Chapter 1

One

E mma stared down at all the invitations she’d finished addressing with a sense of satisfaction. It had taken a little convincing, but her brother had finally agreed to allow her to have a house party for Christmastide. Henry didn’t know why she wanted to have one; however, Lilah did. At least to a certain degree. She hadn’t outlined her revenge plan to Lilah, but she was one of the original wallflowers in the pact. Lilah had been the first one of them to seek her revenge.

It should have bothered her that Lilah aimed to achieve vengeance against her own brother, but Emma knew the truth. So she had agreed to help Lilah. Henry, in his drunken stupor, had fallen prey to an ambitious lady’s scheming. While he hadn’t been without culpability, it had not been entirely his fault. Lilah and Henry had fallen in love. She’d forgiven him—even before she’d realized that Lady Daisy Allen had been the true one behind her ruination.

But that revenge scheme is in the past. This was her chance. She would ensure that a few choice individuals understood the error of their ways. The invitations were officially coming from Lord and Lady Harcrest. So her quarry would not know that she was the one that had sent them. That was the beauty of her plan. No one would suspect a thing. She grinned with glee at the thought. This Christmastide she would get the greatest gift of all—her vengeance.

“Are they all completed?” Lilah asked. She stood in the doorway to the drawing room.

Emma nodded. “I sealed the last one a moment ago.” She held up the stack of invitations. “They just need to be posted.”

Lilah strolled over to the writing desk and held out her hand. “I will give them to Henry.” She picked up the invitations. She tapped the stack. “Are you certain you wish to do this?”

“I am,” Emma said. “There are some things I’ve never told you. Things I’ve told no one.” Her years at finishing school still haunted her. How could she even begin to explain it to Lilah. Sometimes she did not understand it herself. “I need this.”

Lilah nodded. She brushed back a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I understand. You know I do.” She sighed. “But sometimes revenge doesn’t turn out how we wish it to.”

Emma grinned. “And sometimes it gives you more happiness than you could ever have imagined.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Like finding the love of your life and finally living the life you always dreamed about.”

“There is that,” Lilah agreed. “But I am certain that isn’t the norm.”

“It’s worked out all right for Cora and Victoria as well,” Emma said. “I think revenge just might be the answer to finding one’s true love,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows.”

Lila laughed. “That’s ridiculous.” She sighed. “Besides, Victoria didn’t actually try for anything resembling revenge.”

“That is true,” Emma conceded. “Victoria just set out to seduce a man and fell in love.”

“And Cora realized that revenge was the last thing she needed,” Lilah said. “Now she’s gloriously happy and loves Lord Thornton. Maybe even as much as I love Henry.”

“You all are so happy it’s a little disgusting to be around you at times.” She grimaced. “This revenge business wasn’t supposed to lead to a bunch of happy sods.”

Lilah laughed. “You know you like seeing us all settled. Before you know it, you’ll find love too.”

“Now that is unlikely.” Emma stood and went over to a window. She glanced outside and stared at the stark landscape. The colder months were not her fondest. She didn’t even like snow much. Some did, but not her. It was messy and wet and made things just…inconvenient. She’d much rather a warm summer day and the colors of life to greet her—roses in full bloom, trees flush with green leaves, and a pond full of lily pads. The frozen land of winter she could do without. “I don’t think I am meant to love anyone.” She wasn’t worthy of it. Her heart was empty. Nothing could fill it. She cared about her brother and even had a fondness for the other wallflowers. But loving a man enough to say vows? No. That was not happening. Ever.

“You never know,” Lilah told her. “Sometimes you have to let fate help you along the way. I would never have given your brother a chance otherwise. ”

“I don’t believe fate had any say in why you fell for Henry,” Emma said, then chuckled. “He can be persistent. He wore you down until you have him no resistance. Then love just snapped into place like it was always there.”

“Perhaps,” Lilah said. “There is some truth there. He did seem to follow me around until I couldn’t see any other man but him.”

The grin on Lilah’s face was so full of that unyielding love it made Emma ache. She didn’t want love. That seemed too messy, but it still made her feel more than she wanted to. She didn’t want to yearn. Emma wanted her revenge and then she could move on with her life. Love would only get in her way, and she would not allow such a fickle emotion to destroy what she had planned.

“That sounds like Henry.” Emma forced a smile onto her face that she didn’t feel. “He’s nothing if not persistent. I am happy for you.” And she was. Henry might have been a rogue, but he’d reformed when he fell for Lilah. He had gained Emma’s respect with that devotion to Lilah. She turned away from the window and met Lilah’s gaze. “But I need you to understand. I need this party. My revenge must happen. It’s the only way I’ll ever truly have peace.” There were two ladies specifically that she would ensure felt as much humiliation and pain as she had. They had made her life hell, and it was her turn to give that back twofold.

“Your party will go forward,” Lilah said. “I will take these invitations to Henry now.” Resignation filled her voice as she spoke. Lilah may not agree with her, but Emma had her full support. They had made a pact after all. It had started with Lilah, and it would only end after they all had their own version of revenge.

“Good,” Emma said. “I cannot wait for our guests to arrive.” The anticipation that filled her was palpable.

Lilah left the drawing room. Emma went back to the window to contemplate what she had planned. Soon, her prey would be in her home. Then the fun would begin.

Blake Spencer, the Marquess of Ardmore, stared at the invitation on his desk. He’d received it two days ago, and he still didn’t know if he wanted to attend. His friend, the Viscount of Harcrest, would be the host. This was a monumental occasion. Harcrest never had parties or balls, and now he was going to allow guests in his home during Christmas. He should go for that reason alone. To check on his friend and determine if he’d actually lost his mind. Had love and marriage changed the viscount that much?

A knock echoed through the room. “Pardon me, my lord,” his butler, Draven, said. “But you have a guest. Should I see him in here?”

Blake glanced up and said, “Who is it?”

“I am certain I am welcome,” another man said as he brushed past the butler.

“Certainly,” Blake said, then grinned. “It’s all right, Draven. His Grace is always welcome here.” The Duke of Castlebury stood next to the butler with a wide grin on his face. His black hair was a little disheveled. There was a rough wind outdoors. Which was why he hadn’t bothered to leave home. Blake couldn’t abide the cold.

“Would you like refreshments, my lord?” Draven asked.

“Not at this time,” Blake told him. “If that changes, I will let a servant know.”

“Very well,” my lord. Draven bowed and then left his study.

Castlebury strolled in and took a seat by his desk. “I understand why you didn’t order refreshments,” he said in a droll tone. “But please tell me that doesn’t extend to brandy. I could use a snifter or two. It’s bloody cold outside.”

Blake’s lips twitched as he fought a smile. “I must ask why you braved the cold to come here. It must be important.”

“I suppose it is,” Castlebury said. “In a manner of speaking.” He leaned forward and glanced at the invitation on Blake’s desk. “I see you got one too.” He gestured toward it. “Do you think he’s lost his bloody mind?”

Blake shrugged. “Possibly.” He went over to the bar and poured two snifters of brandy, then handed one to the duke. “But it’s more likely he is willing to do anything to make his new wife happy. He’s so in love it’s nauseating to witness.”

“Thornton is too,” the duke said, then shuddered. “Apparently, he’s been in love with that chit for years. I never knew.”

“No one did.” He drew in a breath. “Three of our friends are happily married. You don’t think it’s something that we could, you know, catch. Like a disease. I never would have thought Harcrest of all gentlemen would be susceptible to love and wed, but he was the first to fall.”

“It was a surprise when he asked to use the chapel at Ardmore Abbey for an impromptu wedding.” Blake took a sip of his brandy. “But as he is a friend, I agreed. I guess there is something about those Stephen’s sisters. Two of our friend fell madly for them.”

“Cora is my cousin by marriage now,” Castlebury said. “Now that its come to light that Thornton’s Mother is my aunt. Though we shouldn’t publicly acknowledge that.”

“But you will and have,” Blake said. “Now the gossipmongers have truth to spread instead of speculation that Thornton is your bastard half brother. You two do look remarkably similar.”

“As we are indeed family, that isn’t such a surprise now, is it?” The duke sipped his brandy. “But that’s not why I am here. Discussing my odd family isn’t newsworthy.”

“Why are you here,” Blake said. “I must admit, I am surprised to see you in my townhouse. I didn’t even realize you were in London.”

“I’ve been here for a fortnight. I prefer my country estate. Fewer women vying to be my duchess there.” He set his glass down. “I had intended to return there in a few days, but now I feel obliged to attend a house party. ”

“You’re going?” Blake raised a brow. “I did not think you would accept the invitation.”

“I feel obliged to,” he said in a solemn tone. “As Thornton will be there and I’d like to spend Christmas with him. Cora will want to be with her sister, and it is at Lady Harcrest’s house where this party is to take place. Everything is all tangled up and I don’t like it.”

“I don’t either, my friend,” Blake said honestly. “But what are we to do?”

“We are going to attend this party.” Castlebury met his gaze. “And we are going to have each other’s back. Neither one of us is going to find ourselves attached to a lady at the end of it. I will not be finding a wife at this house party.”

Blake stared at him, shocked at the suggestion. “You don’t actually believe that is a possibility, do you?”

“We have been at two house parties this year,” Castlebury said. “And at them three of our friends fell in love. It could happen.” He sighed. “And I do not wish it to. So we will go and we will stay by each other’s side. At the end, we will return home as unattached as we are now.

“All right,” Blake agreed. “We will do that. I don’t wish to have a wife either. ”

“Good,” Castlebury said. He drained his brandy, then stood. “I’ll make the arrangements and we can travel together. Maybe we can find a reason to depart early too. I don’t want to remain at Harcrest Manor longer than we need to be. We can find some sort of convenient excuse to take our leave.”

“I will have my valet prepare my trunks. When will we leave?”

“Tomorrow morning,” the duke said. “If that is all right with you.” He stood and set his empty snifter on a nearby table.

“It is,” Blake said. “I’ll be ready.” Not that he wanted to go, but at least they had a plan.

The duke nodded and left the room. Blake looked at the invitation again. What was it about house parties, anyway? Why had his friends fallen in love at the last two? He must find discover why, so he didn’t fall prey to that befuddling emotion. He would never be so weak as to need a woman or go mad without her. Not him. Not ever.