Page 2 of Wallflower Games: Lady Be Vengeful
“I don’t think so,” Harriett said. “Go, or I promise you will regret interrupting us.”
Emma glared at them. “No. We plan to relax under that tree, and you two will not prevent that.”
Arabella glared at her. Then she got a gleam in her eye that worried Emma. “All right. Go sit by your tree.”
Emma and Fenella stepped past them. They didn’t get far before they were shoved from behind. They both went tumbling into the pond. Emma flailed and spat out water. Fenella sank, and fast. Emma stared at her friend and dropped everything. She dove under the water to help her. She kept sinking.Her skirts flared out and she struggled to get to the surface. Finally, Emma got a hold of her and she yanked at her skirt, then pulled it free. She thanked God that her skirt was a separate piece and not secured to her shirt. She pulled Fenella to the side of the pond.
“She’s not breathing,” Emma said.
Harriett and Arabella stared. Neither one of them was moving. “Go get help, you bloody fools,” Emma ordered.
Still, they didn’t move. She didn’t stop to make them get help. Instead, she focused on Fenella. She’d seen a servant breathe into another once, after they had nearly drowned. Emma didn’t know if it would help, but she had to try. She pinched Fenella’s nose and breathed into her mouth. After a few more attempts, she sputtered and spit out some water. Fenella’s breathing was ragged, but at least she was alive.
“What happened here?” Miss Ravenwood asked.
“She fell into the pond,” Harriett said. She had this innocent expression on her face, as if they hadn’t pushed them in.
“You two,” Miss Ravenwood said. “Go back to the school and tell the headmistress we need assistance.”
She turned to Emma. “You saved her life,” Miss Ravenwood said. “Thank you.”
“She’s my friend,” Emma said softly. “I had to try.”
Miss Ravenwood nodded. “Go back to the school and change your gown. I’ll see to her from here.”
Emma did as she was told. But she didn’t want to leave Fenella. Especially as it was the last time, she saw her. After nearly drowning, she’d been sent home. Emma had no friends left there. But she had many enemies. The top two: Miss Harriett Smythe and Lady Arabella Jones, and she vowed one day those two would pay for almost killing Fenella.
One
Emma 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’tbeen 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 atfinishing 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 gloriouslyhappy 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.”
