Eloisa James - Winning the Wallflower

W INNING THE W ALLFLOWER

A Novella

E LOISA J AMES

C ONTENTS

The Summers Ball

London, 1812

I ts like a fairy tale! One moment Lucy is a younger daughter with virtually no dowry, and the next shes an heiress, exclaimed Mrs. Martha Brindle, sitting down beside her sister. You truly had no idea that Towertons great aunt planned to leave her a fortune?

Not the faintest, Lady Towerton replied, shaking open her fan and poising it before her face so that she could speak freely. The truth is that I only met his aunt once, and though Ive wracked my brains, I cant recall that she paid the children any particular attention. We presume that she must have fixed on Lucy as the only unmarried girl in the family.

I wonder if she would have changed her will had she known that Lucy is to marry? Her fianc must be very pleased.

Lady Towertons triumphant smile evaporated. The very first thing my daughter will dothis evening, if Ravensthorpe makes an appearanceis bring to an end that wretched betrothal. I am glad to say that she can now look considerably higher. We look for a title at the very least. A connection such as that is beneath her, beneath any member of my family.

There was a short pause while Mrs. Brindle reminded herself that her sister Agnes had faced tribulations that mitigated her tactless snobbery. They havent been betrothed long, have they?

A matter of weeks. Towerton and I insisted on a long betrothal, given the connection, as you can surely understand. I most dislike associating with the merchant classes, let alone giving my daughter to a man of that caste.

Mrs. Brindle opened her mouth to make a sharp comment about their own ancestors, but thought better of it. You speak as if she were moving to Bermuda, Sister, she tried instead. By all accounts Ravensthorpe is absurdly wealthy; he may well buy her a house in Grosvenor Square next to yours.

You know how I feel about the sort of scandal that hangs over that family, Lady Towerton said with a sniff. Whats more, Ravensthorpe is no more than a glorified tradesman. I understand he made the money himself. It certainly isnt from the family; as a solicitor, his father likely lives on his wifes dowry. I could not have associated with Lucy on a social basis had she married him, no matter where she lived. Not in the same way.

Mrs. Brindle opened her own fan and lowered her voice. But to be absolutely candid with you, Agnes, not every man would be comfortable marrying dearest Lucy. Are you quite certain you should cut this tie? After all, a bird in the hand, as they say. Its three years since her debut.

Lady Towerton narrowed her eyes. Im sure I dont know what youre saying, Martha. Now that Lucy is dowered as befits her birth, I am quite certain that gentlemen will flock to her side.

How does she feel about the prospect of breaking her engagement? Hes so handsome, isnt he? Mr. Ravensthorpe, I mean.

Handsome is as handsome does. As I said, hes a man of no birth

But what a fortune! Mrs. Brindle put in. She was starting to enjoy herself; wrangling with Agnes brought her back to the schoolroom.

Lucy no longer need entertain such concerns. We no longer need lower ourselves in order to secure her future.

True. Yet when a man has Ravensthorpes looks, he doesnt need a title to make a girl fall in love with him. Mrs. Brindle gave her sister a knowing smile.

Lucy would never fall in love with a man so beneath her in blood. Lady Towerton snapped her fan shut. Never!

O ne can hardly blame Lady Towerton for her ignorance. Mothers are rarely informed when their daughters have fallen into an ignominious, bewildering, and altogether overwhelming infatuation.

She told me that I must break it off tonight, Lucy said to her friend, Miss Olivia Mayfield Lytton. Not having seen each other in some time, they had hidden themselves behind three potted palms. Lady Summers was suffering from a mania for all things Egyptian, which had resulted in palm trees lining the ballroom like a row of dowagers in extravagant plumes. Needless to say, she did not ask for my opinion, Lucy added.

Because of your great aunts bequest? Olivia asked.

Mother is entertaining fantasies about my ability to catch a titlewhich is absurd, though I cant seem to make her understand it. Just look at me! Lucy swept her hand down her body. The size of my dowry isnt enough to disguise my height.

Youre lovely, Olivia said with conviction. And youre an heiress now. Your mother is right.

Lucy rolled her eyes. Be serious. Theres a reason that no one dances with me. Do you see this gown, Olivia?

To see it is to covet it, Olivia said promptly. I adore the pleats on your sleeves. All that embroidery isnt really done with pearls, is it?

Pearls? My father would never pay for pearls. Theyre glass beads.

My mother still refuses to allow me to wear any color other than white, which makes me look as round as an egg. An ostrich egg. Whereas you look wonderful in that violet-blue color.

My point is that when we ordered it, the modiste made a joke to the effect that I would have the only dress this color in London, since she had to use the entire bolt to make my gown. And that is nothing to the sort of jests that men made regularly in the days when my mother was forcing every eligible male in the room to dance with me. If I break it off with Ravensthorpe, Ill have to face all that over again. She shuddered.

Those men are absurd to focus on something so trivial. Your eyes are a lovely silvery blue. Ive never seen anything quite like them. And your hair is a fashionable color too, for all it wont take a curl. Men like yellow hair.

Dont! Lucy said it rather savagely. I should have one friend at least who can acknowledge the truth, Olivia. Im practically a giantess compared to most of the ladies in this room. Most gentlemen do not want to marry someone as tall as me; they dont even want to dance with me. It was liberating to say it aloud, though it didnt make the truth any less disagreeable.

Olivia opened her mouth, then closed it. Ravensthorpe does, she said after a moment. Hes a normal man.

He wants me merely because he is trying to become respectable, Lucy replied, her voice wavering a bit, to her horror. Shed already cried herself sick that morning; she couldnt break out again in the middle of a ball. Hes on the tall side himself, so he doesnt mind as much. She stripped off her gloves and began looking for a handkerchief. Do you know, Ive done nothing but cry since I heard the news? That has to be a first: woman goes into a blue funk due to becoming an heiress.

Ravensthorpe is wickedly handsome, Olivia said, passing her a handkerchief when Lucy couldnt seem to find one in her reticule, as well as taller than you, and I think he wants you for more than respectability, and I mean that in the best possible sense.

Lucy surprised herself with a watery chuckle. You would be wrong. The last six weeks have been like some sort of lovely dream. I kept waiting for him to realize he could do so much better and drop me like a hot brick.

No, he couldnt, Olivia exclaimed. For goodness sake, Lucy, he asked you to marry him. The man is enamored.

No. Hes not, Lucy said flatly. He hasnt tried to kiss me, or even speak to me in private.

Olivia frowned. But youve been engaged for weeks ! Are you saying that you havent even seen him since the proposal? I did wonder why you were still referring to him as Ravensthorpe; it seems so formal.