Page 25 of A Wallflower to Win the Viscount

She scratched Clawdia on the top of the head and looked in the direction of Lucian’s house. ‘Especially handsome, manly ones with strong thighs who live next door.’

Lucian had expected Beatrice and Reginald to immediately take his carriage back to their hotel, but it seemed Beatrice had other ideas, and the three of them converged in the drawing room to come up with what Beatrice called a plan of action.

‘Well, that was a waste of time,’ Lucian said with some satisfaction as they took their seats. ‘Maybe we should call this whole matchmaking thing off.’

‘Nonsense,’ Beatrice said, her voice surprisingly joyful. ‘I don’t believe we should see today as a setback. I, for one, believe we will have no problem whatsoever finding the perfect husband for Primrose.’

Lucian frowned at his cousin’s wife. How could she remain so buoyant when her plan involving the Earl of Ashcombe had proven to be such an abject failure? Had she not been paying attention?

‘She deemed Ashcombe a frightful man and stormed off,’ he reminded her. ‘I can guarantee she will not be visiting his Norfolk estate, unless she’s there to save the birds before he kills them and has them stuffed.’ Lucian snorted as he remembered the crushed expression on the earl’s face as he watched Primrose beat a hasty retreat.

‘Yes, Ashcombe is obviously not right for her,’ Beatrice continued, her optimistic tone not wavering. ‘But I’m sure after tomorrow’s talk, she’ll be so much closer to becoming a married woman.’

Lucian scowled in disapproval, crossed the room to the sideboard and lifted a cut-glass decanter of port. Reginald accepted, but Beatrice waved her hand in dismissal.

‘I’m not sure this is such a good idea,’ Lucian said, handing a glass to Reginald. ‘I mean, do we even know anything about this Marchwood fellow?’

‘We know that he’s so devastatingly handsome he’s rumoured to make women swoon,’ Beatrice said with considerable relish.

Lucian couldn’t help but sneer at this description. ‘I’m sure Primrose is not so superficial she would fall for a man just because he’s good-looking.’

‘Maybe not, but his charming personality is also reputed to be so magnetic that women are simply drawn into his orbit.’

Lucian’s dislike of the man intensified. ‘In that case, why isn’t he married already? There must be something wrong with him,’ Lucian said, pouring himself a generous glass of port.

‘Perhaps he’s waiting for the right woman,’ Beatrice protested. ‘Someone like Primrose. A lovely young woman who is as passionate about animal welfare as he is.’

Lucian grimaced and took his seat, still not liking the sound of this.

‘But if this is upsetting you, Lucian, you don’t have to come to tomorrow’s talk,’ Beatrice said, the glint in her eye suggesting she was amused by the prospect of him being upset. ‘I’m sure Reggie and I can look after Primrose and make sure she spends lots of time in the company of the handsome, charming, magnetic baron once the talk is over.’

‘I’m not upset,’ Lucian said, louder than he intended.

‘No?’ Beatrice pressed. ‘Or is it that you don’t want to see Primrose married off to some other man? Do you want her to stay living next door to you?’

‘Nonsense,’ he shot back. ‘Of course I want her gone. I’m just beginning to question the wisdom of throwing her at these men who might be completely wrong for her. Apart from being’—Lucian frowned—‘handsome, magnetic and caring about foxes, what do we really know about this man?’

‘Well, we’ll find out tomorrow, won’t we? I wonder what Primrose will wear?’ Beatrice said, still looking like the cat who had been presented with a large bowl of cream. ‘Because she looked lovely today, didn’t she, Lucian?’

‘I can’t say I noticed.’ Lucian took a sip of his port, not wanting to be reminded of how pretty she had looked in that purple gown, with her hair all soft and wispy around her face. Nor did he want to remember how the earl had reacted to her, like an irritating bee buzzing around a flower. And he certainly did not want to consider what would happen when Beatrice threw her at this decidedly suspicious-sounding Marchwood.

‘Well, you might not have noticed,’ Beatrice continued, ‘but others did, and not just the Earl of Ashcombe. I believe she caught the eye of many other men at the talk as well. I’m certain it won’t be long before Primrose is married to an eminently suitable man. One who will love her and be loved by her, even if neither of them realise it yet.’

With that, she sent Lucian an enigmatic smile, then thankfully changed the subject and began discussing her children.

Lucian attempted to focus as Reginald and Beatrice regaled him with stories of their offspring’s antics, but he couldn’t shake off his irritation over all this matchmaking nonsense. Irritation which was as irrational as it was annoying.

Chapter Eight

All evening, Lucian continued to stew over the wisdom of Beatrice’s plan, coming up with reason after reason why this matchmaking business was a bad idea. When, in the early hours of the morning, he’d exhausted every possible objection, he finally had to admit Beatrice was probably right. Primrose did deserve to meet a man of outstanding character, one who could love her as she deserved to be loved and whom she would love in return.

By the time he went down to breakfast, he was tired from a sleepless night but determined to keep an open mind regarding Marchwood. That did not mean he would cease to remain vigilant regarding any sign of a dissolute character or questionable behaviour that the impressionable ladies might miss, but he would give the man the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.

And none was better suited to do so than him. Hadn’t he spotted what a dolt Ashcombe was before Beatrice or Primrose were aware there was anything amiss? Yes, while this matchmaking scheme may have some merit, his presence and clear-headed judgement was essential to the success of the enterprise.

He took several pieces of toast from the rack and placed them on his plate, still contemplating the day ahead. And in the unlikely event that this Marchwood fellow did turn out to be eminently suitable, then Lucian would of course be delighted for Primrose and for himself.

After all, the whole point of this plan wasn’t just to find a husband for Primrose, it was to free Lucian of her and those animals. Then he would be able to sell this house, go back to America and get on with his life.