The Wicked Wallflowers

by Tammy Andresen

“End our engagement?” His voice was far louder than he’d intended and his heart, which had perhaps reached his stomach fell down into his shoes. “Emily. No. There is no need to end—”

  “Come on.” Diana grabbed Emily’s hand. “We’re leaving.” Then Diana pointed at her cousin. “Ada, walk behind her in case she faints.”

  “Me?” Ada dutifully stepped behind her cousin. “I’m the smallest, you know. If she goes down, she’s taking me with her.”

  Vice actually chuckled and Jack sent him a look that promised death. Malice, who better understood what was happening, stepped behind the women and closed the door, locking it in place.

  At least two of the ladies screamed. Another gasped and a fourth let out a huff of breath. That must have been Diana because she let go of Emily’s hand and stepped toward Malice. “Open that door at once.” Her hands were on her hips and her chest puffed out as she lifted her chin. “I won’t ask again.”

  “You need a lesson on how to speak to a gentleman,” Malice growled.

  Diana sashayed toward him. “Are you threatening me?”

  Exile stepped between them. Easily the largest man in the room, his brawny head dropped down toward Diana’s face. “Easy lass, no one wants trouble here. We all just need to talk for a minute, and we don’t need any interruptions. Everyone’s reputations are better served with some privacy.”

  “Don’t placate her.” Malice said as he stepped up behind Exile. “She’s being rude and—”

  Quick as a snake, Exile turned back to Malice, giving him a shove that sent the man crashing back into the door. “You’ll watch your tongue when speaking to a lady.”

  Jack had barely taken his eyes from his soon-to-be bride but even he noted how protective Exile was over Diana. He gave Exile a questioning glance which the man ignored.

  Emily swayed on her feet and his attention snapped back to her. He reached out and pulled her against his chest. “Darling, listen.”

  “I’m not your love?” Her voice quavered, but her eyes were hard as she pushed against his chest. “You save that for your ladies of the night? Is that who you’re with every time you make a trip to the country?”

  Damn. His fist clenched at his side. This was awful. “I would never hurt you,” he whispered, locking his gaze with hers so that she might see the truth. He brushed a lock of her silky brown hair. “I lost track of time, but I had every intention of meeting you at the ball.”

  She frowned as her lush lips pulled into a hard line. “And your trips to the country?”

  His chest ached. “I can explain.”

  “Why should I believe you?”

  “What I want to know is how did you ladies get in here?” Daring asked just behind him.

  Jack swore softly under his breath. These distractions were going to be the death of him.

  Cordelia attempted to step around Diana and Exile but tripped and wobbled to the side, crashing into Malice, who was still leaning against the door. “Oh dear. My apologies.” She held onto his shoulders as he grasped her waist. “Without my glasses, I can’t see a thing.”

  He reached up a hand and removed the domino from her face as he watched her, drinking in every detail. “Leave the spectacles off, you don’t want to see this anyhow,” Malice said, tossing the domino to the floor before he returned his hand to her back.

  “I’ll take your word for it,” Cordelia answered, her fingers splaying out on his neck and collarbone. “It sounds terrible.”

  Malice did something that Jack hadn’t seen him do in ages. The man smiled. An actual, genuine grin that lit his face making him look years younger.

  “It does indeed,” Malice said.

  “Can we get back to the question?” Daring snapped, his voice ringing with authority. “How did you get in?”

  Emily still pushed Jack’s chest and he was running out of patience. This was his future. “The guard mistook them for the harlots you sent for,” he growled out. Then he turned to Emily. “And I had every intention of leaving before they arrived. This is business, Emily. Nothing more. We run a business, do you understand? No women for me. Well, that isn’t true. There is one woman for me…you.” If he hadn’t lost her forever.

  She softened underneath his hands, at least a little, her own no longer pushing at his chest. “I want to believe you.”

  “This is why you shouldn’t waste your time with marriage,” Malice said, though he still held Cordelia against his chest. Jack would have pointed that out but he wasn’t speaking to anyone but Emily. His friends be damned. He needed her to stay by his side.

  Cordelia looked up at Malice. “Are you a lord, sir?”

  He looked down in her face, and Jack could swear that his features relaxed, that his cheeks were less hard, the slope of his mouth more gentle as his dark eyes glittered in the candlelight. “I think that information is best left unsaid.”

  “Oh, forgive me. Of course,” Cordelia answered. “It’s just that, if you are, won’t you eventually marry if for no other reason than to produce an heir?” Then she started in his arms as though she realized she’d allowed a man to hold her while discussing making babies. Pulling away, she smoothed her skirts. “Thank you for catching me.”

  Malice said nothing more and Jack turned back to Emily. He needed to speak with her alone, he was tired of the interruptions. “Emily, listen to me.” He gathered her closer. “I gave my notice here. I’ll never step foot through these doors again if you ask it of me. You are what’s important. Not this place. I’ve only continued on to provide the life that you deserve.”

  “Oh, that is so sweet.” Ada gave a tiny clap before Diana silenced her with a look.

  “You’re doing this for money?” Emily’s hands started sliding up around his neck. “If this was a business, why didn’t you say something?”

  He hadn’t wanted to tell her about his humiliating past or his earlier financial woes in addition to the club’s secret nature. That was an excellent question and a sticky one too.

  * * *

  Emily’s insides churned so much that she didn’t know how she’d keep the contents of her dinner in her stomach. Cold sweat slicked her forehead. Her life was falling apart.

  Jack’s warm brown eyes stared down into hers. His eyes had been what she’d fallen in love with first. While much of him was hard angles and strong muscles, his eyes were like home.

  “It’s not a respectable establishment,” he answered. “We keep our identities secret, which is why you being here is doubly dangerous.”

  Emily swallowed. Dangerous? “You’re not going to hurt us, are you?” Even as she said the words, she didn’t believe them. But she also wouldn’t have believed her fiancé ran a place like this or that he’d lie to her. How little did she know…

  His brows crinkled and he leaned down to softly kiss her lips. “I would never hurt you. Nor will I allow any harm to come to your sisters or cousins.”

  She gave a tiny nod. “What sort of business?”

  “No,” Daring ground out from next to Jack. “No more information.”

  Minnie, her red hair flashing in the candlelight, stepped up to the duke. “They are trying to save their future.”

  He leaned down, his nose nearly touching hers. “I am trying to save our livelihoods and our reputations.”

  She gave a loud sniff. “You’re men. You’ve almost nothing to lose. Unlike Emily, who could be utterly ruined. You’re not to interrupt her again.”

  “You’re not to tell me what to do.” He reached for her arm, but she knocked his hand away before he could grasp it.

  “Don’t even think about it,” she said between her teeth.

  He made a noise deep in his throat. Emily wasn’t certain if he was angry or enjoying the interaction. But all these people were not helping her and Jack come to any conclusion. “I should never have come here. I’m sorry that I did.” In a quick motion she pushed away from him. “We’ll discuss this tomorrow. Tonight, we should get some rest.”

  “No,�
�� Jack said, pulling her toward him again. “We’ll discuss it now. Open the bloody door,” he said to Malice.

  Malice gave a small shake to his head. “I’m sorry, Jack, but we need to figure out what to do. No one is leaving.”

  For the first time, real fear trickled down her spine. While Jack had said they weren’t in any danger, what if these other men had different plans for her sisters and cousins? “Jack,” she whispered softy, her fingers digging into his hard biceps. “What’s happening?”

  In that moment, she understood a few realities. One, she depended on Jack to see her and her family through this night. And he would. In this, she trusted him absolutely.

  “Everything’s fine.” He pulled her against his chest and whispered in her ear, “I love you, Emily. You’re everything to me. Do you understand?”

  She nodded against his chest.

  “Here is what’s going to happen,” he said, continuing to hold Emily tucked against his body. “In five minutes, we’ll put the ladies’ masks back on.” He pointed to Malice. “Then they’ll leave. They will not say a word because, as Minnie already stated, they have far more to lose by being here than we do.”

  “Minnie?” The Duke curled his lip. “What a ridiculous name.”

  “Oh Darling, you say the sweetest things,” she sneered back.

  He growled an actual growl as he stepped closer to Minnie. “It’s Darlington to you, or in these walls, it’s Daring, but I am not your darling.”

  Minnie’s eyebrows went up. “Is that like a secret name? Now I’m curious what sort of business you’re doing here.”

  “For feck’s sake.” The large redheaded Scot spit on the floor. “Stop talking, Daring. You’re only making it worse.”

  Emily swallowed. Her sister needed to be quiet so they could leave. “Minnie, you too. This isn’t helping.” She needed to aid Jack in their removal from the room. “Gentlemen, my apologies for invading your personal space. We didn’t mean to put your business at jeopardy. I thought Jack a customer at a brothel, if I were honest.” She turned in his arms and lifted her hands. “When the Countess of Abernath mentioned the name, I just assumed.”

  “Wait.” Daring stepped closer. “Did you say the Countess of Abernath?” He gritted his teeth and she shrunk closer to Jack.

  “Did I say something wrong?” She turned back to her fiancé, his heat the only thing that kept her from shivering.

  “No, not at all.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “In fact, that’s quite helpful to know. Wouldn’t you say, Daring?”

  “Indeed, it is,” Daring answered. He slowly raised his elbow and stepped next to Minnie. “Jack is right, of course. We need to send these women home before anyone misses them. We trust ladies, that you will keep our secret just as we will keep your visit here under the strictest of confidences.

  Minnie squinted her eyes but slowly slipped a hand into his elbow. “Of course, we’ll tell no one.”

  One by one, the men held out an arm to the ladies. Malice was next, giving Cordelia his elbow. “Stay close and I’ll see you to your carriage.”

  She gave a tentative nod in return.

  The big Scot slipped his arm about Diana.

  She swatted his hand. “Hold out your elbow, cad.”

  A ridiculously handsome man with blond hair and clear blue eyes held out his arm to Grace while an almost frightening-looking fellow, his features dark and dangerous, stepped next to Ada.

  Jack held up his hand. “I need a moment to speak to my future bride in the hall.”

  Daring let out a loud breath through his nose. “We should wrap this up.”

  “Just a moment,” he answered as he pulled Emily toward the door, his hands still firmly on her waist.

  She knew, more or less, what he wanted to ask and she was fairly certain of her answer.

  The door lock clicked and they moved through the crowd of people, stepping into the much cooler hall. “Emily,” his voice was rough. “Please say you believe me and that you still intend to marry me.”

  She tipped her head back to stare into his warm brown gaze. Her heart fluttered the way it always did when she looked at him. Lifting the domino from her face, she held his biceps, trying to draw strength from him. “I’m sorry, Jack. But I can’t.” She shook her head. “It’s not that I don’t love you or even believe you, but you’ve lied to me for months. What other lies will I discover should I marry you?”

  Chapter Three

  Jack may as well have been cut open, his insides spilled on the floor. “There are no other secrets.”

  Emily shook her head again, the pain in her eyes stabbing into his chest. "Of course there are. I still don’t have a clue what you do here.” She shuddered against him. “I’m tired, Jack. Take me home and we’ll finish discussing this in the morning.”

  His head screamed no. So did his heart. He wanted to keep her here until he’d convinced her that she was making a mistake. “Of course,” he answered. “I’ll pull my carriage around and we can discuss this as we drive. Where is your vehicle?”

  She shrugged, her eyes closed. “Circling about, I think.”

  He turned back to the room of silent onlookers and gave a stiff nod. Passing the guard who’d allowed the women in in the first place, he ordered, “My carriage.” The man was about to have a very bad night.

  Behind him, he heard the rustle of skirts as men silently led the ladies out onto the street. Their carriage already waited by the front door near the mouth of the alley. The men began handing the ladies in one by one until only Emily remained on the cobblestone street.

  “Em,” Diana called from her seat. “We’ve made room.”

  “I’m riding home with Jack,” Emily said, not looking at anyone. “We’ve a few details to discuss yet.”

  “No,” Minnie and Daring said at the same moment.

  Daring cleared his throat. “I think it best to get the women home without any further incident.”

  “I agree,” Minnie said, sticking her face out the door. “He could do anything to her once they’re alone.”

  Jack’s head snapped straighter. His lips thinning over his teeth. What were they insinuating exactly?

  Emily looked at her sister then. “Minnie, Jack would never hurt me.” She raised her hand. “Cover for me at home if mum is still awake.”

  “Cover?” Grace let out a huff. “How do you expect us to accomplish that?”

  “Think of something.” Emily waved her hand as Jack’s carriage pulled up behind hers. “I’ll be along shortly. Leave my window unlocked, would you?”

  “Emily,” Diana started.

  “I’m already ruined,” Emily said in a sigh of resignation. “There’s no point arguing.”

  Diana frowned but pulled her head back in the carriage and the footmen snapped the carriage door closed. Jack nearly slumped in relief. He needed this time alone with Emily to change her mind.

  Pulling her toward his carriage, he heard the other begin to rumble away. At least her family was safe. He glanced back to the five solemn faces of his friends. He’d have to discuss all of this with them later. They weren’t likely to forget what had transpired nor was this the end. Of that he was certain.

  But right this moment, he needed to focus on Emily. Handing her in, he took one final look back at his friends. Climbing in, he snapped the door behind him. “Em, please think about what you’ve said. We don’t need to cancel the wedding—”

  “I don’t want to talk anymore,” she said as she leaned toward him.

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m taking you home precisely so we can talk.”

  She reached out and grabbed his face with both of her hands. “Jack,” she croaked. “Just kiss me.”

  He didn’t need her to ask him twice. With his feet on the floor, he leaned over her seat and captured her willing lips with his own. They’d kissed before, each one passionate and intense, but this time, there was an air of desperation that had them clinging together, as he lowered his body on to
p of hers.

  She pawed at his cravat, loosening the knot and tossing the bit of fabric on the floor. She skimmed along the bare skin of his neck.

  He pulled at the buttons of his shirt even as his lips trailed down the delicate column of her neck across her chest to the exposed part of her bosom. Tugging at the back of her dress, her breast popped free of her corset and he sucked one of her nipples into his mouth.

  Emily cried out, digging her fingers into his hair. He responded by doing the same to the other until both rosy peaks stood taut in the cool air.

  With his shirt undone, she pushed the fabric off his shoulders, running her hands along his ridges of his biceps then down his chest and abdomen until she was pulling at the falls of his breeches.

  “Emily,” he gasped as her fingers curled about his manhood. “Sweetheart, we should wait.”

  She gave him a squeeze and one of his hands dipped under her skirt, running up the smooth flesh of her leg. “Wait for what?” she gasped as he found the slit in her drawers and parted the fabric, touching her most intimate flesh. “Oh yes, Jack. Do it again.”

  Desire tightened every muscle in his body, his cock rock hard as he parted her silky flesh now slick with her own need. She arched against him as his fingers made another pass.

  “Em,” he groaned, using one his fingers to open her silky channel. “Oh, sweetheart. I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” she said, finding his lips with her own.

  Jack kissed her long and hard, moving his fingers in and out of her, her body writhing against his. He could feel her tightening on his finger, her breath gasping out.

  “Jack.” She pulled away from him. “Jack, I want all of you.”

  His body cried for release. His pants were already undone, and he began tugging at them with his one free hand, but a doubt niggled in the back of his thoughts. No. “We should wait, Em. Wait until the wedding.”

  She turned her face away from his. “I thought you understood.”

  His finger stilled inside her. “Understand what?”

  “I already told you, we’re not getting married.”