Wallflower (Old Maids' Club, Book 1) (17 page)

She ought to have just gone into the
drawing room and given Lord Devonport and her brothers a biting set
down, letting them all know in no uncertain terms what she thought
of fortune hunters and the sort of brothers who would encourage
them. Failing that, she ought to have marched herself back upstairs
and planted herself in her chamber to sulk while Hester tended to
her ailing ankle.

The ailing heart she would have to
tend herself.

Instead of doing either of these
sensible things, she’d gone and added another injury to the growing
list, thereby proving her superior intelligence.

With the sharp pangs associated with
each movement, Tabitha hadn’t even noticed where she was going. She
ought to at least determine that. A brief glance around revealed
her to be on Curzon Street, headed directly for Hyde Park.
Goodness, she’d gone quite a bit farther than she had intended. If
she’d really intended anything at all, that is, aside from getting
away for a bit.

The walk back was not something she
wished to think about at present, yet it was something she really
ought to think about sooner rather than later.

If she had decided to start using her
senses again, at least.

Yet another conveyance pulled up
alongside her. Tabitha had lost count of how many acquaintances had
stopped to see if she needed assistance during her walk. She’d
waved them all on their way with her assurance that she was quite
all right. Even though she ought to accept a ride, she steeled
herself to repeat the phrase that had become something of a
refrain.

“
Lady Tabitha,” called out
a familiar voice. She looked up to see Lord Oglethorpe leering down
at her from the high seat of his phaeton. “Fancy meeting you here
today. And all alone? Why on earth are you out by yourself on a day
such as this?”

“
Good afternoon, my lord,”
she began, intending to send him away as soon as possible, but a
clap of thunder caught her off guard. Were they to have a storm?
How had she been so unaware of the impending weather? But sure
enough massive black thunderclouds converged in the skies and a fat
raindrop landed on the path before her. Oh, dear. Perhaps the
circumstances called for a change of plans. “I had thought to take
a bit of exercise, but it suddenly seems rather
foolhardy.”

“
Indeed,” he replied, “the
skies look ominous. And you are without even a parasol to protect
you. My phaeton is not covered, but perhaps we can have you safely
home before the heavens open up and release their torrent. If not,
at least you will be safe and dry sooner if you allow me to drive
you than if you continue on foot.” Without even waiting for her
response, Lord Oglethorpe climbed down and reached for her hand to
assist her up.

A clopping of racing
hooves sounded behind her as two horses bore down upon them. “Lady
Tabitha, thank goodness I’ve found you.”
Lord Devonport
. The absolute last
person in all of England she wanted to see at the
moment.

“
My apologies, my lord. I
was unaware I was lost,” she replied tartly without turning to face
him. Placing her hand in Lord Oglethorpe’s, she climbed into the
phaeton and assumed her seat.

“
Your brothers and I are
all out searching for you. Your maid was unaware where you went,
ma’am. She said you were upset, that
something
had caused you
discomfort.” The way he said ‘something’ caught her attention.
Could he realize she had overheard their conversation? That didn’t
matter. He knew what he was...and now Tabitha did as well. They
were on even terrain.

Tabitha finally looked at Lord
Devonport. He seemed truly distraught, with clear blue eyes
imploring to her and his mussed hair peeking out at odd angles from
beneath his top hat. “Did she?” she asked. “She was mistaken. As
you can see, I am perfectly well.”

Lord Oglethorpe had resumed his seat
beside her. Another crack of thunder sounded, startling the horses.
The mare beside Lord Devonport, in particular, was spooked, dancing
about and pulling at the reins before he could calm her. She wore a
side-saddle. Good God! He’d intended to take her riding. Thank
goodness she hadn’t gone with him.

“
You’ll have to excuse us,
Devonport,” Lord Oglethorpe said. “I must get Lady Tabitha home as
soon as possible or she’ll be drenched.”

“
I could take her,” Lord
Devonport argued. “Her brothers expect me to return, whether I’ve
located her or not. It would be no trouble.”

What nerve he
had
. Lightning rent through the clouds,
flashing in Lord Devonport’s eyes.

“
That will be quite
unnecessary. Please proceed, Lord Oglethorpe.”

With a flick of the reins, Lord
Oglethorpe nudged the pair leading his phaeton into motion. Lord
Devonport moved his horse into their path, blocking the way. “I’m
afraid I must insist—”

“
What you must do,” Lord
Oglethorpe sneered, “is get out of the way.” Another fat raindrop
fell, landing on Tabitha’s gloved hand. The water spread to cover
almost half of her glove. More drops followed soon behind, turning
into a near deluge. “She will be drenched by the time I get her
home as it is. If we take the time to transfer her from my phaeton
to horseback, she will likely come down with the influenza, or a
chill at the very least. Would you like that on your
conscience?”

Lord Devonport hesitated. He looked
from Tabitha to Lord Oglethorpe, then back again.

Another streak of lightning raced
across the sky and a great boom sounded, and still Lord Devonport
had not made up his mind.

The fine muslin fabric of Tabitha’s
gown had already indelicately plastered itself to her, outlining
every nook and cranny of the body she wished to hide. She hugged
her arms to her chest to warm herself as best she could, but her
arms could only do so much. “Go, Lord Oglethorpe. Please.” She
would beg if she must, but remaining where they were would serve no
one. Her teeth chattered from the sudden chill.

Finally, Lord Devonport nodded and
backed his horse away, allowing the phaeton to pass. “I’ll follow
you.”

Tabitha pushed the now limp form of
her bonnet back from her eyes and stared Lord Devonport through.
“No. You’ve done quite enough already. Go home, my lord.” He acted
as though he had not heard her, nudging his horse into motion and
pulling on the reins of the mare to come alongside him. Soon, he
rode directly to her right, wearing a grave expression.

Lord Oglethorpe looked down at her
with concern. “Do you want his escort?”

A decision must be made: one fortune
hunter or two? Feeling a rush of reckless abandon, Tabitha shook
her head. “No. I wish to have nothing to do with Lord Devonport. He
is a scamp of the first order. A fortune hunter, and no more.” Her
voice carried over the onslaught of the deluge.

Lord Devonport looked crestfallen but
resolute. Immediately, she wanted to take her words
back.

“
I will see you safely
home, my lady. Then I will go.”

For the moment, Tabitha was glad for
the rain; it concealed her tears.

~ * ~

“
Oh, my lady!” Hester said
as Noah and Oglethorpe assisted Lady Tabitha through the door. Noah
had attempted to carry her in his arms, but she’d struggled against
him. Oglethorpe had then made it near impossible with his own
attempts to do the same.

“
Get a fire started in her
chamber right away,” Noah ordered the butler. The man gave a curt
nod and rushed off. He didn’t seem to mind that Noah had no
business giving orders at Shelton Hall. Good. The maid had better
be the same. “Get her upstairs and out of these wet things
immediately, Hester.” It took everything in him not to toss Lady
Tabitha over his shoulder right that very moment and handle it
himself. Particularly since he could almost see through the sheer
fabric of her gown. He wanted to rip it all off of her and warm her
himself. But now was not the time for such thoughts. “She needs to
be dry and warm, and she is not to leave her chamber at all the
rest of the day. Can I count on you to see to it?”

The maid nodded, but Lady Tabitha
pulled her arm free from him before extricating her other arm from
Lord Oglethorpe. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself,
Lord Devonport,” she said.

Her pelisse didn’t cover enough. Not
nearly enough. The wet material hugged her hips and drew Noah’s
eyes. It attracted Oglethorpe’s attention, too. She crossed her
newly freed arms over her chest again, as she had done in the
phaeton earlier, which served to lift her generous breasts higher
and push them closer together. Good Lord in heaven. Noah closed his
eyes to regain his focus.

“
Weren’t you supposed to
be going now?” Oglethorpe asked. The bastard had the audacity to
narrow his eyes. “She is home. She is safe.”

“
That she is, Oglethorpe,”
Shelton said, coming out from the drawing room. “Thank you for your
assistance. I’m sure we can handle things from here.” When
Oglethorpe didn’t immediately begin to leave, he continued, “You
ought to get home and dry yourself. Kindly cease dripping water all
over my father’s floors.”

Oglethorpe bowed to Lady Tabitha. “If
you require no more assistance from me, my lady, I shall take my
leave. Might I see you at Lady Mallinder’s dinner party tomorrow
evening?”

Shelton frowned. “We’re not
attending—”

“
Yes,” Lady Tabitha cut in
with a glare in her brother’s direction. “Yes, I’ll see you there,
my lord.”

Well, that changed Noah’s plans for
the next day. He’d have to arrange for his secretary send Lady
Mallinder an acceptance first thing.

Oglethorpe smiled at her, a greasy,
sycophantic sort of grin. “Until then.” He backed away and turned
to leave before stopping short. “Devonport, aren’t you coming as
well?”

Shelton stomped over and held the door
wide. “I have need of Devonport. He’s staying.” He placed a firm
hand on Oglethorpe’s shoulder and pressed, leaving the interloper
no option but to leave. “Good day to you.” Then he closed the door
in Oglethorpe’s bemused face.

Lady Tabitha let out a huff in the
background. She had every right to be cross. Hopefully, Noah could
find a way to handle her disgruntlement. What he absolutely could
not handle was seeing Oglethorpe with his hand on her person, or
even seeing the cad in her presence, for one moment longer.
Thankfully, Shelton was of the same mind on that accord.

Drawing a deep breath, Shelton turned
to the lady’s maid. “Hester, take Lady Tabitha above stairs and do
as Lord Devonport instructed.”

Lady Tabitha bristled.
“Hester is my maid. She does not answer to you. She most certainly
does not answer to Lord Devonport. Who, by the way, claimed he
would see me safely home and then
leave
. I want him to do
so.”

“
I don’t care what you
want, Tabitha. What I want to know is why you thought it wise to
tramp off on foot to some undisclosed destination without a
chaperone and then get caught in a rainstorm,” Shelton countered,
moving in to intimidate. “I want to know how you came to be in
Oglethorpe’s company and why you would prefer his company to
Devonport’s. I want to know why you are standing in the hallway in
a paper-thin gown that is practically painted to your skin, not to
mention rather transparent, and haven’t done a damned thing to
cover yourself.”

Noah didn’t need the reminder. He did
his best not to groan aloud.

With her brother’s last comment, she
looked down. Lady Tabitha let out a gasp, as though she had somehow
failed to notice how poorly the fabric covered her. She tugged
frantically at her pelisse, though in its doused state her efforts
proved fruitless.

When she remained silent, Shelton
softened his tone. “Go upstairs, Tabitha. Get yourself dry and
warm.” He caught Hester’s eye, and the maid silently led her
mistress away.

Noah watched her go, until he realized
he was staring like a green lad at the gentle sway of her hips,
imagining them unclothed. He abruptly shifted his gaze to Shelton,
but that was no better. The knowing look in the man’s eyes was
unsettling.

“
Where did you find her?”
Shelton asked. He led Noah into the drawing room and motioned him
near the hearth, where a small blaze was burning.

“
Curzon Street. Almost to
Hyde Park. Oglethorpe beat me to her.” Luckily the villain had not
yet absconded with her. Oglethorpe could have ruined her within a
few moments, if Noah hadn’t arrived when he had. On second
thought...
would
have, not could have.

“
I don’t trust the
bastard,” Shelton said. “He is too unctuous by half, particularly
when he’s around Tabitha.”

If only Shelton knew what Noah knew.
“I don’t trust him either. I couldn’t leave her alone with him,
even though she was furious with me.” He would never be able to
live with himself if he had left her alone in Oglethorpe’s
presence. She could thank him for his interference later—when she
understood.

If she
ever
understood. She might never
choose to see any difference between Noah and Oglethorpe. They were
both fortune hunters, after all.