Page 5 of Wallflower Games: Lady Be Vengeful
“It wasn’t one thing,” Emma said. “A lot happened at school, some of it I’d rather forget.” She inhaled sharply. “But I cannot. It’s always there.” She glanced away from them. “Two girls made my life miserable there. They are the ones I want revenge on, and I intend to have it.”
“Who are they?” Selena asked.
“Yes,” Cora said. “We want to know.”
Emma shook her head. “Not yet,” she said. “When I need your help, I’ll let you know. But I want to do this on my own for as long as possible. I need them to understand how their cruelty affected me.”
“And you shall,” Lilah told her. “Are you going to tell us what you have planned, even if we do not know who?”
She shook her head. “I cannot,” she said. Partly because she didn’t have it all quite worked out. But it had a lot to do with humiliation. She had to ensure all the targets arrived so she could startpulling their strings. “It’s too complicated and I am afraid if I start speaking my plans it will all unravel.”
Selena laughed. “All right. Keep your secrets. We will be here if you need us.”
Emma breathed a sigh of relief. She sipped her tea. These women were the reason she had the courage to see this through now, when before she wouldn’t have been able to. She smiled at them, just content to spend the afternoon in their company. Soon the manor would be overrun with guests and times like this would not be so easy to find. So, she relaxed and enjoyed their company. Revenge schemes could wait until the guests arrived.
Blake strolledinto Harcrest’s study. The viscount was behind his desk, going over some ledgers. Harcrest frowned at the books on his table. He could commiserate with Harcrest’s frustration. There was plenty of time he’d stared at his own accounting books with the same expression on his face. He didn’t enjoy that part of running his estate, either.
“That bad, is it?” Blake said in an amused tone.
Harcrest glanced up and met his gaze. There wasa glazed look there that he shook away. “It will be fine,” he said. “I just have to sort out a few discrepancies.” He closed the book and gave Blake his full attention. “You’re here earlier than expected.”
“You can thank Castlebury for our timely arrival,” he said casually. “He stopped by my townhouse and suggested we travel together since he was in town.”
“He came?” Harcrest asked, surprised. “I must admit, I didn’t think either of you would make the journey here. I wouldn’t blame you if you had decided to remain home.”
Blake shrugged. “My sister is here,” he said. “And Castlebury mentioned that he would like to see his cousin. We’re all family, in a sense. So why not come and spend Christmastide here? It was no trouble, and Castlebury is an excellent traveling companion.”
The viscount nodded. “That makes sense.” He leaned back in his chair and sighed. “I’m actually surprised that Emma wanted to have a house party. She wasn’t a wallflower without reason.”
“This was your sister’s idea?” He frowned. “What reason did she give you?” Blake was as surprised as the viscount. He wasn’t that familiar with his sister. They hadn’t had a chance tobecome acquainted over the years. Though he suspected his own sister had become friendly with her. Perhaps he should make a point to have a conversation or two with Harcrest’s little sister while he was there. To at least discover what Victoria might see in her.
“She said she missed her friends.” Harcrest stood and walked over to the bar in his study. He poured a snifter of brandy. “Would you like one?” He asked.
“Yes,” Blake said. “Please.”
Harcrest handed him his snifter of brandy and took a sip from his own glass.
“Why didn’t she just invite her friends, then?” Blake sipped his own brandy. “Why have so many guests at Christmas?”
“That’s what I said.” He sighed. “But Lilah took her side and I cannot argue with my wife and my sister.” He drew in a breath. “Well, I could, but I don’t like having disagreements with my wife. That never leads anywhere pleasant.” He brought his glass to his lips for a drink. “And I would like to have a more, shall we say, pleasurable time with Lilah.”
Blake laughed. “I can see why you would.” He sipped on his brandy and wandered over to a window. Snow fell lightly outside, but not enough to raise any concern. It would barely blanket theground once finished. “Did Lilah give a reason for her support of Emma’s wishes?”
“No,” Harcrest said. “But I didn’t expect her to. Though it did surprise me. Lilah hates society as much as Emma. There has to be some reason there.”
That was interesting… He turned to glance at Harcrest. “Do you have suspicions about what that reason might be?”
He shook his head. “I’m almost afraid to ask.” He joined Blake at the window. “Those women…” He frowned. “I hate to refer them as such, but it is the truth. Or was… They were all wallflowers. They must have become acquainted while gracing the walls together at those societal functions. They could have discussed almost anything. They are all intelligent enough. That should scare all the gentlemen of the ton witless.”
Blake considered that. Had they plotted something? If so…what? Perhaps this house party would be far more interesting than he had thought. At the first opportunity, he would have a conversation with Miss Emma Collins. He might not be able to discern the truth from one little discussion, but it would be a start. He would also take the opportunity to observe the other wallflowers. Had they hatched this scheme months ago? Long before that original house party? Was that how his friends ended up married to three of them? If so, he would definitely have to be on guard. He would not find himself married to a wallflower. How preposterous…
“You could be right in your supposition,” Blake conceded. “Or you could be seeing something that isn’t there.” He shrugged. “I do not think we will ever truly know either way.”
“Perhaps,” he said. “I could ask my wife.”
“Do you believe she’d admit to it?” Blake arched a brow.
“If I asked her?” Harcrest frowned and turned away from the window. Blake turned and watched as he went back and sat at his desk. He set his glass of brandy down. “Yes, she’d tell me the truth.”
