Page 22 of A Wallflower to Win the Viscount

Lucian retook his seat and watched as Beatrice edged her way into the group of men surrounding the speaker. Reginald shook hands with the earl, then introduced his wife and Primrose.

Lucian sat forward in his chair, his eyes firmly on the speaker, carefully monitoring the man’s behaviour. There was no ambiguity in his reaction to Primrose. He bowed politely to both women, but his eyes did not leave Primrose, eyes that even from this distance appeared to glint with an excessive amount of interest. The fool even stood up taller and thrust out his chest, as if trying to make himself appear more manly, but instead he took on the appearance of a puffed-up pigeon.

The two engaged in conversation, or more accurately, the earl talked and Primrose listened. He could only hope the man had changed the topic from the inappropriate ones covered in his talk to something more fit for a young lady’s ears.

As Lucian continued to watch, the earl became more animated in whatever he was saying to Primrose, clearly enjoying the attentions of an attractive and available young woman. Her smile looked to be no more than polite, but from this distance it was difficult to tell. Whether it was or not, the earl appeared to be taking her attention as an encouraging sign.

Lucian had to wonder whether showing this buffoon too much interest was reckless. His talk proved he had a severe lack of social graces, particularly when in the company of attractive women. It might be unwise to encourage his attentions.

Lucian shook his head slowly, as he continued to watch the earl strut in front of Primrose, becoming increasingly convinced this was not a good idea. What did they really know about this man? Just because he was a birdwatcher did not mean he was someone who could be trusted.

He looked at his cousins, smiling benevolently at Primrose and the earl. Were they really good judges of character? He didn’t know that either. They could be throwing Primrose into the arms of a man who was going to cause her harm, a man who had already shown disturbing signs of being some sort of deviant.

Even if Lucian did want Primrose and her animals away from his property, even if he did want to free himself from temptation, he did not want her married to a man they could not trust, a man whose interests strayed in dubious directions. His conscience would not stand for it.

She needed to be protected, and if no one else was doing so, then it would have to be up to him. To that end, he jumped to his feet, took the stairs several at a time and joined the group surrounding the speaker. He nodded his greeting to the earl, and stood beside him, noting with satisfaction that the man was several inches shorter than he was and much slighter of build.

‘That is why it is always referred to as a flock of ostriches,’ he said to the young ladies, in reply to their query, ‘and not a herd.’

‘Fascinating,’ Beatrice said, smiled at Lucian and gave a quick, almost imperceptible wink as if to say their plan was working.

‘Don’t you agree, Primrose?’ Beatrice prompted.

Primrose nodded and continued to smile politely. Lucian saw, with some pleasure, that her smile did not reach her eyes and those dimples made only the briefest of appearances. This pompous ass was not making as good an impression on her as he thought he was.

It seemed Beatrice was wrong and her confidence misguided. Primrose was obviously far too intelligent and discerning to be attracted to this miserable specimen of a man. Lucian had to concede some people might say he was reasonably good-looking. And if he had an estate in Norfolk, he was presumably wealthy enough to support a wife in style. And maybe they did have a common interest, but was that really enough to justify marriage?

‘If you’re interested in bird life you really must visit my estate in Norfolk,’ the earl said, addressing the group, but with his eyes fixed on Primrose.

Lucian could almost feel his hackles rise.

That was far too presumptuous. They’ve only just met, and he’s already trying to lure her to his estate for heaven knows what nefarious purposes.

Lucian stood up straighter, expanded his chest and moved slightly closer to Primrose, then stared intently at the earl so he would know that even if she was effectively alone in the world, she was not without a protector, and Lucian would tolerate no unfitting behaviour.

‘That invitation is, of course, extended to you all,’ he said to Beatrice and Reginald, then turned to Lucian. ‘And to you too, Viscount Westhaven.’

Did the man’s voice falter slightly on Lucian’s name? He hoped so. The man needed to know that Primrose was to be treated with the utmost respect, and if she wasn’t, the earl would have Lucian to answer to.

‘That is most gracious of you,’ Beatrice answered for them all. ‘I’m sure Miss Fairburn would be fascinated to see your bird boxes and to join you out on your estate while you are birdwatching.’

‘And I’d be delighted to have her company,’ the speaker crooned, looking at Primrose in a manner that made Lucian’s jaw ache.

This was all moving too far too fast, and Lucian did not like it, not one little bit. The man was trying to get Primrose alone, out in the countryside, where absolutely anything could happen. Even if the last thing he wanted to do was visit Norfolk and look at bloody birds, he would have to accompany her to ensure she was safe. After all, this had all been set up for his advantage. He could not just throw Primrose at this earl, then walk away without making certain she was under no threat.

‘While it’s good to see the birds in the wild, I also have many mounted birds back at my estate,’ the earl continued. ‘It allows me to more closely study their plumage. I would be delighted to show you them as well,’ he said, still addressing Primrose.

‘Mounted birds?’ Lucian asked. Was the man once again descending to crude innuendo? If he was, then Lucian would not hesitate. He would let the man know, in no uncertain terms, that he could not speak that way in front of the ladies. He swallowed a smile, strangely pleased with the prospect.

‘Yes, I capture specimens I wish to study and have them preserved in a remarkably natural state by my taxidermist.’

‘You kill them?’ Primrose asked with horror.

‘Yes,’ the earl continued, smiling as if delighted by her shocked expression. ‘When there is a specimen I wish to observe closely, I set traps round my estate. But I can assure you, Miss Fairburn, they do not suffer. My gamekeeper disposes of them quickly and cleanly with a fast snap of the neck so none of their plumage is disturbed. The creature feels nothing.’

Primrose’s eyes grew bigger with each word he spoke. Lucian smirked to himself. The poor dolt had no idea he had just ruined any chance he might have had in capturing her interest.

Beatrice was also aware that all was lost and now wore a defeated expression.