Scarlet Kisses (2 page)

“Perhaps in Paris?” their mother asked.

Violet twisted her lips while Alyssum replied, “It would do her some good. Paris worked for me.”

“Yes, it did.” Their mother smiled brightly. “I don’t think I would have survived another one of your pranks. I’ll talk to Jasmine.” There was a pause before she asked Alyssum, “How is Mr. Potting?”

“In love,” Alyssum replied and then watched as her mother’s face lit up. “With Clarice Weathers,” she finished and watched her mother’s smile drop.

“I’m so sorry, dear.” The countess walked forward and touched Alyssum’s arm gently. “I know how much you wanted to marry him.”

Alyssum forced a smile. “I’ll find another.”

With a smile to both her daughters, the countess left the room.

“I’m sorry, Liss,” Violet said gently.

Alyssum let her disappointment show as she dropped onto the window seat beside Violet.

“Now you’ll have to go to London with the rest of us and go through another season,” Violet said.

With a groan, Alyssum slouched into the cushioned seat in a very unladylike manner. She was tired. Tired of London, tired of society, tired of searching for a husband. Tired of her boring life

“Robert’s right,” she whispered.

Violet’s eyes widened slightly at hearing Alyssum call Viscount Lambert by his first name.

Alyssum shook her head. “I don’t have fun.”

“Well, then go
have fun,” Violet urged.

“How?”

“If you want advice on fun, I know the perfect person to ask.” Violet arched a brow.

Alyssum smiled, knowing who just that person was.

“What do you think?” Violet asked Jaz as they stood in her bedroom.

“Well, I think a lot of things, but right now I’m wondering how you unlocked my door?” she asked with a curious expression as she sat on the edge of her bed. She had been trying to pick the lock for three minutes with not an ounce of success. Her mother currently held the key in her pocket.

“I picked the lock,” Violet replied.

“How?” Jaz asked and leaned forward in her attempt to hear the secret.

“I’ll teach you how to pick the lock if you give us your opinion on the matter at hand.”

“Right, right,” she muttered and leaned back. “Alyssum?”

“Yes?” Alyssum replied cautiously as she stood beside Violet.

“You are salvable.”

“I’m glad.”

“What kind of fun are you looking for?” Jaz linked her fingers and leaned her chin on them.

Alyssum shook her head, not knowing.

“Do you want to have fun in the country or in London?”

“Both would be nice,” Alyssum replied. “I want to be like I used to be,” she said sadly, remembering her mischievous days. She had been just like Jaz. Well, not quite like Jaz. Jaz was a whole new level of naughty for an innocent.

“Well, I can fix that,” Jaz announced.

“Really? How?” Alyssum arched a brow.

“I will tell you, only if you do one thing for me.”

“What is it?”

“Convince Mother not to send me to that school in Paris,” she pleaded.

“Jaz, you were caught kissing the footman last week,” Violet said as she strode over to a chair by the wall and sat down.

“And?” Jaz raised her brows.

Violet shook her head disapprovingly. “That man now has no job because of you.”

Jaz turned her gaze to Alyssum with a look that said she didn’t understand the problem.

Alyssum shook her head and waved her hand. “I’ll talk to Mother, but I can’t guarantee anything.”

“Fair enough.” Jaz relaxed back on her bed. “I know something fun you can do in London.” She arched her brow as if daring Alyssum to ask.

“What is it?” Alyssum asked cautiously.

“Are you prepared to be naughty?” Jaz asked with that smile that usually got her locked in her room.

Alyssum looked to Violet for advice. Violet shrugged.

“Let’s hear it,” Alyssum answered. “How bad can it be?”

“That’s it.” Harry leaned back in his chair. They had finally finished going through all of Robert’s papers.

Robert sighed and also leaned back in his chair. “Are you coming to London?” he asked.

Harry groaned. “I don’t want to, but I have to.”

“Why?” Robert demanded. He hated that his best friend tortured himself for his family. Society was vain and shallow, and because of a thin white scar marking his face from a childhood fall, Harry had been called ugly on more than one occasion.

“I have two sisters in society who need my watching,” Harry answered.

“Violet and Alyssum, what trouble could they get into? They’re the most sensible ladies I know.”

“Compared to the other
ladies
you know, my sisters are saints,” Harry replied dryly.

“Yes, they are.”

“Are you still with that woman?” Harry asked Robert out of curiosity.

“Which one?”

Harry rolled his eyes and tried not to laugh. “The actress with red hair.”

“
Oh
,” Robert sighed, remembering faintly. “No,” he shook his head. “She got clingy. Eck.” He leaned forward and crossed his arms on Harry’s desk.

“Do you remember her name?” Harry asked for a laugh. He smiled as he watched Robert try to remember the woman’s name. Robert wore a frown as his eyes moved back and forth as if looking through an invisible filling cabinet. Eventually the frown smoothed away and he smiled.

“You remember?” Harry said.

“No.” Robert grinned.

Harry laughed and shook his head.

“Why can’t your mother watch the girls?”

“Why don’t you want me to go to London?” Harry asked.

“I know you hate it.”

“I don’t hate London.” Harry sighed. “I just hate playing nice with the annoying.”

“Then stay here.” Robert waved his hands around the spacious study. The study that had once belonged to Harry’s loving father. He watched as Harry debated with himself whether or not to go to London.

“I have to watch the girls,” he finally announced.

“Do what?” Robert demanded. “Alyssum’s quiet as a mouse and stays with the American girl, who, by the way, has one of the strictest chaperons in the country, while Violet sneaks off to the hostess’s library and reads their books.”

Harry chuckled, knowing everything Robert said about his sisters was true. “I have responsibilities.”

“Fine,” Robert sighed with a shake of his head.

“Stay here,” Robert said. “If it helps, I’ll keep an occasional eye on the girls.”

“No, it doesn’t help.”

“I can be sensible,” Robert said, then muttered under his breath, “Sometimes.”

“I’ll talk to Mother.” Harry sighed.

“You do that.”

Violet gasped, Jaz grinned and Alyssum remained silent.

“No,” Violet said as she stood from her seat and walked to Alyssum.

“It’ll be fun,” Jaz cajoled. “And harmless.”

“Harmless,” Violet spoke in outrage. “She could be ruined if things go wrong.”

“Why would things go wrong?” Jaz asked, and Violet began listing.

Alyssum remained quiet, thinking things over. “It sounds fun,” she eventually said to break Violet’s rant.

“What?” Violet spun around and looked at Alyssum with wide eyes. “You understand the plan, right?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re still going to do it?” she almost screamed.

“Shhh,” Jaz shushed her quickly, not wanting her mother to hear.

“I’ll be wearing a mask,” Alyssum said.

“Oh, well, then everything will be fine,” she spoke sarcastically.

“I want to do this,” Alyssum said. Her gaze drifted to Jaz and her excitement rose.

“Liss, you could be caught.”

“I won’t be.”

“What if the man that you kiss recognizes you and tells society? Is it really worth risking your whole future?”

Alyssum remained silent before replying sternly, “He won’t recognize me. Besides who would believe it? Lady Alyssum Rosewood being found in a compromising position with a gentleman?” She arched a brow. “I don’t think so.”

Jaz clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh, I wish I could come to London.”

“Soon,” Violet said. Their brother and mother had both agreed to wait till Jasmine was eighteen until having her come out.

“Two years,” Jaz sighed dreamily.

“I propose a test,” Alyssum said to them. “I will prove that if a rumor spreads people will not believe it.”

“They wouldn’t dare gossip about the Earl of Leighton’s sister,” said Violet.

“It’s strange when you call Harry by his title,” Jaz laughed.

“What is this test?” Violet asked.

“I’ll show you.” Alyssum turned and walked from the room.

Violet strode after her while Jaz hovered in the doorway looking for any signs of her mother. Hesitating only for a moment, she then ran from her room into freedom and followed her sisters downstairs.

As Alyssum stepped off the last stair, she turned and walked over to Harry’s study.

Knocking lightly on the door, she waited until Harry bid her enter.

“Enter,” he called.

Alyssum took one glance at her sisters then opened the door, walked in and shut it behind her.

When the door closed softly, Alyssum knew her sisters would be pressing their ears to the wood.

“Alyssum,” Harry greeted her as he and Robert stood from their chairs.

“I have something I need to tell you,” she said in a serious tone.

“All right,” he replied then looked to Robert. “Do you mind?”

“No,” Alyssum cut in. “I would like him to hear this.”

Robert frowned then, looking to Harry, he shrugged and dropped back into his chair. He watched Harry and Alyssum as he slouched.

“What is it you wanted to say?” Harry asked, still standing.

Alyssum took a deep breath then exhaled. “When Mr. Potting was here earlier…I kissed him.”

Harry stared at her in silence. And Robert… He burst into laughter. At Harry’s murderous glare, he covered it by coughing and thumping his chest with his fist.

“Alyssum.” Harry sighed. “I know you want to get married, but trapping a man with a lie is
not
the right thing.”

Even though she had gotten the results she was looking for, she blushed brightly in embarrassment. “I’m sorry,” she apologized. “It won’t happen again.” She turned quickly and left the room.

Standing outside Harry’s study, Alyssum turned her head to the side and looked at her sisters. They both stood with wide, excited eyes.

“Well?” she whispered.

“The plan will work,” Violet announced, shocked.

“Of course it will.” Jaz bounced on her feet, hardly containing her excitement.

Alyssum beamed. She could hardly wait.

“Mother,” Harry greeted his mother from the doorway of the countess’ pink private parlor.

“Harry.” She smiled happily. “Come in.”

Walking into the room filled with pink, Harry tried not to cringe as he sat on the light pink settee.

“I wish to speak to you about this year’s season.”

“Go ahead, sweetheart.”

Even at twenty-eight, Harry couldn’t help but blush at the endearment. Clearing his throat, he looked at his mother. “Will you be able to chaperon the girls?”

“Of course,” she replied cheerfully.

“While I stay here?” he finished.

“Oh.” She seemed surprised. “You don’t want to join in on the season?”

Harry wrinkled his nose. Caroline smiled and leaned over to pat his scarred cheek affectionately. “I can handle Violet and Alyssum. The girls are well behaved. Jasmine on the other hand
…
”

Harry winced and shook his head. “We really need to do something about her.”

“I know, dear. I was thinking the school in Paris?”

Harry raised his eyebrows. “It worked for Alyssum.”

“Alyssum wasn’t this kind of naughty. She threw mud pies at the house and put that fish in your bed, but Jaz…” Caroline trailed off with a sigh.

“Jaz took Father’s death badly,” Harry said quietly. He watched as his mother took a small sip from her teacup. Her hand shook as she placed it back on the saucer. Reaching out, Harry placed his hand over hers. The loss of the late earl had hurt them all. It still hurt, but it had broken his mother’s heart.

“Father died four years ago. We all grieved, but she’s…” Harry shook his head. Nobody knew what ran through Jasmine’s head.

“The school in Paris will do her good.”