“Yes, I’m sure,” replied Lady Cressica. “I only hope at least a few gentlemen will ask me to dance. I’d hate to be stuck on the edge of the ballroom all evening.”
“I hardly think that should be a problem, Lady Cressica,” Lady Tabitha said with no small amount of derision in her tone. “Surely Lord Devonport has already placed his name on your dance card. I would imagine for at least two dances. Please excuse me.”
And without a backward glance, she spun on her heel and marched the opposite direction.
“I am so sorry,” Miss Faulkner said. “I haven’t the faintest idea what has come over her.” Her eyes pleaded with Noah, though she virtually ignored Lady Cressica in the exchange. She turned and followed her cousin, though her gait was more dignified by half.
Noah didn’t know what had come over Lady Tabitha either, though he had a sinking feeling that he was involved in some way. If he didn’t know better, he’d think her jealous of Lady Cressica. But that couldn’t be. Perhaps he truly had done something at the Scantlebury ball to offend her. He’d have to rectify it. Somehow.
In the meanwhile, though, he had Lady Cressica looking expectantly up at him. Noah closed his eyes briefly to steel himself. “Indeed, I would be honored if I could have a dance or two with you this evening,” he forced himself to say.
She smiled a true smile for the first time since he’d been in her company.
Once he worked out what he’d done to affront Lady Tabitha and made amends, she would have to make amends to him for forcing his hand with this insipid debutante.
One thing at a time, though.
~ * ~
“Slow down, Tabby,” Jo called out from behind Tabitha. “If you force me to run after you, I’ll make a scene.”
After nearly thirty years spent primarily in Jo’s company, Tabitha didn’t doubt her claim for even a moment. On the contrary, she knew her cousin capable of making a spectacular scene—one that the ton would talk about for weeks. Damn and blast, she wanted out of Lord Devonport’s company, and particularly out of Lady Cressica’s company, and she wanted it to happen immediately. She slowed to a more normal pace and waited for Jo’s longer legs to catch up with her.
“Care to explain any of that?” Jo drawled.
Tabitha frowned. “Not particularly.”
They walked in silence for a few blocks, each lost in her own thoughts. When they turned toward Cavendish Square, Jo broke the silence. “You’ve always been civil with Lord Devonport before. More than just civil, actually. I thought he was like family.”
“He is.” Tabitha didn’t trust herself to say more. The encounter had affected her in ways she didn’t understand herself, so how could she possibly enlighten Jo?
They walked another block without a word spoken between them. Tabitha intended to remain as tight-lipped as she could.
But when they turned up the lane to Shelton Hall, Jo reached out a hand and took Tabitha’s, gently pulling her to a stop. The footmen had already opened the doors leading in to the foyer and stood at attention waiting for the two to come inside.
Jo waited until Tabitha looked into her eyes. “You’re acting like a jealous dunderhead. Admit you have an affection for him. And don’t take it out on Lady Cressica.” Then she whirled about and proceeded inside, leaving Tabitha with her jaw hanging slack.
~ * ~
Noah needed a break. He couldn’t face another afternoon of paying court to banal young debutantes followed by another evening spent attempting to woo the very same ladies by dancing and flirting. It was enough to drive him to the brink of insanity.
Still, he ought to visit Miss Jennings, or perhaps Lady Cressica again (though he shuddered at the thought of such a call, particularly after being subjected to not one, but two dances with her the prior evening—including the supper dance). Instead, he found himself driving his curricle through the streets of Mayfair with no real destination in mind.
Before he discovered his own intentions, he was pulling to a stop in front of Shelton House on Cavendish Square, where another carriage waited with driver and horses ready to go. He sat perched atop the curricle while various and sundry ladies and gentlemen passed by, eyeing him.
Should he go inside and try again with Lady Tabitha? She had spurned his attentions up to this point. But he would never be able to repair whatever gaffe he had committed if he never tried. If he never corrected the problems between them, how would he ever know if she could, perhaps, be agreeable to his advances? But she might not be ready. She could send him away without a second glance.
She ought to do precisely that.
Even if she did, it wouldn’t relieve him of his gentlemanly duty to her. He needed to go and speak with her. He must at least make an honest attempt at setting things right.
It was the only way he could live with himself.
Finally making up his mind, Noah climbed down and started up the path. He didn’t make it far, though. After two full strides, the doors opened. Shelton and Raynesford spilled out first, followed soon behind by Claremont and Leith.
“Devonport,” called out Raynesford. “Calling on Tabitha finally? Good.”
Good? Noah doubted Raynesford would still feel the same way if fully informed. The Shelton brothers may seem nonchalant with regard to their sister, but when push came to shove, he had no doubt there would be plenty of pushing and shoving. It might even come to fisticuffs. Noah already considered himself lucky that neither had yet issued him a challenge.
If some sod had danced with one of Noah’s sisters and caused her to run from the ballroom floor in tears, he knew full well what he would have done. Add in the fact that the sister in question could not stand being in the so-called gentleman’s presence? No one would be able to stop him from seeking retribution.
Shelton reached Noah’s side first and clapped him on the back. “That can wait. We’re off to White’s. You should come with us. Call on Tabitha tomorrow.”
Tomorrow? A one-day reprieve. It was a sorely tempting offer. But while it might provide temporary relief, it would solve nothing. “No, I really ought to—”
“You really ought to come with us,” Raynesford cut in. “Toby’s right. You’ve been on the hunt so much the last few days, you need a break.”
“Perhaps,” Claremont said tentatively, passing a meaningful glance in Noah’s direction, “Devonport ought to be allowed to do what he set out to do. Particularly if Tabitha is expecting him.” Clearly her cousin had not forgotten what had happened at the ball. Nor, judging from the scowl marring his darkened features at present, had Leith. Noah had never known Leith to do anything untoward, but it seemed imprudent to test the man.
“Why on earth would Tabitha expect him?” Shelton scoffed. “No gentleman has called on her in recent memory. It’s been years since she had a beau, or even had flowers sent to her. Besides, she won’t suddenly be taking herself off the marriage mart if Devonport waits one more day to make his next move.”
“I think he’s waited rather long enough,” Leith said. The stillness of his voice belied a thinly veiled menace. Leith’s reaction was more along the lines of what Noah would expect from her brothers, should they learn how she’d left the ballroom in tears only a few nights before.
“No,” Raynesford said. “Toby’s right. Tabitha is in no hurry to reach the altar. She’s proven this time and again. Tomorrow is fine. Let’s go.”
Shelton put a hand on Noah’s shoulder and impelled him back down the walkway, leaving him with no option but to go along. “I’ll ride with Devonport,” he called out over his shoulder. “We’ll meet you there.”
The ride to White’s passed in meaningless conversation, which Noah found himself increasingly less capable of paying attention to. The reactions of Claremont and Leith had his mind turning in circles. Lady Tabitha did not only have a father and two brothers who might take exception if Noah had in some way hurt her, but she had countless cousins, a couple of uncles...and men like Leith who cared for her as much as the re
st who had a true familial relationship with her.
He had to set things right, and sooner rather than later. There was no more time to delay. The Shelton clan was far too formidable an opponent when brought together for a common cause.
Once he pulled his curricle up at White’s, Noah had made up his mind. He would spend the afternoon with the Shelton men at White’s, he would spend a quiet dinner at Glastonbury’s with his mother, and then tomorrow he would begin the next phase of his life. The phase in which he would set right whatever injury he had committed against Lady Tabitha and begin an active pursuit of her.
By the time Noah and Shelton left the curricle with a groom and headed inside, the other gentlemen were already seated around a table near the back and laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Shelton asked. “It is bad form of you to leave Devonport and me out of your amusements.”
Noah took the open chair between Raynesford and Leith and half-heartedly accepted the drink Claremont passed his way. In the dim light of the backrooms at White’s, he couldn’t make out what the drink was, but a cursory sniff pointed him toward whiskey. He pretended to take a sip as Claremont turned his attention to Shelton.
“I don’t think you want us to answer that, actually,” Claremont said. “But...if you insist. We were just wondering aloud who would be the first to be snared by the parson’s mousetrap. Devonport is openly seeking it, Leith is not opposed to it, should the opportunity present itself, and you are actively avoiding it...but Leith informs us that you’re getting help in that area, whether looked for or not.”
Shelton spluttered and choked on his own whiskey. “Help? Who in bloody hell wants me married?”
Leith couldn’t contain his sly grin. “Your sister.”
Noah chuckled and tried to disguise it as choking on his whiskey at the look of abject horror on Shelton’s face. He should have known Lady Tabitha would try something after how she had reacted at the ball. Though how she’d discovered her brother’s plans, Noah had no idea.
“And your cousin,” Claremont added. “It seems Tabitha and Jo are trying to find you a bride. For all we know, Bethanne may be in on it too, though I don’t know how she could be contributing from Derbyshire.”
“Never underestimate those three together,” Raynesford said. “It could be the last thing you do.”
“Bethanne?” Noah asked. He’d never met her. Raynesford and Shelton had often spoken of this other cousin, another spinster who had taken over the care of their senile spinster aunt.
Come to think of it, there seemed to be a rash of spinsters within the greater family. That couldn’t bode well for his plans.
Raynesford nodded gravely. “Tabitha, Jo, and Bethanne were always inseparable, since they were very young. When they decided to do something together, you would be intelligent, indeed, to put money on it happening.”
“Whether it was something advisable for them to do or not,” Claremont added.
One corner of Leith’s mouth lifted. “Their schemes were notoriously rather insensible, if memory serves.” He seemed almost in awe of the three, like he held their cunning ways in high esteem.
Shelton pounded a fist on the table. “I don’t care how many of them are involved. How do you know this? I haven’t seen any signs—nothing to make me think Tabitha is up to something. She’s my blasted twin. I think I would know about it if she’s plotting my downfall. Before any of you lot, at the least.”
Raynesford let an inelegant snort slip. “I’d say you’ve been a bit too preoccupied with keeping Lady Backingham’s bed warm of late to notice anything about our sister.”
“At least she’s widowed.” Shelton implored his brother with his eyes. “I make it a point to avoid debutantes like the plague. Don’t want one of them to get the wrong impression. You know, like I’d be inclined to marry the chit or something.” Shelton shuddered.
“Heaven forbid,” muttered Claremont. Was that a hint of pity in Claremont’s tone?
“I’m the one who found out,” said Leith. “From Miss Faulkner. I noticed some odd behavior from the two of them at the theater a few evenings ago, so I pulled her aside and asked her about it.” Leith’s shifty gaze, avoiding Claremont, told Noah they’d discussed more than just whatever nefarious plans she and Lady Tabitha had up their sleeves.
“You’re not serious.” Shelton had the hangdog expression of a lost puppy. “Tabitha can’t be serious.”
“Oh, I daresay she’s quite serious, Shelton,” Noah said. Her prodding and prying during the brief time they had waltzed were more than enough to convince him. He had to admit, it was nice to see someone squirming other than himself. He’d done enough of that lately, with all the heiresses he’d been attempting to court of late.
“Too true,” Claremont said. “Tabitha’s perennially earnest, and I doubt anyone has ever met a lady with a more determined bent than Jo.” Leith chuckled at that statement, but kept his own counsel.
Raynesford leaned forward, situating his elbows on the table and resting his chin in his hands. “And they’re almost constantly together. With all that time together...what else could they be doing? Plotting. Scheming.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen either of them this avid about a project since they shoved Devonport’s sister into Raynesford’s path,” said Leith. He didn’t appear to even be trying to hide his glee. “And we can all see how that turned out.”
Shelton scowled. “Why are you so happy? If they trap me into marrying some poor debutante, you’ll be next.”
“Which brings us back to the initial conjecture—the one which brought us into this conversation in the beginning.” Claremont took a long drink from his glass. “I wager that Tabitha and Jo will succeed, and Toby will be the first at the altar. Sorry, Devonport. I know you need to marry promptly, but my cousin will beat you.”
Shelton scoffed, but neglected to refute the baron.
“I don’t deny that my sister and cousin can be quite influential in such matters,” Raynesford said, “but Toby can be equally as evasive. I say Devonport will be the first.”
Noah nodded to acknowledge his brother-in-law. “Thank you. I think.” He frowned for a moment.
“You’d better be first,” Shelton grumbled.
“Is that where your money is then?” asked Claremont. They all looked in Shelton’s direction to see his decisive nod.
“Well, it’s your money to lose,” Leith said. “I, for one, would never dream of wagering against Lady Tabitha and Miss Faulkner.”
“That’s two on Devonport, and two on Toby.” Claremont held up a couple of fingers on each hand. “It’s up to you to break the tie, Devonport.”
Noah smiled, though he did not make it a habit to place bets upon anything. “Well, I suppose I ought to deliver a divergent position. Since I’m actively seeking a bride, and Shelton is keen to avoid the same, I have to believe Leith will inadvertently stumble to the altar before either of us.”
“Excellent,” Claremont said. “How much shall we put at stake?”
“Let’s not forget the reason Devonport needs to marry,” Raynesford warned.
Shelton turned to face Noah head-on. “Surely a minor wager won’t break your coffers. Will it?”
“No, I can manage a modest gamble.” Noah hoped he could, at least. The details had still not been finalized for Mother and Glastonbury’s wedding and celebration. But he’d find a way to make it all work. Somehow. Yet he couldn’t seem to breathe until he heard the sum they felt fair. For once in his life, he wished he had been more of a gambling man. He might at least have an idea how much he was looking at, in that case.
“I think five pounds should be fair,” said Leith.
Thank goodness. Noah released a pent-up breath, hoping the others would agree. Five pounds wouldn’t put too much of a dent in things.
Raynesford virtually stared through him waiting for confirmation that he could handle such a sum before giving any reaction. Noah nodded his assent. “Excellent,” Rayne
sford said. He almost cracked a smile. “Who’ll go put it in the book? We’ll have to make it official.”
Noah stood. “I will.” He’d never actually seen the famed betting book before, and knowing himself as he did, he might never have another opportunity. Some things a man just had to do for himself at least once in his life.
“I’ll come with you.” Leith set his empty glass on the table and pushed his chair back. “Make sure you get it all down right.” He winked at the others.
When they arrived at the bay window, Noah drew the book across the table before him. He took a quill and dipped it in the ink pot, then settled it against the parchment to mark their wager down—and stopped short. The previous entry had caught his attention and stolen his ability to breathe.
Lord Oglethorpe and Lord Eggerley wager five hundred pounds. Each claims he will be the first to compromise Lady Tabitha Shelton, hereunto known as the Fat Cow with the Fat Dowry, thereby winning the Fat Cow’s hand in marriage and, by default, her Fat Dowry.
Nausea engulfed him and his forehead broke out in a sweat. He wanted to find Oglethorpe and Eggerley and pummel them both until they’d never look human again. He wanted to call them both out and slap a glove in each of their faces. He wanted to do whatever it took to protect Lady Tabitha. He wanted to marry her himself.
By Jove.
Leith cursed ferociously beside him and dragged a hand over his face. “Owen and Toby can’t know,” he said quietly. “Particularly Toby. He’d do something reckless and land himself in prison.”
“Agreed. But we can’t let them...we can’t...” Words were failing Noah. Words never failed him. He could always find a way to speak.
“We can’t let either of those bastards win,” Leith finished for him. “Which means you need to step up your efforts. And any time either Oglethorpe or Eggerley might be around, neither of us can let Lady Tabitha out of our sight.”
Noah was thinking more along the lines of not letting her out of his reach, but there was no need to let Leith in on that particular thought. “Of course.”
Wallflower (Old Maids' Club, Book 1) Page 7
