Page 28 of The Wallflower Ruse

“Lucky me,” Lucinda said, and Miss Collins and Miss Cox laughed, and even Alfreda gave an unhappy little snort.

“I wish Lord Restive wouldn’t come to these gatherings,” Miss Collins said. “He’s rather exciting, but he’s also crude.”

“He’s irresistible,” Alfreda moaned.

“He tried to make Alfreda and me believe that he wants us both at the same time—in a frightfully improper way,” Miss Collins said.

Lucinda muffled an urge to giggle. How could Restive? “He makes a practice of shocking people.”

“I’d rather not be distracted from valuable discussions, and yet he’s impossible to ignore,” Miss Collins said.

“I don’t want to ignore him,” Alfreda groaned. “I don’t know what to do!”

“Take what little enjoyment you can from his crude insinuations,” Lucinda said. Restive was approaching, so she raised her voice. “You know he’s just playing games, so why not be amused?”

“That’s excellent advice,” Miss Collins said. “Is that how you do it?”

“I’ve known Lord Restive since childhood,” Lucinda said, wrinkling her nose at him. “He’s like a brother to me, so I am free to be rude in return.”

“Yes, alas,” Restive said, “Miss Belair wounds me every time we meet. Fortunately for my confidence, that is seldom. We must bid you ladies adieu, for Lady Alice is fatigued.”

Did that mean he had learned enough? Or that he had learned nothing at all? Or that he felt that her own efforts were just as useless? Trying not to show her dejection, she bade everyone good evening.

Mr. Pearce rushed up as they prepared to leave. “My dear Miss Belair, we have scarcely met. It is sheer torture to part so soon. Will you attend Lady Tollister’s party tomorrow?”

Drat the man, but at least she’d been forewarned. Lucinda shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I’m not acquainted with Lady Tollister.”

“Ah, but I am,” Mr. Pearce said. “She will be happy to welcome you, I promise.”

“So very kind, but I have another engagement,” Lucinda lied.

“Cancel it,” Mr. Pearce said. “Love takes precedence over—over mere propriety. Please, please do say you will!”

Lucinda began to be annoyed. “It would be rude to cancel. In any event, I cannot come unchaperoned, and I do not wish to trespass on Lady Alice’s time.”

“Lady Alice may be free tomorrow evening,” Restive said, and Lucinda turned on him, barely able to mask her annoyance. No, more like fury.

He smirked, and she longed to slap him. Again, a fervent wish for revenge surged up within her. Was this his way of getting back at her for telling the other ladies to dismiss him as merely amusing?

“I’ll have to consult my engagement book, but I believe I am free,” Lady Alice said, “and I think we can postpone our other plans without causing offense. Thank you, Mr. Pearce. It would be a pleasure. I haven’t seen Lady Tollister in simply ages.”

Not Lady Alice, too! Why?

Lady Alice and Restive went to the door, but Mr. Pearce grabbed Lucinda’s hand and kissed it. “Wonderful!” he cried. “Until tomorrow. Adieu, my goddess, adieu!”

As she hastened away, she heard him say, “Well, Mrs. Spence? Are you happy with my poetry now?”

“You could not have found a better lady to fall in love with,” she replied. “At last, for I feared you would be obliged to settle for much worse.”