Wagering on the Wallflower by Eva Shepherd

Author:Eva Shepherd
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-01-07T19:40:14+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Lucas Darkwood continued to stare at the door through which the women had departed. He had a problem. A very big problem. One he was going to have to put to rights as soon as possible. He turned back to the table, where cognac was being served and men were lighting up cigars, then back at the closed door.

Something had happened to transform his funny, sweet, intelligent Hazel Springfeld into a simpering, coquettish woman who no longer had a brain in her head. Her changed behaviour had been somewhat apparent during their last dance together at Lady Danson’s ball, but he had put her sudden quiet reserve down to perhaps fatigue at the late hour or over-excitement due to dancing so much with so many men. But neither fatigue nor overexcitement could explain tonight’s bizarre behaviour.

He looked at the men seated around the table. They were a group of the most educated, intelligent men he knew and every one of them was single. Hazel should be in her element. She could be discussing a wide array of topics with men who would enjoy her company. Instead she had latched herself on to him with an almost ferocious tenacity and her behaviour was becoming increasingly disturbing.

Lucas was loath to admit it, but there was one explanation for why Lady Hazel was behaving so out of character. That intelligent, sensible woman was doing something extremely senseless. All evidence suggested she had set her sights firmly on him.

The decanter was passed to him and he poured himself a substantial drink, waving away the footman when he offered the cigar box.

Hopefully he was wrong. A woman as rational as Lady Hazel must be able to see that he was not the right man for her. She couldn’t possibly be thinking that they could have a future together. He knocked back the rich, spicy drink and poured himself another, trying to convince himself that there had to be another rational answer, but he could think of none.

If he was right, then he would have to make her see that he was not only not the marrying kind, but he was not the right man for her for so many reasons. Whereas so many of the men sitting at this table would make her a perfect husband.

Lady Hazel came from a family where love, warmth and joyfulness were second nature. She would expect such behaviour from her future husband and that was something he could never offer a wife. Such a sunny woman as Lady Hazel would wither away like a flower subjected to constant shade if she was married to a man such as him.

If she was to attach herself to anyone, it should be, at the very least, a man who wanted marriage, who wanted children, who could give her the same type of family she was used to, one where there was laughter, warmth and joy.

And then, of course, there was the bet. He poured himself another drink.

He was not going to win if she did not attract the attentions of at least one man before the end of the Season.

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