Page 46 of A Wallflower to Win the Viscount

Relief flooded through Lucian. Her cousin. It was not some courting lothario who meant Primrose harm or even, indeed, someone intent on marrying her.

The relief washed away as quickly as it had arrived. What on earth was he thinking? It was her cousin. The man who had bullied her when she was a child. The man who had tried to take away her home!

He walked swiftly up the front path to her house and pounded on the door. When it was opened by the footman, he pushed past him, raced down the hallway and into the drawing room where he found an obviously enraged man glaring down at Primrose.

And Primrose gave every appearance of being in need of Lucian’s assistance. Her hair was dishevelled, stray locks falling out of her bun, and her face was flushed, all indications that her cousin was threatening her, maybe even manhandling her.

‘Get out,’ he ordered, pointing at the door and fighting the desire to grab the man by the lapels and show him exactly what he thought of bullies.

The earl turned to face Lucian, his lips curled into a scornful sneer while Lucian’s hands clenched into fists.

‘Lucian—I mean Viscount Westhaven,’ Primrose said, taking hold of the escaped locks and trying to clip them back into her bun. ‘This is a surprise, but don’t worry about my cousin, he was just leaving. Weren’t you, Jasper?’

The cousin looked from Lucian to Primrose, then back to Lucian. He squared his shoulders and lifted his chin, giving Lucian hope that he would get the opportunity to teach this petty tyrant a well-deserved lesson.

The two men continued to glare at each other, saying nothing, but with chests thrust forward, as if barely held back by a leash, nostrils flared, fists curled. Then just as quickly as the earl had puffed himself up like an irate rooster, he appeared to deflate.

‘Bear in mind everything I said to you, Primrose,’ the boorish brute said, pointing a finger in her face, which she swatted away while rolling her eyes.

‘Everything,’ he repeated, glancing quickly at Lucian. Then he hurried out the door, his head lowered, leaving Lucian full of anger which had nowhere to go.

‘What did he want?’ he said seething as he stared at the door. Once again, he knew this was none of his business, but if the man had any ill intent, then Lucian would make it his business and ensure the earl’s behaviour did not go unpunished.

‘Oh, the usual, a bit of intimidation, a bit of bullying, a bit of name-calling,’ she said, her tone sounding joyful.

That could not be right.

He turned to face her. She was smiling. What could she possibly have to smile about?

‘But don’t worry. I let him know that I’m completely immune to his lack of charm.’

‘You are?’ he said tentatively, wondering whether the shock had caused her to momentarily lose her grip on reality.

Her smile grew wider. ‘Yes, I am. As I’ve said before, I am a woman of independent means.’ She grinned. ‘No one can push me around, not even my irritating cousin.’

He continued assessing her behaviour to ascertain whether it was indeed shock-induced. Her demeanour was nothing like the tearful young woman he had found clutching the letter from her cousin’s solicitor.

‘Don’t worry, I haven’t gone mad,’ she said, as if reading his mind. ‘I’ve just discovered the heady pleasure of standing up for myself.’

‘I’m pleased to hear it,’ he said, still feeling slightly off guard.

‘And you’ll also be pleased to hear your solicitor’s letter worked, and Jasper now realises this house is all mine, and there’s not a thing he can do about it.’

‘That is excellent news,’ he said, trying to sound pleased while his body attempted to fight off the effects of his unspent rage.

‘But I’m glad you have finally paid me a visit,’ she said. ‘I’ve been wanting to talk to you.’

‘You have?’

‘Yes, I…er…’ She looked around the room, quickly changing from the confident woman he had viewed moments ago back to the discomposed woman he had first met. ‘Edward said you’ve have been busy organising the donation of your house to a worthwhile charity.’

‘What? Yes, I have.’

She tilted her head as if requiring a fuller explanation. But he had not come here for polite conversation, especially as he knew where such things could lead. He should leave. Immediately. She was not in any danger. At least not from her cousin. She did not need his help. Possibly never had. He should go right away.

He looked towards the door.

‘I’d love to hear all about it,’ she said quickly. ‘And find out who my new neighbours are going to be.’