Once Upon a Wallflower by Watson Wendy Lyn

Author:Watson, Wendy Lyn [Watson, Wendy Lyn]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Wendy Lyn Watson, wallflower, romance series, Entangled Scandalous
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2013-07-10T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The mood at the dinner table bordered on pleasant. Bella rattled endlessly about the fripperies she had found at the milliner, while Jeremy and Phoebe, who had been at her side during her entire shopping excursion, listened with good-natured resignation and the occasional polite expression of interest.

Lords Marleston and Blackwell were debating the merits of various lines of bloodstock, and George Fitzhenry nodded along with a look of intense concentration, as though he were in the thick of things.

Kitty Fitzhenry was busy offering sage advice to Lady Marleston about the ins and outs of a girl’s first Season, Kitty having just completed Bella’s and Lady Marleston preparing for Phoebe’s.

Nicholas caught Mira’s eye from across the table. He gave her a slow, wolfish grin just so he could watch the blush rise in her cheeks. When she appeared sufficiently flustered, he gave her a teasing wink, and peered down the table at the one person who did not seem to be enjoying herself at all: Beatrix.

She swept the company with a bored gaze, the corners of her mouth turned up in the faintest feline smile. Her fork touched each of the foods on her plate in turn, but she did not take a bite. Nicholas could not shake the feeling that she was plotting something, a cat lying still and squint-eyed in the grass waiting for just the right moment to pounce.

The only question was which of the diners would be her mouse tonight.

As he took another bite of his beef roast, Nicholas absently massaged his injured leg.

The walk back from Upper Bidwell had been slow and painful, but he had taken the opportunity to ask Mira about her visit with Mrs. Thomas. Nicholas had suggested Mira talk with Mrs. Thomas specifically because he anticipated the vicar’s wife would natter on for hours, neatly distracting Mira, but not providing any useful information.

Indeed, Mrs. Thomas had not added much to what Mira already knew, only confirming the existence of the elusive “wealthy suitor.” No, she had added only one devastating fact to the story. After some hemming and hawing, Nicholas had been able to coax the information about Bridget’s pregnancy out of Mira. A five-or-six-month pregnancy meant that Bridget had become with child near the Christmas before she died.

The timing was a small matter by itself, but Nicholas had no idea what Mira might make of it, given enough time—and the possibilities sent a chill down his spine.

A burst of male laughter drew his attention to his father. Blackwell was still a handsome man, fit and strong though beginning to show the first signs of his age. A few silver hairs caught the light when he nodded, and, when he laughed at some comment by Lord Marleston, Nicholas noted that the wrinkles around his eyes and mouth were growing deeper.

And Lady Beatrix was still a beautiful woman. Alas, beauty alone had never been enough to hold Blackwell’s attention. Blackwell craved youth and variety the way some men craved laudanum or gin. He always had.

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