A Wallflower's Wassail Punch
Lady Annette Page is twenty-eight and on the shelf. Her first Season had been a disaster after a duke's son pinched her on the balcony and she punched him in the nose. And broke it. Her father wants to remarry, but his betrothed will not agree until Lady Annette is gone. With an enormous dowry offered for her hand, the earl hosts a house party at Christmastide. The men arrive, hoping to claim her fortune, while the ladies enjoy belittling her at each planned activity. Tired of the whispered insults and sneers from the guests, Lady Annette proposes a new game: a daily contest of her choice. Though all agree to the diversion, no one expects the challenges to include marksmanship, archery, and fencing. She will accept the proposal of the man who can best her at two or more sports.Lord Wilkinson has been a widow for twenty years. Now that his daughter is betrothed, he is ready to consider taking another wife. Invited to a house party by an old friend, he arrives to find the earl's daughter is the guest of honor, and her father is anxious to marry her off. Wilkinson is surprised the other gentlemen see an unaccomplished, ill-natured female. The viscount sees a striking, intelligent woman with a dry wit it seems only he can appreciate.When Lord Wilkinson presents Lady Annette with a secret challenge, she can't resist. Will their midnight rendezvous and private contests end in certain victory for one or a dual attraction for both?