Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

" F lowers have arrived, Your Grace."

Violet looked up from where she was sitting in the drawing room to see the housekeeper standing in the doorway, looking disgruntled.

"Far too many flowers," the housekeeper added, casting an annoyed look over her shoulder.

"Oh?" Violet raised an eyebrow. "And who might these flowers be from?"

"From a Mr. Cain," the housekeeper replied, holding out a tray with a calling card to Rosalie, who was sitting opposite Violet.

Rosalie's head snapped up, and she stared wide-eyed at the housekeeper. "For me?" she squeaked.

"Yes, Miss. He is waiting in the foyer. Shall I tell him he can come in?"

Rosalie leaped to her feet and grabbed the card, her eyes scanning it with eager intensity. Then she turned to Violet. "Oh, can he come in, Vi? Please say that he can!"

Violet frowned. "You are too young to be receiving gentlemen callers," she said. "You are not even out yet."

"Oh, please, Violet!" Rosalie begged. "He was ever so gentlemanly and attentive last night at the ball, and I have never received a gentleman caller before! It is ever so exciting! He even sent flowers!"

"He has a bouquet with him," the housekeeper piped up, "and also several more that are too large to carry, including an arch. He had to hire several men to carry them into the house. It is ostentatious if you ask me."

"Yes, it is a bit excessive," Violet agreed, her frown deepening.

A bit over the top for sharing one dance at a ball. What is Mr. Cain playing at?

Rosalie, however, did not share their opinion. "It is a grand romantic gesture!" she gushed. "Mr. Cain must be desperately in love with me!"

"He hardly knows you," Violet pointed out. "More likely, he knows that as the sister-in-law of a duke, you must have a large dowry. And he hopes to snatch you quickly, as you are too young and naive to be able to see through his motives."

Rosalie's smile dropped, and she glared at her sister. "Why are you being so cynical?" she snapped. "Just because your husband doesn't want you doesn't mean?—"

"Rosalie!" Violet gasped, cutting her off. She glanced at the housekeeper, who was watching their exchange with a slightly open mouth.

Rosalie blushed and lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "Please forgive me, Violet. I spoke in anger. It just feels that you have been pitted against Mr. Cain ever since last night, and I don't know why. Is it really so shocking that a handsome gentleman has taken a liking to me so quickly?"

Violet felt her heart grow heavy at the look of disappointment and embarrassment on her sister's face. "No, of course not," she said quickly. "I am merely skeptical of most men, after everything we have been through. I didn't mean to be so ungenerous and hurtful about Mr. Cain. You are a beautiful, smart, lively young woman, Rosalie. Of course, you sparked his interest."

And maybe I was a bit jealous , she silently added as she watched her sister's eyes light up. I had hoped the flowers were from James.

But then when had her husband ever sent her flowers or shown her affection, other than their one kiss, which he had immediately regretted?

"You may show Mr. Cain in," Violet instructed the housekeeper.

"What would you like me to do with the arch of flowers?" the housekeeper asked, sniffing with disapproval. "It will hardly fit in here!"

"Put them in the parlor," Violet replied, sighing with resignation.

"Very good," the housekeeper said with a nod, then she left the room.

"Oh, thank you , Violet!" Rosalie squealed once they were alone, before she launched herself at her sister, throwing her arms around her and hugging her tightly.

Violet laughed and pushed her away. "You don't want to be embracing me when he gets in here," she chided gently.

But Rosalie simply giggled and winked at her. She had just sat back on the sofa when the housekeeper reentered with Mr. Cain. She announced the gentleman, and Violet and Rosalie both stood up and curtsied.

"Your Grace," Mr. Cain greeted, bowing to Violet before his eyes flicked to Rosalie. "Miss Rosalie. How wonderful to see both of you again."

Rosalie blushed prettily but seemed surprisingly self-possessed as she invited him to sit with her.

Violet had to admire how confident and suited for courtship her sister was. It had never come easily for her.

She rang the bell for tea, then returned to her needlework. Although she sat across from her sister and Mr. Cain, she tried not to listen to their conversation and turned away so that they could have more privacy as they began to discuss last night's ball and how much they had both enjoyed it.

When the tea came in, however, Violet's stomach filled with dread. Because it wasn't just teacups and a pot of tea that was sitting on the gold tray—there was also the latest edition of the scandal sheets.

I'm going to be in there .

She reached for the dratted thing. For a moment, as her fingers touched the paper, she wondered if it was worth looking at, but then she decided it was better to know what people were saying about her.

She picked up the paper and unfurled it, her hands shaking slightly with nervousness. Sure enough, right at the top of the paper were the words she had been dreading.

Last night's ball was more exciting than most were anticipating, as it was witness to a dispute between a certain Duke with a colorful reputation and his usually recalcitrant Duchess. Was it an easily amended lovers' tiff that members of the esteemed ton witnessed, or are there already cracks forming in this nascent marriage? Either way, this author believes that gentlemen of such high standing should not air their dirty laundry in public and that the only spectacles at balls should be the entertainment. Let us hope that the Duchess returns to her formerly quiet ways and that her husband seeks to right his devilish ways.

Violet thought she was going to be sick. After everything she had done over the last few weeks to try and prove she was worthy of being a duchess, none of it mattered anymore. This article would destroy any good grace she had earned over the years. It might even hurt her sister's marriage prospects.

She glanced at Mr. Cain. He was laughing with her sister and looking at her with admiration in his eyes. Would he still look at her that way after he read this article?

And then there was her husband. He had certainly read the article this morning. It was his opinion that mattered the most to her. He had seen how hard she'd worked to be worthy of the title of Duchess. She'd rearranged and redecorated this entire house! What would he say now?

He'll probably send me to the countryside .

She knew she was being dramatic. They'd reached a kind of understanding last night. But their truce was so fragile that she didn't know if it would survive a public scandal.

"Your Grace?" The housekeeper was back in the room, looking irritated. "More flowers had just arrived."

Violet shook her head and rose, walking to the door with great trepidation.

How many admirers did her sister have already?

It wasn't that she was envious of her sister being courted by several men. Violet had never desired that kind of attention. However, it was hard to watch her sister be showered with romantic gifts when her own husband still denied her that part of their marriage.

It was especially hard now that she was worried her husband was going to come home and scold her for causing such a scene last night.

He'd said he wanted to talk that evening, and she was already nervous enough about that conversation. As much as she wanted to know why exactly James didn't want to have children, she was also afraid that she wouldn't be able to change his mind. What if he told her a story so harrowing that she had no choice but to give up her dream of ever having a family with him?

Or what if he says he did want to have a family until this article came out?

Despite her nerves, her curiosity had gotten the better of her, and she had gone down early to breakfast that morning in the hope that he might be there and ready to explain himself. However, when she'd walked into the breakfast room, she'd been told that the Duke had risen earlier than usual and gone out. It was midday now, and he hadn't come back home yet.

"Is my husband back yet?" she asked the housekeeper. "And do you know if he read the paper before he went out?"

"I don't know, Your Grace. Nor has he returned home. But he is certainly making his presence known."

"What do you mean?"

"The newest flower shipment," the housekeeper said. "It is from him."

"For my sister?"

The housekeeper raised an eyebrow. "No, Your Grace. For you."

Violet felt her cheeks burn.

For me. James sent me flowers.

The housekeeper waved at someone waiting in the hall, and one of the footmen entered holding a large vase of the most beautiful bouquet of flowers Violet had ever seen. Delicate purple flowers that seemed to shimmer in the afternoon sunlight.

Her breath caught in her throat.

He didn't just send me flowers. He sent me violets.

Tears pricked her eyes. In all her years, no one had ever sent her flowers, and certainly, no one had ever thought to give her violets. It was the most thoughtful gift anyone had ever given her—she was quite speechless.

"There is a note as well," the housekeeper added, handing her a small card.

Violet shifted the bouquet to her hip and flipped open the card. In an elegant hand, her husband had written,

You might find it churlish that I destroyed the letter you wrote to me last night and am now expressing myself in writing, but my duties for the day prevented me from delivering these flowers personally.

Violet, thank you for being so understanding last night. I have not forgotten our plan to talk tonight. I was also hoping that your family could join us tonight for supper and that we could all share a special meal. Perhaps after that you and I could talk?

Thank you for being the best wife a man could ever hope for.

J.

P.S. Did you read the scandal sheets this morning? I laughed so hard when I read it. "… right his devilish ways." They're not very subtle, are they? I hope you found the whole thing as amusing as I did. Let's give them more spectacles, shall we?

Violet's heart was in her throat. He didn't hate her! Nor did he blame her for what had happened last night. He didn't even seem to care that they'd caused a scandal! Probably because he'd weathered much worse storms in his life. She had to admire him for that—for being the kind of man who didn't sweat over scandal because he knew what a real tragedy was.

She looked up at the housekeeper and had to blink back tears.

"These are very beautiful," she croaked, indicating the flowers. "The Duke has excellent taste."

"Indeed, he does," the housekeeper agreed, smiling knowingly at her.

She seemed to be saying, In flowers and in wives , and it touched Violet more than she could say.

For the rest of the morning, Violet barely paid attention to anything Mr. Cain and her sister spoke of. What harm could it really do to let her sister flirt for once? Perhaps Mr. Cain would even prove himself to be worthy of her sister as a suitor and a husband.

It was with some irony that Violet noted how much more generous she was to her sister's caller now that she had received flowers from her husband.

Happiness in my marriage makes me happier for other people . But how long will this happiness with James last? He still hasn't said he's changed his mind about children or having a real marriage.

At last, Mr. Cain left, and Rosalie couldn't stop smiling.

"Oh, Violet, he is so charming and witty!" she gushed as she hopped around the room. "Did you hear the conversation that we had about trends in contemporary literature?"

"I wasn't listening," Violet admitted. "My head is in the clouds today. By the way, we will be having dinner tonight with the Duke. He has asked us to gather for an intimate meal."

"Does that mean Iris and the Duke of Eavestone will be there as well?"

"Of course. I'll write to Iris now and invite them."

"I'll be in my room until then," Rosalie said, sighing dreamily. "Reading, of course."

"Of course." Violet laughed as her sister left the room, and then she stretched, stood up, and looked once more at the vase of violets.

She couldn't guarantee that whatever James would say tonight would please her. He might still stubbornly refuse to be a husband to her. But the violets gave her hope that he was at least considering a compromise.

"Either way, I'll finally know why he is adamant about never becoming a father," she muttered to herself.

"As a father, I can't say I recommend it."

Violet started, and a small cry of shock and surprise escaped her lips. She hadn't heard anyone enter the drawing room after Rosalie had left.

Her heart hammering, she whipped around and took in the tall, foreboding figure that was closing the door decisively behind him.

Her heart seemed to stop, and a cold sweat broke out on her brow.

Her father was here.