Chapter Twenty-One
Violet tipped her head back. The stars twinkled here and there as wispy clouds blew gently across the inky sky.
She sucked in a deep breath of cold air.
It felt nice to be outside. She had been cooped up with her thoughts far too much the past week.
Rhys snapped the reins, and she glanced over at him.
He sat straight and confident with the ribbons held loosely in his hands.
His wool cap sat low on his brow. Lord, he was so handsome.
And the way he’d kissed her…she had just about melted into a puddle at the tenderness which he showed her.
As uncertain as her life felt at the moment, she was absolutely sure she wanted to be kissed by him again.
His lips tracing the curve of her neck had sent delicious sensations racing through her.
Those lips had been surprisingly soft, and his tongue hot and slick as it tangled with hers.
Yes, she definitely wanted more of him. He said she had seduced him.
Violet didn’t even try to stop her smile from blooming.
His manhood had been hard and straining against her bottom.
He may have more self-control than she gave any man credit for, but he was far from immune to her, even in her current delicate state.
Although, despite using her pregnancy to get out of attending Stuart’s funeral, she was feeling strong and full of energy these days, a marked difference from the first half of her pregnancy.
The streets were mostly empty, but as they moved west toward the theatres, more carriages rolled up and down the avenues.
Streetlamps created pools of light. She could see all manner of people walking in and out of the shadows.
A tall, broad-shouldered gentleman in a silk top hat seemed so familiar.
The man raised his head, and even though he was quite far away, Violet thought she recognized the duke’s slashing eyebrows and long patrician nose.
The eye contact only lasted a moment, but it made her heart race.
Could it have been her father-in-law? No, certainly not. She gripped Rhys’s arm.
He glanced at her. “What’s the matter, sugar? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
“I thought I saw the duke.”
“Unlikely. There are no clubs he would frequent around here. Besides, he wouldn’t be walking the street on a cold night. Toffs always take their carriages.”
She nodded. “Of course, you’re right. He would never walk the streets.”
“Hang on. We are almost there.”
Shortly, Rhys turned down a wide back lane and pulled to a stop in front of the mews. After he helped her down, he tucked her hand through the crook of his arm and tossed a coin to the stable boy. “We won’t be long, Kenny. Just getting some food.”
“Sure thing, Mr. Seaton.”
Rhys turned to her. “This way.” He led them down the lane until they got to a large stone building. They went to the right and down a set of stairs. “Watch your step in the dark. There are six stairs.”
Violet held tight to his arm as she carefully navigated the stairs, and at the bottom, he opened the wooden door, letting blessed light into the dark stairwell.
They stepped inside, and Violet blinked to let her eyes adjust. The hallway had three sconces down the length of its rough stone walls.
It was just as cold inside as outside, and Violet shivered. “Where are we?”
“Root cellars.” He led her down the corridor. “We also use it for wine and beer storage. Come, it’s this way to the kitchen and a hot meal.”
Soon they climbed a short set of stone stairs, only three this time.
At the top, through an archway, came the sounds of pots and pans clanging and voices shouting.
And sure enough, they emerged into a well-lit kitchen.
The room was enormous, with arched ceilings in the same thick stone as all the walls.
But the rest of the space was quite modern, with two large stoves along one wall and a rectangular wooden worktable against the opposite wall, which held a large sink with a hand pump for water.
Two long tables dominated the center of the room.
Rhys led her over to one and pulled a chair out for her.
Violet obediently sat. The room bustled with people, but no one seemed to take notice of them, except for three young women in dancing costumes who sat at the other table. The girls glanced curiously at her.
“I’ll just go wheedle some grub for us. Be right back.” Rhys removed her wrap, laying it next to her, then bent and kissed her neck. As he walked away, he stopped by the dancing girls. “How was the show tonight?”
“Real good, Mr. Seaton.” They all gave him wide smiles.
It wasn’t until he moved away that their glances flicked back to Violet.
She sent them a small smile before looking down at her black crepe dress.
She smoothed the skirt, feeling old and frumpy compared to the women in their sparkly blue costumes.
She stared down at her hands and spun her ring around.
It didn’t matter, of course. It was silly to compare herself.
Her stomach rumbled, and she placed a hand on her belly.
“Just a few more minutes, baby.” The smells in the kitchen were mouthwatering.
Roasted onions, rosemary…and maybe carrots?
“Here we are.” Rhys returned, carrying two bowls of stew. He set them down and slid into a chair next to her. “Be careful. It’s hot.”
“Thank you.” She slid him a sideways glance. “You take such good care of me.”
Rhys’s hand froze as he reached for his spoon.
He looked somewhat startled for a moment, and it made her smile.
Perhaps he didn’t know that he was good at taking care of people, even the dog that he’d saved.
She blew on her spoonful of stew, sending steam across the table.
The first bite was delicious, and she let out a low hum of approval.
She hadn’t been hungry at all earlier, but now she was famished.
When she had finished off her bowl, Rhys turned in his seat and chuckled. He laid a hand on her belly. “Is the babe satisfied? Do you want another serving?”
Violet stared at his hand on her belly. Strong, tan fingers spread wide across her bump. She covered it with her own. “Yes, satisfied, I think. It was delicious.” Then the baby moved as though it wanted to add its approval.
Rhys’s eyes went wide as saucers. “What…was that the babe?”
She nodded. “Yes, I have been feeling it move almost every day at some point. It likes it when I laugh, although that hasn’t been often of late. And I guess when I eat something good.” She smiled at him. He hadn’t moved his hand, and he was staring intently at where their hands lay together.
“I know, of course, that you are growing a babe in there, but feeling it move is another level of reality.” His voice was soft with awe. “Are you sure you don’t want more stew?”
Across the room, the door opened with a bang, and a woman raced inside with a man at her heels.
She laughed as he caught her with one arm around her waist and twisted her around so he could pull her close and bury his lips against her neck.
The woman yelped and pushed half-heartedly at the man’s shoulder.
But he growled low, “Fair is fair, I’ve caught you. ”
“Really, you two…in front of the staff?” Rhys’s dry tone carried across the room.
The dancing girls all giggled and rolled their eyes.
Two heads swiveled in their direction. Violet recognized the lady as Elizabeth Reeves; the man must be her husband, Rhys’s partner, Matthew.
The dark-haired gentleman grinned at Rhys. “I thought you went home.” He straightened, and he and Elizabeth crossed the room toward them.
“Violet?” Elizabeth said. “What are you doing here?”
“I needed to feed her,” Rhys said.
“He has no food at his house,” Violet said.
Elizabeth opened her mouth, but her husband squeezed her arm. “Before this one starts asking more questions, perhaps I could be introduced?”
“This is Violet Sommerset. Violet, this is my friend and business partner, Matthew Reeves. And I guess you know his wife, Elizabeth?” Rhys made the introduction.
“Yes,” Violet said. “She has been very kind to me on a couple of occasions. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Griffen.”
Matthew grimaced. “I tell you what, I won’t call you Lady Sommerset if you don’t call me Lord Griffen. Deal?”
Violet smiled. “Deal.”
Elizabeth slid into a chair across from her. “How are you? We heard about your husband.”
Rhys took her hand under the table and gave it a squeeze.
“As my mother said to me, fate has given me a boon.” Violet glanced over at the other table, but the dancing girls were clearing their plates and moving to set them on the far counter by the sink.
Relieved, she spoke more candidly. “The night it happened was a nightmare. And I feel guilty, but I am relieved that he is dead. My father-in-law will continue to take care of me until he finds out if the baby is a boy. I have begun to hope that it is a girl so that I do not have to be tied to the duke for the rest of my life.”
Elizabeth frowned. “I can understand that. Matthew asked me to look into the duke’s dealings. Are you still interested?”
Rhys leaned forward. “Yes, I still have a promise to keep concerning the Duke of Lavensham.”
“Well, I found out that he has been entering dogs to fight at Red’s Tavern, which is despicable. He has been seen in the audience at these fights. Though my source said he is very reserved and sits in the back with a couple of other toffs.”
“It’s probably the new popular diversion for the ton, slumming it at the dogfights. Just another way to wager,” Matthew sneered.
“The other piece of information I was told is purely gossip, but based on what we know about your late husband’s behavior, I found it to be alarming if it is true. I was told that in the last ten years, all of the duke’s mistresses have died. Five in total.”
“What?” Violet gasped.