Chapter Nineteen
When he’d returned to his town house, anger had consumed him and he shut himself up in his study with a bottle of whiskey.
How long had it taken him before he began to realize that he had unjustly accused a woman he had started to have feelings for?
At least half a bottle and far into the afternoon.
By the time the sun began to set, Gideon had come to the conclusion that he had been wrong with a stupid knee-jerk reaction to a situation Violet had no control over. He had thrown everything away!
He’d barely slept and as the new day dawned, he ran his hands over his face.
His and Violet’s blossoming relationship had meant everything to him.
Ever since he’d first seen the lady, she had been all he could think about, and throughout the night only one thing mattered: Would she forgive him?
There was only one way to find out. Before he fell into a fitful sleep, Gideon decided he had to visit Violet the next day to try and repair all the damage he had done.
With the rising of a new day, he’d pulled the bell cord to summon Randall. Once he appeared, Gideon asked for a tray of food and a pot of strong coffee to sober up. He couldn’t call upon the lady with a massive hangover.
Coffee finished and breakfast eaten, Gideon went to his study.
He told himself it was to take care of business matters that he had neglected the day before but in truth the hour was too early yet to call on Violet even though was impatient to plead his case to her.
He eyed the liquor on a sideboard across the room, wondering if a small draught would calm his nerves.
Then he shook his head, knowing that liquor wouldn’t solve his problems. The only thing that could help would be apologizing to Violet and making amends.
The sound of the clock ticking on the fireplace mantle marked the seconds until he could respectfully make a house call, although his brother never cared what time of day Gideon came for a visit.
But this was different. He needed to respect the protocols that demanded he not barge in on a lady this early.
The rapid staccato of feminine footsteps echoing across his marble flooring caused Gideon to recant his thought but moments ago.
He quickly crossed the room, reached for the decanter of whisky, poured a draught into a glass, and then gulped it down, grimacing when the fiery liquid burned its way down to his empty stomach.
Even though he regretted slamming down the heady amber drink, he immediately poured another.
After the night of drinking the night before to drown his sorrows, he was surprised he could stomach more whiskey at this hour of the morning.
But the hurricane that was about to enter his study would surely have him in need of a huge quantity of reinforcements.
He didn’t have long to wait for the berating he should have known was coming.
In spite of his adherence to manners that stopped him from descending upon an unsuspecting lady, he knew Patience was not inclined—or required—to follow suit, and, in fact, he was surprised she had waited this long to confront him.
In truth, he should have been expecting her arrival since yesterday.
Now Patience entered his study without knocking. If her red cheeks were any indication of her emotions, she was furious. As their eyes locked, she strode across the room to give his chest a push.
“How could you, Gideon?” she accused, giving him another shove. He supposed he deserved it but he held on to his own inner turmoil of regret that had been warring inside him since he’d left Asher’s house the day before.
“Good morning, Patience. What brings you here?” he grumbled, knowing full well what she was referencing, although he should also be apologizing to his sister-in-law for his actions.
Patience was known to hold those she loved dear close to her heart.
She was like a lioness protecting her cubs and he had the notion he was about to become the recipient of her righteous anger.
“What brings me here?” She shook her fist at him. “You are very well aware of what brings me here, you lout!”
He looked behind her, expecting his brother to follow in her footsteps. “I thought Asher would accompany you.”
“My cousin’s welfare is my responsibility and not my husband’s. How could you, Gideon?” she repeated sorrowfully. “It took me all of yesterday and last night just to calm her down.”
So that was why she hadn’t come to chastise him. Poor Violet had been just as distraught as he had been. “Do take a seat, sister, before you fall over in a faint,” he suggested which only seemed to fuel the fire of insult of which he had accused her relative.
“I am not some wallflower who cannot stand up for what is right. How dare you accuse my cousin of plotting against you!”
“And how was I to know at the time you had not all conspired against me, given you had your hands full with seeing to Violet being at the Lyon’s Den in the first place?
” he muttered pouring another splash of whiskey into his glass.
He made a motion offering her a drink which she declined before moving toward two chairs near the hearth.
He waved his hand toward one of them and she all but plopped herself down in an unladylike manner before he took his own seat.
A heavy sigh left her before turning accusatory eyes toward him again.
“You are very well aware of how things are done at the Lyon’s Den, Gideon.
Men and women go there for different reasons but also know the risks they take once they enter Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s doors.
Her matchmaking business is not hidden from her clients.
How was I to know she would match the two of you together? ”
“She didn’t exactly match us together,” he replied, taking a sip of his drink before glancing across the room at the sideboard holding his liquor. He should have brought over the whole damn bottle. He might need it to get through this conversation.
Her brows drew together in confusion. “But I thought—”
“I witnessed several candidates entering the garden area to meet Violet but it wasn’t until I saw someone enter who I knew was unacceptable that I intervened.”
“Intervened?
He nodded. “Once I had ousted the intruder, Violet and I had a relatively pleasant conversation for several minutes—”
“That sounds promising,” she replied, leaning forward in her chair.
He sighed. “Until she mentioned she was only interested in marriage. That part of our conversation more or less ended any further discussion.”
“But she told me you saved her outside of the Lyon’s Den from some nasty man and that’s how you ended up at Dr. Thornberry’s.”
“And that part is all true. That is, until I unexpectedly learned yesterday that she was your cousin, Patience. You’ve been trying to match the two of us since you first married Asher.
Imagine my shock at seeing her sitting at my brother’s desk.
” He ran his fingers through his hair as all the anger came crashing down on him again.
She threw up her hands. “That was hardly Violet’s fault.
You have seriously misjudged her and any motives you think she might have had!
She was brought here under the impression she would only be spending time with me.
If you want to blame someone for what is now happening, then place your anger on me.
I’m the one who paid the Black Widow of Whitehall’s fee to find Violet a husband but I never mention you in our bargain.
Any arrangements that came about between you and Violet were only coincidental. ”
Perhaps. A small bit of uncertainty wormed its way inside his head as he suddenly found it hard to believe that could be so, but at the same time, it seemed too plotted.
Too well planned. Too…well, something. How could the famous Black Widow have matched any of those completely unsuitable men with Angel?
There was no way she was that bad at her job.
Not that Gideon would allow himself to admit to any of that aloud.
Or give his sister-in-law any indication that he felt that way.
“It is possible that any of those men who entered the garden area would have been a good match for her—with the exception of Cosmo Dawkes. He’s dangerous.
” But the truth was, none of those men were acceptable.
Why did the thought of anyone other than himself as a potential spouse leave a sour taste in his mouth?
It would be obvious to anyone listening that he still cared for the lady, no matter how he’d felt yesterday that he had been manipulated.
With Patience raising the issue again, he clearly saw exactly how much he had wronged the lady.
She tilted her head to one side. “And yet you’re the one who suggested the two of you see one another to see if you might suit. What happened to those initial feelings that made you both wish to pursue a possible relationship to see if you might suit?”
He raised one brow, ignoring the fact that he had spoken to Mrs. Dove-Lyon about Violet.
“You have to ask? This whole mess began because I thought I was deceived by those I cared about,” he replied, hiding the fact that he had felt something for the lady from the first moment she’d appeared on that balcony.
That night seemed like a lifetime ago.
“So, you do care for her,” she said with a smug look of satisfaction.
“Of course I care for her, but I’m certain I’ve ruined any chances with her unless she can somehow forgive me.
All I wanted was to protect her and I thought I would come over later to see if she would speak with me.
” He hung his head as doubt began to consume him.
“Maybe I’m too late. Thinking about what a fool I’ve been, I should probably just leave her be so she can find a better husband with the assistance of Mrs. Dove-Lyon. ”
A grunt of what sounded like annoyance came from Patience.
“You are a fool, Gideon, if you think you can so easily dismiss her. If you thought she might be in danger and wanted to protect her, then how will she now be safe if you’re not by her side?
Did you think of that while you went about breaking my cousin’s heart? ”
He glared at his sister-in-law before his temper got the better of him.
“Why do you think I spent the better part of yesterday drinking, Patience?” he muttered, grinding his teeth in frustration.
“I was torn between wanting to protect her and tampering down the displeasure that I’ve been deceived.
By the evening, I realized how wrong I was and needed to offer an apology to her and you. ”
“I appreciate your apology, Gideon, truly I do, but my main concern is for Violet.” Patience sat back in her chair and folded her hands in her lap. “You broke her heart,” she said simply.
“I know and now that I am again thinking rationally, I realize what a cad I was to think Violet would resort to such methods to catch a husband.”
“You accused an innocent woman of plotting against you when she had no idea who you were,” Patience explained calmly as though he hadn’t already come to the same conclusion hours ago.
“I know that now,” he replied feeling the full weight of the hurt Violet must be feeling.
“But that is beside the point, isn’t it, Gideon? You hurt my cousin all because you let your temper get the better of you,” she declared and folded her arms over her chest. “But honestly, what you said probably doesn’t matter anymore.”
He ran his fingers through his hair again before gulping down the rest of his drink. “As I’ve mentioned several times, I had hoped to come over later this afternoon to offer an apology, if Violet would agree to see me.”
“You’re too late, Gideon.” Patience stood and smoothed out the fabric of her gown before glaring at him.
“Why am I too late?”
“Because Violet and her friend left late last night to return to Bracknell. She’s gone home.”
“Didn’t you try to persuade her to stay at least until this morning when it wouldn’t be so dangerous to travel at night?” he asked swiping at the back of his neck before rising to his feet as his sister-in-law stood and headed toward the doorway.
“Asher and I both tried our best to have her postpone her trip but to no avail. When my cousin makes up her mind about something… or someone… it will be a cold day in a very hot place before anyone can change her mind.”
“Where can I find her in Bracknell?” he asked knowing what he must now do.
“Why?” Patience inquired raising a brow at him. “So, you can break her heart all over again?”
“I never meant to hurt her,” he grumbled lowering his head before lifting his chin to look directly at his sister-in-law. “Please, Patience… tell me where I can find Violet so I can make this up to her.”
Patience gave a heavy sigh and began waving her finger at him. “I swear, if you break her heart again…”
“I won’t,” he promised as a small flare of hope lit in his chest.
“You’ll answer to me if you do,” she warned and began to tell him of where he would find her cousin.
Grateful for the opportunity Patience had given him, he kissed her cheek and escorted her to the entryway of his townhouse.
Once she left, he called for his horse to be brought around from the mews.
He would pack quickly before heading to find Violet.
He knew he would have to swallow his pride and find the lady to make amends. Would she forgive him?