Chapter 16
Sixteen
“It is sure to be a large undertaking,” Charlotte pointed out as she sipped on her tea. “Are you certain that you are up to such a thing?”
“Rhys seems to think that I am,” Violet said.
“I do not see why you are wasting your time,” Rose added with a scoff.
“After the way you were treated at that supper? I would rather have my toenails pulled out than go through that again. Not to mention, it feels suspiciously like begging to me.” Rose scowled.
“As if you are pleading for people to accept you who you should not care one whit about.”
“It is not begging,” Violet said carefully. “And Rhys assures me that such a gesture will be well taken. Like it or not, this is my life now, and I cannot spend it in hiding. Rhys is adamant that this is what I need to do to prove that I belong.”
“But do you even want to belong?” Rose countered.
“I…” Violet furrowed her brow. “I think that I do. Would it be so wrong to be liked by people who are now technically my peers? And Rhys truly believes that the gesture will be greatly appreciated.”
Charlotte and Violet exchanged a look between one another. It included a raised eyebrow, a knowing smirk, and a shared chuckle that Violet did not understand.
“What?” she demanded. “What was that look?”
“What look?” Charlotte grinned as she had another sip of tea.
“Was there a look just now?” Rose giggled. “How strange.”
“What is going on?” Violet demanded of her sister and cousin. “Is there some joke that I am not privy to? What is it?”
Again, a shared look between the two women.
“Oh, it is nothing too concerning,” Rose started, barely able to withhold her laughter. “But just now, you have mentioned His Grace four times, and always with a sense that he knows best.”
“I have not!”
“You have,” Charlotte said with a firm nod. “And it is not just that he knows best, but that you put a rather high stake on his opinion.”
“I…” Violet felt her cheeks turning pink. “I am merely repeating what he has told me.” She looked at them both, eyes wide as if demanding that they believe her. “He knows these people better than I do, so why would I not trust his opinion?”
“Trust his opinion?” Rose winked at Charlotte. “Or worship it? It is hard to tell the difference.”
“That is absurd!”
“Just making an observation, Violet,” Rose laughed from behind her cup of tea. “No need to become so defensive.”
“I am not defensive!”
“You are that,” Charlotte joined in on Rose’s laughter. “And I think we both know why.” She looked at Rose, they shared a grin, and they burst into another fit of giggles.
Violet scowled at them both, as if that simple act might cease their mockery and have them taking back their words. Frustratingly, it only made them laugh all the harder.
Was I really speaking with such praise about Rhys? And so what if I was! I am allowed to be kind to him… it does not mean… it is nothing!
Violet felt her mood plummet. A shame too, as she had so been looking forward to today.
It had been several weeks now since she and Rhys married.
And what started as a rather tense and uncertain affair had since transformed into a state of being that was not only easy and carefree, but rather enjoyable…
dare Violet even say that she could not remember a period of time when she had been so happy?
A large reason for that was Lucy, who was coming along in leaps and bounds. Still shy, still a little nervous and withdrawn, each day saw her grow steadily into herself and she transformed into the little girl that Violet had always known she could be.
Another reason for the current state of bliss was Rhys.
Sometimes, Violet found herself confused by what he wanted and what he expected. Weeks later, she could still remember that strange moment they had shared in the nursery, one that was intimate and personal, and one that had very nearly ended with… I am not sure!
Violet had felt something pass between them. A look. A shared feeling. And when his eyes had flicked to her lips, she had held her breath, not sure that she wanted what she saw on his mind, while knowing that she would not refuse it…
That felt a world away now. Since then, she and Rhys had acted amicably and kindly towards one another, while being careful to avoid being alone.
And always, there was an extra addition of tension that lurked beneath the surface, as if they both knew what had almost happened but refused to speak of it.
Putting that strangeness aside, Violet was slowly growing into her role of duchess also.
In fact, only two days ago, Rhys had suggested that they host a seasonal ball at the estate as a means to put what had happened at the supper behind them and hopefully lay the groundwork for Violet’s acceptance into high society.
She had been against it… but Rhys had pushed. She had resisted… but Rhys had urged her. She had not wanted to do it… but Rhys’ conviction was enough to change her mind.
So, today, she invited Charlotte over so that she and Rose might begin to discuss what was needed to prepare for the event.
And what had started as an enjoyable morning together had since fallen apart on account of accusations that Violet wished to deny wholeheartedly but found it rather hard to do.
While I hate to admit it, they are more right than they know…
“Are you both quite finished mocking me?” Violet said to her cousin and sister. “Or should I leave and come back?”
Rose sniffed back her laughter and exhaled deeply. “Oh, we are only teasing, Violet. Truly, we are both thrilled that you and His Grace are getting along so well.”
“Which we are only doing for Lucy’s sake,” Violet said as if she believed it. “He told me that he would do whatever he had to so that she would feel comfortable, and so far, he has not gone against his word.”
Again, the two women shared a knowing look.
“I am only being nice!” Violet cried. “If Rhys had erred, I would be the first one to mention it. But until he does, is it a crime to speak kindly of the man? It does not mean anything.”
“And what does it not mean, exactly?” Charlotte grinned. “You seem to have a rather strong opinion about such things.”
She looked flatly at her cousin. “Can we please get back to discussing the ball? That is why I invited you here.” She scoffed. “It was certainly not because I enjoy your company.”
“Mean.”
“To be fair, she is not wrong,” Rose added as she sobered up. “When I first met His Grace, I thought him a bit of a…” She clicked her tongue. “A bit of a cold fish. Do you remember that fight you had on that first morning?”
“I do,” Violet said, unable to contain her smile.
“Outside of that, he has been good to Lucy. As he has been good to you…” She trailed off and raised a knowing eyebrow.
Violet’s cheeks flushed once again. “He has been amicable. That is all.”
“It is more than that,” Rose argued. “All jokes aside—of which, I have many. Truly, however, I have noticed the way he looks at you.”
“He does not…” Violet turned away.
“He does,” she said with a nod. “As he always ensures that your favorite tea is stocked, or how he has spoken to the kitchen staff so that they make your favorite food, and how he has even gone out of his way to make sure that you and Lucy have as much time together as possible. He never tries to interfere or —”
“He is just being kind,” Violet spoke over her. “Why is that such a strange concept to you?”
“There is kind… and there is kind,” Rose said.
“We will stop our teasing,” Charlotte added. “But only because we both know how stubborn you are. You would go out of your way to be unhappy if it meant being proven correct.”
“Oh, I would not.”
“You would.” Charlotte nodded once, and Rose joined her. “For now… yes, perhaps we should focus on the ball. It is, after all, what His Grace wants.” Charlotte purred that last bit and Rose giggled along.
Violet looked warningly at them both again, as if daring them to continue along this topic.
However, she began to wonder about what Rose had said concerning the small things that Rhys had done for her. Oh sure, she had seen it herself. She had noticed his kindness, but always she told herself that he was just being good to her… for Lucy’s sake.
And yet, as often happened, her mind returned to the nursery, the way he had looked at her, and that moment when she had dared to wonder if he was going to act on that look… and the very real fact that she had wanted him to.
Was she being a fool? Was it hopeful, or hopeless? What did Violet even want? To say it was all for Lucy was a fair reason, but it was quickly wearing thin, and she knew that, one day, a time would come when she would have to confront her suspicions.
Hopefully, such a time was still far away because, as things had been going, she very much liked her new life. Why ruin a good thing?