Page 29 of His Scandalous Viscountess
“Jules, look at me.”
He used what he thought of as his commanding voice, the one that normally made women pay attention and do as he desired.
Her green gaze locked with his.
He drew his hands over her shoulders and up to cup her delicate jawline. “Whatever it is, we will tackle it together. But I need you to settle down and explain what has happened.”
She drew a shuddering breath, and then nodded. “Of course. My apologies.”
She quickly explained about Wallthorpe’s unexpected appearance in the park, and his veiled threat toward Ros.
Wolf’s brows drew together. “And you’re certain he intends to pursue her?”
Julia pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. “Am I certain? No. Am I worried? Very.”
“Can she not simply refuse him?”
He could tell Jules was deeply upset by the notion of Wallthorpe switching his focus to her sister.
She let one brow rise in annoyance. “Certainly. Ros can refuse his advances exactly as I did, but with the same likely result.”
Feeling a bit abashed, since he was currently embroiled in Jules’ own plot to extricate herself from the persistent Wallthorpe, he nodded. “I suppose you are correct. He has not abided by Society’s standards of conduct so far.”
“Precisely. And I am afraid if he went to my parents and addressed his suit, they would put even more pressure on her to remarry.” Jules drew a steadying breath. “But I have a plan. If I can find her a suitor—someone who will protect her in the short term, and then allow her to end the connection once it’s safe, as we have agreed to do—she, too, can fend Wallthorpe off.”
Wolf’s brows both rose. “So, you are saying you expect a man to court your sister publicly and then allow her to call off the engagement, at the end risking possible damage to his reputation?”
She turned to face him, her brows drawn together in the most adorable display of confusion. “You’re doing exactly that for me, aren’t you?”
He wanted to snarl and tell her that he had no intention of letting her go once this fake engagement was over. But he knew if he did such, she would end everything at once, putting herself at great risk again.
No, he could not show her the truth of what he wanted. Not yet.
He plastered his card face on and did his best to look unflappable, even as he seethed beneath the surface. “Of course, but I’ve known you for years and years. Does Rosalind know any men who might be willing to perform this same service?”
The crease between her brows remained as her lips curved down in disappointment. “Not that I am aware of. There is that very nice officer from her husband’s unit who has visited her once or twice, however.”
Wolf huffed. “Have you even discussed this with her?”
Jules looked wary—though that crease had finally disappeared. “No. She will just refuse my help.”
“Bloody hell! Jules, even if we could find a man willing to aid your sister, he cannot very well do so without her consent.”
Not to mention, Wolf had his doubts that some poor, unsuspecting officer would have the wherewithal to manage this particular situation. Not many untitled men would choose to work in direct opposition to a peer of the realm.
Jules glared at him. “Help me find a man first, and then we can argue about what to tell Ros.”
“And what is it you are plotting to hide from me now?”
The woman in question walked into the room, her strawberry blond hair caught up in an artful twist that accentuated her long neck. With her soft green day dress, she looked very elegant, though slightly cross at the moment.
Jules shot daggers at Wolf with her eyes, even as she turned to smile at her sister. “Nothing, dear.”
Ros looked from him to Jules, and then back to him. He knew what was coming, because between him and Jules, he’d always been the easy mark.
“Wolf, don’t let her bully you into keeping secrets from me.”
Ros looked at him with her big green eyes—so much like Jules’—and he simply caved.
