Chapter 2

Chapter Two

" I 'm engaged." Violet might have said the words out loud, but she still couldn't quite believe they were true.

Her sister Rosalie, who was lying on her bed, reading another adventure novel, started and looked up at her.

"What?!" she blurted out. "How can you be engaged? You just went to the Duke of Attorton to…" Her eyes went wide, and her mouth fell open. "Oh my goodness! You got engaged to the Duke?!"

"I snuck in, as planned," Violet said.

She felt like she was dreaming. Her brain wasn't working properly, and her movements felt slow and sluggish. She was still in shock, she realized, numb to her real emotions. She moved further into the room, then sat down on the edge of Rosalie's bed, her legs too weak to hold her up any longer.

"Somehow, I ended up engaged to the man."

"But…" Rosalie set her novel down on her bed, the color draining fast from her face. "I know that James—I mean, His Grace—was kind to us when Father tried to marry you off to Lord Redfield, but would you actually want to marry him? Isn't he…" She glanced around the room and lowered her voice, as if afraid of being overheard. "Isn't he called the Devilish Duke?"

"Where did you hear that?" Violet asked quickly.

The Devilish Duke was indeed a nickname that was used to describe the Duke of Attorton, but she didn't think her sister, who hadn't debuted as of yet, would have heard of his sobriquet.

Her eyes narrowed on her sister. "Have you been reading the scandal sheets again?"

"Can't I have any fun?!" Rosalie moaned, flopping back down dramatically on the bed. "Or must you lecture me for reading them just as Iris used to?"

"Now that Iris is no longer here to look after you, it's my duty," Violet reminded her.

She didn't expect Rosalie to understand. As the youngest, Rosalie had always been the protected, never the protector. And while Iris had shielded Violet from the worst of their father's abuse, Violet had still felt it much more acutely than Rosalie ever had.

Not that Violet resented this. She was happy to protect her younger sister. Which, she supposed, was exactly what she was still doing.

"So?" Rosalie prompted. "Is he called that?"

Violet hesitated. "Yes," she finally admitted. "He is sometimes called the Devilish Duke. But he isn't like Father. His business dealings are not illegal, underhand, or unsafe. He is merely a hard-nosed businessman who can easily sniff out a bad deal or a deceitful business partner."

At least, that's what the scandal sheets say. Who knows what else there might be?

"But he is known for being ruthless!" Rosalie insisted.

"So was the Duke of Eavestone," Violet pointed out. "And look what a wonderful husband he has been to Iris, not to mention what a loyal and protective brother-in-law he has been to us."

Rosalie made a face, but Violet knew it wasn't in earnest. Rosalie adored the Duke of Eavestone.

"But what if he takes out his ruthlessness on you?" Rosalie asked. "You don't want to marry an unkind man, do you?"

"Of course not. But we need him. I'm not sure you understand, Rose, what a threat Father is." Violet shook her head. "He has done terrible things, and he wouldn't hesitate to hurt us. He has already tried many times. Not to mention how much he hurt Mother and Iris."

Rosalie immediately sat up, and her gaze was soft as she took in her sister. "Of course, I understand," she said gently. "And I agree that we must do whatever we can to protect ourselves from Father. I just don't know why you have to marry a man known for being the devil in order to do that. Especially when the Duke of Eavestone will be back in a few weeks. Marriage lasts a lifetime, Vi. You shouldn't give up your whole life for a man you don't love."

Violet bit her lip, but then she quickly stopped herself. It was a bad habit she had when she was pondering something. Her father was also known for furrowing his brow and chewing on his lip when he was deep in thought. And when they already looked so much alike, it was best to keep any other similar mannerisms at bay.

"Who says I want to marry a man I love?" Violet asked. Rosalie opened her mouth to protest, but Violet cut her off. "I know that you want love, Rose. You're a romantic. I see you reading your adventure novels, and I know you long for a similarly thrilling life—especially when it comes to romantic love. But I am not like you. I don't require love. I merely require a good man who will treat me well and allow me my freedom."

Rosalie sighed. "You know, in some ways, you are so much like Father."

Violet's hackles rose at once. "Don't say that! How could you, Rose?! You know I hate it when people say that."

"I'm sorry," Rose muttered quickly, flushing with embarrassment. "I just mean… Sometimes you can be too logical about things. Life isn't just about making smart, logical choices. It's about following one's passion."

If Violet was a different person—if she was like Rose and her mother, for instance—she might have gotten angry at this remark. She might have let her "passions" dictate her response. But she wasn't like them. She was composed, calm hard to ruffle. So she merely shook her head and smiled.

"Right now, my dear, my passion is keeping you safe," she said. "I am fulfilling my duty and showing my loyalty to our family by doing whatever it takes to protect you all. And the Duke of Attorton is not so bad. He is certainly a better prospect than Lord Redfield."

Rosalie made a face. "Yes, well, there is no prospect worse than Lord Redfield." She shuddered, then grew more thoughtful. "But I suppose you're right. The Duke is handsome, at least, and he has been kind whenever we've spent time with him. Remember when we were in Wales for the harvest festival, and he tried to get you to play tug-of-war with him?" She giggled, her eyes twinkling. "I bet he had a tendre for you!"

"Don't be ridiculous," Violet scoffed, scowling. "The Duke does not have a tendre for me—he never did."

"I was only teasing you," Rosalie said crossly.

"It's important that you put aside your romantic notions, Rose," Violet insisted. "Especially when it comes to me and the Duke. This marriage is merely a business arrangement. It is mutually beneficial to both of us."

"Whatever you say," Rosalie drawled, lying back on her bed and reaching for her novel. "Just remember, that's what Iris thought when she married the Duke of Eavestone. And now look at them. They're so in love that it makes even me nauseous."

Violet forced herself to smile. "They do tend to get carried away a bit…" But she felt strangely hollow inside.

It was true that her older sister had married for convenience as well. Iris had married a man known for his ruthlessness, and now she was very much in love with him.

But Violet couldn't imagine that her marriage would be the same.

She bid her sister goodnight and then stepped out into the hall. It was dark. All the candles had been snuffed out, and she guessed it was after two in the morning.

The numbness she'd been feeling for the last hour was starting to fade, and as she walked down the corridor towards her room, other emotions began to replace it—like fear. But there was also a certain amount of curiosity in her heart, even excitement. Once she was married, she would have her own household to manage, and children, and she would have more independence as a married woman than as an unmarried lady.

But then there was the Duke's reputation…

It was hard for her to reconcile the ruthless businessman the scandal sheets were always writing about with the smiling man she had seen glimpses of in the past. He had certainly come across as ruthless in their conversation in his study. But that ruthlessness was good. It was why she had sought his help. He would protect her and Rosalie from their father.

There was a movement in the hallway, then a loud grunting noise.

Violet froze. "Hello?" she whispered. "Is someone there?"

She peered into the darkness and finally made out a figure sitting on the ground by the door to her cousin's room, slumped over. The figure's chest was rising and falling, almost as if they were asleep…

Violet sighed. It was her cousin, Niles. Drunk, again, and asleep on the floor outside his room. She supposed it was impressive that he'd at least made it up the stairs. Last week, she had found him passed out in the parlor.

"Cousin Niles!" she called out, taking a step closer. "Wake up, Cousin Niles!"

Niles grunted again, then sat bolt upright. "Upon my word!" he shouted in a dazed voice. "Who's there?"

"It's just me," she said gently. "Violet."

Niles blinked and peered up at her. It took him several seconds, but then he seemed to recognize her. "Ahhh, yes, dear girl. Of course it is!" He still sounded a bit muddled, but he smiled at her just the same. "I've just returned from my—" He hiccuped. "—my club!"

"Yes, I can see that."

Violet kept the disapproval out of her voice. It wouldn't do to make a drunk man feel judged. Anyway, Niles might be a louse, but at least he was a good man, without a bad bone in his body.

"Here, let me help you up."

She hooked a hand under his arm and helped him up to his feet.

"Is this my room?" he asked, marveling at the door in front of him.

"It is." She pushed it open and helped him inside.

The candles in his room had flickered out as well, and she pulled him over to the bed, wondering if she was going to have to help him into his nightclothes as well. But the moment Niles fell onto the bed, he rolled over and, in a moment, was asleep again.

Violet sighed. Surely, he was better than her father, but he was still rather useless. For the first time since her meeting with the Duke, she felt a flicker of relief.

I'm going to be married to a man who can actually protect me.

After her father, and now Niles, the thought was appealing.

Perhaps it won't be such a bad marriage, after all.