Wallflower (Old Maids' Club, Book 1) (10 page)

She ought to do precisely
that.

Even if she did, it wouldn’t relieve
him of his gentlemanly duty to her. He needed to go and speak with
her. He must at least make an honest attempt at setting things
right.

It was the only way he could live with
himself.

Finally making up his mind, Noah
climbed down and started up the path. He didn’t make it far,
though. After two full strides, the doors opened. Shelton and
Raynesford spilled out first, followed soon behind by Claremont and
Leith.

“
Devonport,” called out
Raynesford. “Calling on Tabitha finally? Good.”

Good? Noah doubted Raynesford would
still feel the same way if fully informed. The Shelton brothers may
seem nonchalant with regard to their sister, but when push came to
shove, he had no doubt there would be plenty of pushing and
shoving. It might even come to fisticuffs. Noah already considered
himself lucky that neither had yet issued him a
challenge.

If some sod had danced with one of
Noah’s sisters and caused her to run from the ballroom floor in
tears, he knew full well what he would have done. Add in the fact
that the sister in question could not stand being in the so-called
gentleman’s presence? No one would be able to stop him from seeking
retribution.

Shelton reached Noah’s side first and
clapped him on the back. “That can wait. We’re off to White’s. You
should come with us. Call on Tabitha tomorrow.”

Tomorrow? A one-day reprieve. It was a
sorely tempting offer. But while it might provide temporary relief,
it would solve nothing. “No, I really ought to—”

“
You really ought to come
with us,” Raynesford cut in. “Toby’s right. You’ve been on the hunt
so much the last few days, you need a break.”

“
Perhaps,” Claremont said
tentatively, passing a meaningful glance in Noah’s direction,
“Devonport ought to be allowed to do what he set out to do.
Particularly if Tabitha is expecting him.” Clearly her cousin had
not forgotten what had happened at the ball. Nor, judging from the
scowl marring his darkened features at present, had Leith. Noah had
never known Leith to do anything untoward, but it seemed imprudent
to test the man.

“
Why on earth would
Tabitha expect him?” Shelton scoffed. “No gentleman has called on
her in recent memory. It’s been years since she had a beau, or even
had flowers sent to her. Besides, she won’t suddenly be taking
herself off the marriage mart if Devonport waits one more day to
make his next move.”

“
I think he’s waited
rather long enough,” Leith said. The stillness of his voice belied
a thinly veiled menace. Leith’s reaction was more along the lines
of what Noah would expect from her brothers, should they learn how
she’d left the ballroom in tears only a few nights
before.

“
No,” Raynesford said.
“Toby’s right. Tabitha is in no hurry to reach the altar. She’s
proven this time and again. Tomorrow is fine. Let’s go.”

Shelton put a hand on Noah’s shoulder
and impelled him back down the walkway, leaving him with no option
but to go along. “I’ll ride with Devonport,” he called out over his
shoulder. “We’ll meet you there.”

The ride to White’s passed in
meaningless conversation, which Noah found himself increasingly
less capable of paying attention to. The reactions of Claremont and
Leith had his mind turning in circles. Lady Tabitha did not only
have a father and two brothers who might take exception if Noah had
in some way hurt her, but she had countless cousins, a couple of
uncles...and men like Leith who cared for her as much as the rest
who had a true familial relationship with her.

He had to set things right, and sooner
rather than later. There was no more time to delay. The Shelton
clan was far too formidable an opponent when brought together for a
common cause.

Once he pulled his curricle up at
White’s, Noah had made up his mind. He would spend the afternoon
with the Shelton men at White’s, he would spend a quiet dinner at
Glastonbury’s with his mother, and then tomorrow he would begin the
next phase of his life. The phase in which he would set right
whatever injury he had committed against Lady Tabitha and begin an
active pursuit of her.

By the time Noah and Shelton left the
curricle with a groom and headed inside, the other gentlemen were
already seated around a table near the back and
laughing.

“
What’s so funny?” Shelton
asked. “It is bad form of you to leave Devonport and me out of your
amusements.”

Noah took the open chair between
Raynesford and Leith and half-heartedly accepted the drink
Claremont passed his way. In the dim light of the backrooms at
White’s, he couldn’t make out what the drink was, but a cursory
sniff pointed him toward whiskey. He pretended to take a sip as
Claremont turned his attention to Shelton.

“
I don’t think you want us
to answer that, actually,” Claremont said. “But...if you insist. We
were just wondering aloud who would be the first to be snared by
the parson’s mousetrap. Devonport is openly seeking it, Leith is
not opposed to it, should the opportunity present itself, and you
are actively avoiding it...but Leith informs us that you’re getting
help in that area, whether looked for or not.”

Shelton spluttered and choked on his
own whiskey. “Help? Who in bloody hell wants me
married?”

Leith couldn’t contain his sly grin.
“Your sister.”

Noah chuckled and tried to disguise it
as choking on his whiskey at the look of abject horror on Shelton’s
face. He should have known Lady Tabitha would try something after
how she had reacted at the ball. Though how she’d discovered her
brother’s plans, Noah had no idea.

“
And your cousin,”
Claremont added. “It seems Tabitha and Jo are trying to find you a
bride. For all we know, Bethanne may be in on it too, though I
don’t know how she could be contributing from
Derbyshire.”

“
Never underestimate those
three together,” Raynesford said. “It could be the last thing you
do.”

“
Bethanne?” Noah asked.
He’d never met her. Raynesford and Shelton had often spoken of this
other cousin, another spinster who had taken over the care of their
senile spinster aunt.

Come to think of it, there seemed to
be a rash of spinsters within the greater family. That couldn’t
bode well for his plans.

Raynesford nodded gravely. “Tabitha,
Jo, and Bethanne were always inseparable, since they were very
young. When they decided to do something together, you would be
intelligent, indeed, to put money on it happening.”

“
Whether it was something
advisable for them to do or not,” Claremont added.

One corner of Leith’s mouth lifted.
“Their schemes were notoriously rather insensible, if memory
serves.” He seemed almost in awe of the three, like he held their
cunning ways in high esteem.

Shelton pounded a fist on the table.
“I don’t care how many of them are involved. How do you know this?
I haven’t seen any signs—nothing to make me think Tabitha is up to
something. She’s my blasted twin. I think I would know about it if
she’s plotting my downfall. Before any of you lot, at the
least.”

Raynesford let an inelegant snort
slip. “I’d say you’ve been a bit too preoccupied with keeping Lady
Backingham’s bed warm of late to notice anything about our
sister.”

“
At least she’s widowed.”
Shelton implored his brother with his eyes. “I make it a point to
avoid debutantes like the plague. Don’t want one of them to get the
wrong impression. You know, like I’d be inclined to marry the chit
or something.” Shelton shuddered.

“
Heaven forbid,” muttered
Claremont. Was that a hint of pity in Claremont’s tone?

“
I’m the one who found
out,” said Leith. “From Miss Faulkner. I noticed some odd behavior
from the two of them at the theater a few evenings ago, so I pulled
her aside and asked her about it.” Leith’s shifty gaze, avoiding
Claremont, told Noah they’d discussed more than just whatever
nefarious plans she and Lady Tabitha had up their
sleeves.

“
You’re not serious.”
Shelton had the hangdog expression of a lost puppy. “Tabitha can’t
be serious.”

“
Oh, I daresay she’s quite
serious, Shelton,” Noah said. Her prodding and prying during the
brief time they had waltzed were more than enough to convince him.
He had to admit, it was nice to see someone squirming other than
himself. He’d done enough of that lately, with all the heiresses
he’d been attempting to court of late.

“
Too true,” Claremont
said. “Tabitha’s perennially earnest, and I doubt anyone has ever
met a lady with a more determined bent than Jo.” Leith chuckled at
that statement, but kept his own counsel.

Raynesford leaned forward, situating
his elbows on the table and resting his chin in his hands. “And
they’re almost constantly together. With all that time
together...what else could they be doing? Plotting.
Scheming.”

“
I don’t think I’ve seen
either of them this avid about a project since they shoved
Devonport’s sister into Raynesford’s path,” said Leith. He didn’t
appear to even be trying to hide his glee. “And we can all see how
that turned out.”

Shelton scowled. “Why are you so
happy? If they trap me into marrying some poor debutante, you’ll be
next.”

“
Which brings us back to
the initial conjecture—the one which brought us into this
conversation in the beginning.” Claremont took a long drink from
his glass. “I wager that Tabitha and Jo will succeed, and Toby will
be the first at the altar. Sorry, Devonport. I know you need to
marry promptly, but my cousin will beat you.”

Shelton scoffed, but neglected to
refute the baron.

“
I don’t deny that my
sister and cousin can be quite influential in such matters,”
Raynesford said, “but Toby can be equally as evasive. I say
Devonport will be the first.”

Noah nodded to acknowledge his
brother-in-law. “Thank you. I think.” He frowned for a
moment.

“
You’d better be first,”
Shelton grumbled.

“
Is that where your money
is then?” asked Claremont. They all looked in Shelton’s direction
to see his decisive nod.

“
Well, it’s your money to
lose,” Leith said. “I, for one, would never dream of wagering
against Lady Tabitha and Miss Faulkner.”

“
That’s two on Devonport,
and two on Toby.” Claremont held up a couple of fingers on each
hand. “It’s up to you to break the tie, Devonport.”

Noah smiled, though he did not make it
a habit to place bets upon anything. “Well, I suppose I ought to
deliver a divergent position. Since I’m actively seeking a bride,
and Shelton is keen to avoid the same, I have to believe Leith will
inadvertently stumble to the altar before either of us.”

“
Excellent,” Claremont
said. “How much shall we put at stake?”

“
Let’s not forget the
reason Devonport needs to marry,” Raynesford warned.

Shelton turned to face Noah head-on.
“Surely a minor wager won’t break your coffers. Will
it?”

“
No, I can manage a modest
gamble.” Noah hoped he could, at least. The details had still not
been finalized for Mother and Glastonbury’s wedding and
celebration. But he’d find a way to make it all work. Somehow. Yet
he couldn’t seem to breathe until he heard the sum they felt fair.
For once in his life, he wished he had been more of a gambling man.
He might at least have an idea how much he was looking at, in that
case.

“
I think five pounds
should be fair,” said Leith.

Thank goodness. Noah released a
pent-up breath, hoping the others would agree. Five pounds wouldn’t
put too much of a dent in things.

Raynesford virtually stared through
him waiting for confirmation that he could handle such a sum before
giving any reaction. Noah nodded his assent. “Excellent,”
Raynesford said. He almost cracked a smile. “Who’ll go put it in
the book? We’ll have to make it official.”

Noah stood. “I will.” He’d never
actually seen the famed betting book before, and knowing himself as
he did, he might never have another opportunity. Some things a man
just had to do for himself at least once in his life.

“
I’ll come with you.”
Leith set his empty glass on the table and pushed his chair back.
“Make sure you get it all down right.” He winked at the
others.

When they arrived at the bay window,
Noah drew the book across the table before him. He took a quill and
dipped it in the ink pot, then settled it against the parchment to
mark their wager down—and stopped short. The previous entry had
caught his attention and stolen his ability to breathe.

Lord Oglethorpe and Lord
Eggerley wager five hundred pounds. Each claims he will be the
first to compromise Lady Tabitha Shelton, hereunto known as the Fat
Cow with the Fat Dowry, thereby winning the Fat Cow’s hand in
marriage and, by default, her Fat Dowry.

Nausea engulfed him and his forehead
broke out in a sweat. He wanted to find Oglethorpe and Eggerley and
pummel them both until they’d never look human again. He wanted to
call them both out and slap a glove in each of their faces. He
wanted to do whatever it took to protect Lady Tabitha. He wanted to
marry her himself.