The Revenge Pact

A conclave of wallflowers. Was that the accurate term for what she had found herself a part of? There were several known wallflowers suddenly thrust together in one room together. A few ladies had exited the retiring room upon her entrance—not meeting her gaze as they departed. Lady Lilah Stevens was suddenly a pariah, and she couldn’t fathom why. What the blazes had happened. Why were those ladies all whispering about her? She glanced around the room and her gaze landed on her sister’s. Cora’s eyes were filled with something? Sadness? Perhaps… Either way, it wasn’t anything that made her feel good. The other three women shared a similar expression. She almost hated to ask…

“What is it?” she asked as anxiety filled her.

“The ton is filled with righteous blowhards,” one of the women said. She had golden blonde hair and pale blue eyes the color of icicles shimmering against a skyline. She was pretty. Why was she a wallflower? “They like to think they’re better than us, but are they really?” What was her name… Oh, that’s right, she was that reprobate viscount’s younger sister. Her name was Miss Emma Collins.

Lilah frowned. “We have all graced the walls at society functions together.” She hated it as much as they did. “Why have we never spoken before?”

“Because wallflowers are both not seen nor heard,” another said—Lady Victoria Spencer. She had rich brown hair and hazel eyes flecked with gold specs. Her lush figure was on the plump side, but she had a lovely, heart-shaped face.

“That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t speak to each other,” Lady Selena Brooks said. She had brown hair streaked with gold, and her blue eyes were almost purple. She was the prettiest of them all, and from what she understood about her family, quite poor. Her dresses had seen better days, and the one she wore currently had to be one of her best. It was not fashionable at all. “Even wallflowers deserve friendship.”

“None of this explains why you all had such grave expressions when I walked in,” Lilah remarked. Or why those ladies had bolted from the room when she’d appeared.

“It’s all my disreputable brother’s fault,” Emma said, then sighed. “I love him, but he’s a bloody fool.”

“He made some unfortunate statements about…” Cora bit her bottom lip.

“About what?” Lilah was confused.

“He made it sound as if…” Lady Victoria began, but her cheeks pinkened as if saying the words were the most scandalous thing she had ever done or would do.

“Oh just say it already,” Lady Selena told them. “She needs to know.”

Cora stared at the ground and mumbled, “He implied that you made advances on his person.”

“Advances?” She barely knew the man. “What sort of advances?”

“Those of a more…” Emma cleared her throat. “lascivious sort.”

“You know,” Lady Selena said, waving her hand. “The naked sort. In the attempt to trap a gentleman into marriage.”

Horror filled her. “I’d never…” She wouldn’t want a marriage that way. It would only end in disaster. “Why would he do such a thing?”

“I’m not sure he was even aware of what he was saying,” Emma said, more to herself than anything. “He was quite foxed. I wonder if he mistook you for someone else?”

“I don’t care what his reason was,” Lilah exclaimed. “This will ruin me.” Not that she had many prospects, but this would leave her with none.

“Makes one want to start plotting for real,” Selena mumbled. “Wouldn’t it be grand to be the ones leading the way for once?”

They all stared at her. “What do you mean?”

“Revenge,” she said. “Sometimes it can be subtle, and sometimes it can be so blatant no one can ignore you ever again. Aren’t you all tired of being swept aside?” Selena made her think of all the ways she’d love to make the Viscount of Harcrest pay for ruining her without a thought. Would his sister warn him if she did? She turned her gaze toward the woman in question.

Emma nodded at her. “I’d even help.” As if she understood what Lilah had been thinking. “He should realize that he can’t be so careless. He’s an arse.”

“Are we really going to do this?” Victoria asked in a meek tone. “I don’t know…”

“Surely there is someone you wish to enact your own personal revenge on?” Lady Selena encouraged her. “Come on, tell us.”

“There is one person…” She glanced at Selena imploringly. “You know who.”

“My dear cousin,” she said. “He’s not the man you remember.” She sighed. “But I understand. I’ve lived with him for the past several years. If not for him, I wouldn’t have anything. My father certainly didn’t ensure I’d have a good life. He died in debt and Foxcroft inherited that along with his own father’s. I’ll help you if you want me too, though.” She glanced at them all. “We should make a pact here and now. Whatever we each need, no matter the reasons, for our revenge, we will help each other. There are no excuses accepted.”

They all stared at each other, then nodded.

They stood in a circle around each other, full of resolve. They would do this and they wouldn’t regret it. At least Lilah hoped they wouldn’t. Sometimes a woman had to take action, and it was her turn. She would ruin a certain man’s reputation beyond all repair. Let’s see how he liked it being whispered about.

It didn’t matter what each of their reasons was for revenge. The pact was formed, and they would see it to the end. Some times a leap of faith was required, and Lilah didn’t regret making this one.