Snowed By the Wallflower (Revenge of the Wallflowers #48)

Chapter 12

Every fiber in Bel’s body vibrated with awareness of John close to her. “Sophie! We’re here. We’re locked in,” she shouted.

“Oh no. Ridgemont is in there with you? I came to warn you,” Sophie replied coming close to the locked door.

“How did you know? Never mind—get us out, and we can talk,” Bel replied.

“I don’t see a key,” Sophie said.

“Pray he didn’t take it with him,” John murmured.

“Wait, here it is on the table. He left it on purpose.” Soon the key rattled in the lock.

“What do you mean ‘on purpose?’” Bel demanded while she waited.

“Cecil means for you to be found. He set one of the footmen to whisper in Aunt Violet’s ear. I heard him in the hall, but when I went out—oh drat! This key is giving me fits, and I don’t think we have much time.”

“Stay calm, Sophie. Press down on the key as you turn it. It is finicky,” Bel told her. The key continued to rattle.

John put his arm around Bel’s waist and kissed the top of her head. “It will come out right,” he said. Bel turned her head into his shoulder.

A firm click signaled success. With the lock breached, Sophie opened the door easily. Before they could step out, however, a shout boded disaster.

“What is going on down here at this hour of the night,” the Earl of Harwell growled. “And what are you doing here Sophie?

“Bel,” Aunt Violet moaned “Whatever will people say?”

The sight of Lady Ancaster following the noise told Bel all she needed to know about what people might say. “I can explain,” she said.

“So can I,” Sophie cut in. “Cecil locked them in and then sent a footman to frighten you. Cecil?—”

“But what was Ridgemont doing down here in the middle of the night, and what is that room you were in?” Bel’s uncle demanded.

“It is my laboratory,” Bel said lifting her chin and daring him to criticize.

“In my kitchen?” Aunt Violet shrieked, glancing at Lady Ancaster who had been joined by Viscountess Bellachat tottering on her cane.

Hartwell pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes momentarily before pinning John with a pointed glance. “Ridgemont, we need to talk.”

“I’ll join you privately whenever you want. First, however, you need to know that Lord Cecil Hartwell has done his best to harass and humiliate this innocent woman for years. I will not have her forced into marriage.”

Of course not. He doesn’t want to be forced to marry me, Bel thought.

“It is an ungodly hour. You will meet me in the morning,” the earl replied. “Bel, get yourself to your room. You too Sophie.”

John nodded and took a step toward the circle of gawking witnesses.

“I will, Uncle. As soon as I clean up this mess,” Bel said turning to her workbench.

Aunt Violet shook herself, the ruffles of her dressing gown fluttering around her. “You will do no such thing! I will have the servants clean it up and empty it out. Your so-called laboratory will be gone.”

Bel opened her mouth to object, but knew it for the hopeless case it was. She walked, head down, past the avidly watching Lady Ancaster.

John came as close as he dared in front of the harpies. She cast him a look, bleak and helpless.

“It will all come right, I promise,” he whispered before walking on and leaving her.

Sophie took her hand as they walked to the stairs. Her silent gaze held more sympathy than words could have added.

Impeccably dressed, with all of Graves’s skill, John took a deep breath and knocked on the Earl of Hartwell’s study the next morning as expected. The voices inside were raised, one of them distraught. Bel’s aunt wasn’t going to make things easy for them.

A fraught half hour later, John was given permission—ordered, in fact—to attend Bel in the small formal parlor. He watched her pacing for a moment before she saw him at the door. She had dressed in a green silk gown flocked with tiny white flowers that flowed in flattering waves across curves now familiar to his touch.

He shut the door, and she turned at the sound. “Tell me you didn’t let them bully you,” she said breathlessly.

As they bully you? But no, that wasn’t entirely true. She wasn’t defenseless. Bel had carved out her own haven here with quiet strength. He took both her hands in his and kissed her knuckles. “Come sit.”

“Tell me,” she insisted when they sat together on the settee.

“Your Aunt and Uncle are understandably concerned about your reputation,” he began.

“Concerned? Aunt Violet is in full on collapse over Lady Ancaster.”

John smiled. It wasn’t inaccurate. “I refused your uncle’s insistence we obtain a common license and marry within the week.”

“I should hope so! He has no right to force you into that,” she said.

“Bel, I will happily marry you, but you deserve better than a havey-cavey wedding that will only feed the gossips. You’ve been through enough at your cousin’s hands. I told him so. Cecil is gone, by the way. Dispatched to the manor in Aberdeenshire on short funds at dawn with two grooms assigned to make sure he gets there. Harry Smithers and the others were sent to the posting inn in the village to make their way to London.”

“Well, that is a small blessing. Thank you for insisting we will not wed—and for defending me.” Moisture welled in her eyes, but she kept her shoulders and face firmly under control.

Her gratitude at what she saw as his protection left him shaken, wondering how to convince her. “I spoke with the earl yesterday and told him I planned court you properly in the spring. And I will.”

“What?”

“And only if you find that we will suit, will we marry. If, instead, you do not want it, we’ll find a way to cry off.”

She stared at him, her mouth agape.

“You might find you like me after all. I come with a title and a lovely—if rather large—manor in Gloucestershire. Property well able to house a professional chemistry laboratory. There is also a large, well-staffed kitchen you could organize to suit yourself. It will house a large family too. Grandfather would?—”

“Your grandfather would want better for you.”

“Now you speak nonsense. While I’m perfectly happy to listen to your forceful opinions on many things, don’t presume to tell me what my grandfather—or I—want.”

“You’re seriously considering this. Just because we were found locked in together last night?”

“That does add some urgency, but Bel, I planned to take my time to get to know you, to court you in the spring, and to show you to the Ton as the lovely treasure you are before I offered for you.” His hand trembled as he touched her cheek. “You must admit we did take some advantage of our proximity last night.”

She blushed a delightful pink. “I would like to get better acquainted,” she admitted.

“Good. Because your aunt has insisted that we be formally betrothed. ‘At the very least,’ she said. They are sending the announcements to the papers. They’re probably writing them up as we speak. They plan to announce it to the company tonight.”

She gasped and raised both hands to cup her heated cheeks. She tipped her head back and stared at the ceiling for a moment before gazing back at him. “Aunt Flora will be torn between elation and jealousy that Aunt Violet got a jump on her.”

That made them both laugh, the shared humor warming his heart. “I should probably leave post haste to warn grandfather before it is in the papers,” he said.

“Take me with you.”

He wasn’t sure he heard her. “What did you say?”

“Take me with you. I want to meet your grandfather and see this place where you think we might set up a full-scale chemistry laboratory. I might like a peek at the kitchen too.”

John knew he must be grinning like a fool. He had her; he knew he had her. He leaned in for a kiss to set a seal on it. Soon enough they leaned back on the settee with Bel draped across his chest, and the kissing deepened. Her gentle fingers ran through his hair, sending tremors through them both.

“I take it I’m to wish you happy.”

John saw Sophie over Bel’s shoulder, and eased Bel back to the seat.

“Aunt Violet sent me to tell you you’ve been alone long enough. I could linger outside if you like,” she grinned.

He was tempted, but he knew they would have other opportunities. They were, after all, betrothed. “Tell me Sophie, would you like to accompany your cousin to Gloucestershire to visit Wynnwood Hall?”

It must have been the right thing to say because the cousins were soon hugging and chattering in anticipation.