Page 65 of A Wallflower to Win the Viscount

‘I don’t know what you said or what you did to make that young woman turn you down, but you are so perfect together that it would be a sin for two people who loved each other this much not to marry.’

Lucian knew she meant well, but her words made him wince. In the eyes of so many people, what they had already done was a sin, and to not make amends by marrying only compounded that sin.

‘You are going to have to find a way to show that young lady how much you love her and how you will make a perfect husband and father to her children,’ Beatrice continued, her no-nonsense voice showing she expected him to do exactly as she said, and soon. ‘If Primrose turned down your proposal, it must only be because of something you did or said. Or, more likely, what you didn’t say,’ she insisted.

Lucian squirmed in his chair, suddenly feeling like a schoolboy getting a telling-off from a disappointed schoolmarm.

‘Tell her how much you love her, Lucian, or better still show her.’

With that she turned to her husband once more. ‘I believe we should be going,’ she said to Reginald, who immediately placed his half-full cup back on its saucer. ‘We’ve given Lucian a lot to think about, and I still have that hat to buy. Also, I’ve seen the perfect material for my new gown.’

With that they stood up, and his mind still awhirl, he escorted them out, then returned to the study and informed the maid he would continue to watch Clawdia.

He sat down and looked contemplatively at the cat, knowing that Beatrice was right. He did have a lot to think about.

Love? Was he in love with Primrose? That would certainly explain why he was acting so out of character. It would explain why she was all he could think about, why he had turned his life upside down to be free of her, then turned it back again immediately so he could remain in England the moment he had an excuse to do so.

‘It would explain why you’re here,’ he said to the cat. ‘And why I didn’t just pick you and your kittens up and take you back where you belong.’

Clawdia meowed, as if, like Beatrice, she’d known this all along.

It now all made so much sense, and he could hardly believe it had taken Beatrice to point it out to him. He was in love with Primrose Fairburn.

He smiled at Clawdia, as warmth filled his heart and body. Of course he was in love with her. How could he not be in love with a woman as wonderful, as enchanting, as unique as her?

The question now was: What should he do about it?

He knew what he wanted. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He wanted her to become his wife. About that there was no question.

But how did he make that happen? If he went over to her house now and proposed again, she was sure to turn him down once more. Even if he declared his love, she might see it as a ruse, a way to get her to marry him just so he could assuage his sense of self-loathing.

He continued to watch Clawdia, as if the cat could provide the answer. He had eight weeks before the charity took possession of this house and they would no longer be neighbours. Eight weeks before Clawdia and her kittens no longer needed to reside in this room. Eight short weeks while Primrose continued to visit. In that time he was going to have to convince her he was in love with her and get her to fall so deeply in love with him she would put aside all her reservations and want to marry him as much as he wanted to marry her.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Lucian had no idea how to proceed but knew exactly what to do when faced with a situation about which he was completely ignorant. He bought a book.

A Gentleman’s Guide to Courtship and Matrimony by the Reverend Thaddeus Sternwell promised the reader that if he followed, to the letter, the instructions laid out in the book, success was guaranteed. He would win the young lady’s heart and marry her, and they would embark on a joyous life together as man and wife.

It was perfect.

Lucian took his seat in the study and commenced reading with some enthusiasm. His enthusiasm quickly waned as the good reverend dedicated a great deal of the book to counselling the reader on what he should not do rather than what he should do. And it seemed Lucian had already committed a great deal of the should-nots.

The first chapter stated, in no uncertain terms, how modesty was a virtue, one which should be exercised at all times when courting a young lady. Kissing before the couple entered the state of holy matrimony was expressly forbidden. The reverend even had his reservations about hand-holding, unless it was to help a young lady over a wooden stile when strolling in the countryside—accompanied by a chaperone, of course—or to prevent her from stepping in a puddle when crossing the road.

With each word he read, Lucian’s optimism diminished further. He already knew he had gone about things all wrong. He did not need the reverend to remind him of that. What he needed was advice on what to do now.

He skimmed through the next few chapters, which reiterated, in increasingly severe terms, the importance of chastity, which the author stressed displayed the man’s respect for his intended’s virtue and his self-restraint, qualities the reverend believed showed the true nature of the suitor and were essential if he was to present himself to his intended as an ideal husband.

Lucian did not need the reverend to remind him that he had already shown himself to lack self-restraint, although nothing could diminish his unwavering respect for Primrose. He just needed to know how he could convince her of how he felt and that he would do everything required to be as close to an ideal husband for her as he possibly could.

Finally, he got to the chapter containing the information he required: how to convince a young lady that you were the man she was destined to marry.

He focused intently so he could fully take in all this pertinent information. Once again, his optimism faltered as it contained instructions he had already managed to transgress on more occasions than he cared to count.

By all means flatter the young lady, but not on her appearance, lest it encourage the sin of vanity. Instead, praise her modesty, her piety, or her dutiful behaviour.

Had he complimented Primrose on anything other than her beauty? He was unsure, but unlike the adherence to chastity, that was something he could now rectify. Piety, modesty and dutiful behaviour were hardly characteristics he admired in anyone, and not ones Primrose possessed in abundance, thank goodness, but she was kind, sweet, insightful, funny and delightful company.