen. More importantly, she was tired of being known as that plump girl. Especially considering she was no longer plump. She hadn't been plump for at the past year. Not that anyone had noticed. They dismissed her during her first season, and her second. Now, at her third season… They'd forgotten about her.

She'd made a pact with some fellow wallflowers to get revenge. To enact a scheme that would make those that wronged them understand their error of judgment. The problem with her retribution? There was no one in particular she wanted revenge on. However, there was one man that she wanted above all others. He didn't want her, though. Had never wanted her. So perhaps the revenge she sought was simple enough. Victoria wanted him to see her and finally want her. But she wouldn't allow him to have her. Even though she loved him. He didn't feel the same way, and she'd never have him when he'd never loved her, could never love her.

The man in question? That hadn't changed in all the years she'd known him. The Earl of Foxcroft had owned her heart since she was four and ten, and now that she was one and twenty? Yes, she still loved him. But she was bitter about it now. Especially with spinsterhood looming on the horizon. She would never have his love, but perhaps she could have his passion. And she had a plan to get it from him. If he desired her… Yes, then she would allow him to have her, at least as a lover. It would have to be enough.

And it would be at this very house party… The one she planned to help Lady Lilah Stephens ruin her quarry's life. Vengeance would be had, for her, and for her fellow wallflower. Lilah would have her revenge, and Victoria would have the Earl of Foxcroft. Her retribution would be of a different sort than Lilah's, and more pleasurable by far. If it all went as planned. Now she just had to take the first steps. She had to ensnare her prey and lead him down the path to sin.

Slowly, she walked into the game room. All of her brother Blake's, the Marquess of Ardmore, friends tended to congregate there. She adored Blake, but he could be too predictable. He thought he was smart and hid his true intentions from her. Like his little cabin in the woods. The one he intended to use as a hideout for scandalous activities.

Victoria grinned. She wanted to explore that cabin and soon. She strolled into the game room and glanced around. Surprisingly, it was empty. Where had they all run off to? She had to find the Earl of Foxcroft. None of this would work if she couldn't lure him into a scandalous liaison.

She turned to leave and ran into the very man she'd been searching for. Lord Foxcroft reached out and steadied her. "My apologies," she said, then glanced up to meet his gaze. He still had those mesmerizing blue eyes that held her captive, and damned if she didn't want to reach up and stroke his golden-brown hair. She itched to discover if it was as silky as it appeared. "I should have paid attention to where I was walking."

"No need to apologize," Lord Foxcroft said in an amiable tone. "I could have warned you I was here. It was clear you were preoccupied." He glanced into the room. "Were you looking for your brother?"

That was an easy excuse and she was grateful he gave it to her. But she had other reasons for coming into the game room. She tilted her head to the side and smiled. Victoria hoped she could convince him to aid her. Unfortunately, she expected that to be difficult. He wouldn't easily volunteer for what she had in mind. "I did hope to discuss some things about the party with him." She told Lord Foxcroft. "But as you can see, he's not here."

"Yes," he replied. The earl turned his attention to her. "I had hoped to speak with him as well. I take it you are unaware of his location, then?"

Victoria shook her head. How was she going to ask him for what she wanted? What would work? She wanted him to show her passion. No, that wasn't entirely true. She wanted him to show her what it was like to be completely taken. To get so lost in someone that she didn't care that she'd be ruined afterward. But she couldn't put that into words. It wouldn't convince him to be her lover. "I never know what my brother is doing at any given time." She shrugged. "He doesn't bother to inform me. Though he should be somewhere on the estate."

Lord Foxcroft laughed. "It's a large estate."

"Very true," she agreed. "So, it might take a while to discover his whereabouts." She tilted her lips upward into what she believed to be a sultry smile. "Unless you are aware of someplace, he might specifically go."

The earl glanced away. She had a feeling he was thinking of that cabin. Did he know its location? Had he planned on participating in those activities Blake had arranged? "Not that I can think of." He turned his attention back to her. Those expressive blue eyes were once again pinned on her. "What did you need him for?"

"Nothing in particular." She was losing an opportunity. If she didn't ask him now when would she have another chance? "At least nothing that cannot wait."

They still stood close to each other. He had dropped his hands from keeping her steady, but neither of them had backed away. How had she not noticed that sooner? "My lord," she began. "I was wondering if I could ask your opinion on something."

Victoria stepped away from him and went back into the game room. She needed some distance from him if she had any hope of saying the words. He followed her into the room and headed over to the bar Blake had stocked for the gentlemen in attendance. He poured himself a snifter of brandy and took a sip. "Wouldn't your brother be a better option to give his opinion?" Lord Foxcroft wandered over to a nearby window and glanced outdoors. The rain continued to pour outside. It had been raining for a couple of days now.

"Not on this." She grinned as she considered her next words. He should be afraid of what she intended, but he didn't have a clue. "I doubt my brother would be interested in hearing about my amorous intentions."

He spun around and faced her. "Pardon me," he said, shock evident in his voice. "I couldn't have heard that correctly. What amorous intentions."

"Well," she began. "I don't have any specifically." She strolled over to the bar and perused the selections. Whisky, brandy, rum… She smiled. No ratafia or sherry for the men. She had never tried any of these spirits. Perhaps she should. "But I would like to have a bit of fun. I'm considering my options." Victoria turned to face him. "And I may also be viewing the gentlemen in attendance as potential lovers."

He choked on his brandy and started to cough. "You cannot…" He coughed again. "That's not…"

"Beg your pardon." She blinked at him with an innocent expression. "Are you all right, my lord? You don't look well."

The earl set his glass down and strolled over to her. He managed to get himself under control and the coughing had seized. "You cannot take a lover."

"Can't I?" she said in that same guileless tone. "I'm a wallflower. Soon to enter spinsterhood. Why not take a lover?"

"Because…" He opened and closed his mouth several times. "You'll be ruined."

Victoria shrugged. "I will be," she said earnestly. "You're correct. But you need not worry about me. My brother will never turn me out and he'll ensure I'm always taken care of." She wandered around the room, laying all the seeds of her trap into place. "I want to know what it is like to be a gentleman. You probably don't understand what I mean."

"I don't," he said. "You can never truly know that."

"I can to a certain extent." She smiled whimsically. "A man can do as he pleases, take what he wants, explore all of his desires." Victoria met his gaze. "He can control his money, go on wild adventures. Be a scoundrel and bed any woman that catches his fancy."

"It's not that simple," Lord Foxcroft insisted.

"It is," she insisted. "And that is what I want." She smiled. "I'm going to be a rogue. The only rogue wallflower. I am not afraid to take what it is I truly desire."

"You can't." Panic filled his voice. "I won't allow it."

She sighed. "It's not up to you, my lord. I am a grown woman. One that can make decisions for herself." This was far more thrilling than she could have imagined. "So, about what I wanted to ask you."

"You wanted my opinion," he began. "I'm giving it to you. This course of action is not wise. You will come to regret it. I am pleading with you. Don't do this."

"Why not?" Victoria needed to know his reasons. Did he want to compel her against this course because he cared about her? Did he want her for himself? Was he aiming to protect her?

"Because your brother is one of my closest friends, and by that extension, I care about you. He'll be upset if you ruin yourself."

She nodded. "I understand," Victoria told him. She had her confirmation. He didn't want her. Not the way she had hoped he would. Well then, there was only one option left to her. "It's all about Blake." Victoria would not be upset. She'd expected this. It still hurt, but it wasn't a surprise. "It has nothing to do with what I want or need. You're more concerned about him."

"That isn't true." He took a step toward her. "I do care about you, too. I don't want you to do something you'll regret. I implore you to reconsider this." He looked so stricken with this idea of hers to be a rogue. "And are we not friends as well? I don't wish for my friend to be ruined."

Victoria was so disappointed. She had hoped for a different outcome. She still had some hope, though. He might yet agree to help her. She just had to play this a little differently. He could be goaded into it. He might even do it in the name of protecting her. "I've had years to consider it." She would not be changing her mind and he had to understand that. "I've been a wallflower every season since my debut. I could have another season. I might even find a husband. Chances are I will not." She didn't want to find just any husband. She'd rather be a spinster. "But let's be honest," she walked back over the bottles of liquor. Victoria trailed her fingers over each bottle. "I don't want another season. I want to be as roguish as a gentleman is permitted. I will imbibe too much, gamble away my purse, and take as many lovers as I can seduce." She tilted her lips into a wanton half smile. One that told him that she would not be swayed, and in fact, anticipated doing every last one of those things. "And I'll do it on my terms."

"It's a mistake," the earl said. He frowned. "I could tell your brother."

"Go ahead," she dared him. "Tell him that his little sister is headed down a scandalous path. He won't believe you." Victoria strolled over to him and trailed a finger over his chest. "Because I've always been a good girl and done as I should. He won't want to believe I could be wicked." She licked her lips and met his gaze. "But I promise you, I most definitely can, and I'll embrace every single scandalous item my imagination can conjure." She winked at him. "And you will be fortunate enough to have the privilege of witnessing all my sinful aspirations firsthand."

With those words, she turned and left the game room. All her seeds were planted, and now she'd just have to wait to see if they took root. She had a feeling the earl would be seeking her out soon. Victoria only hoped that he'd volunteer to be her tutor in everything roguish.