Chapter Two

"Now, are you absolutely clear on what is required of you this Season?"

Violet closed her eyes and let out a slow breath. "This is entirely unnecessary, father."

"That is not what I asked you!" her father snapped and as Violet opened her eyes again, she caught the glimmer of anger in his eyes. "Are you clear on what is required of you this Season?"

Violet nodded, having no other answer to give. She had wanted never to return to London after what had happened but her father had been most insistent. After two years away from London, her reprieve had been ended and she had found herself brought back to London with her father stating quite clearly that she was to secure herself a match. However, she had been entirely unsuccessful – no doubt due to the fact that the ton were fully aware as to who she was and what she had done as regarded the gentleman who was now the Duke of Lancaster – and this Season was now her second opportunity. Violet trembled inwardly as she considered what would happen if she did not find a husband that matched her father's requirements this Season. Would she be given a third Season? She was already a little older than many of the young ladies in London and surely it would be difficult for gentlemen of the ton to consider her given her history?

"You are to fix your attentions to a gentleman who carries the highest title but, most of all, the greatest fortune," Lord Craighall stated, firmly. "The fortune is what I… what you require. The same has been said to your younger sister and since she already fully understands and agrees, she is now waiting in the carriage along with your mother, who is also in complete agreement with my decision. You have made us tardy by your hesitation."

Violet swallowed tightly.

"Now, let us go," her father said firmly, putting one hand to her shoulders and then turning Violet around bodily towards the door. "At least Marianne understands completely what is asked of her. I do not know why you cannot do the same."

"I was engaged to the Earl of Kettridge, father," Violet reminded him, aware that she sounded a little bitter as she spoke. "He is now the Duke of Lancaster, is he not? Marrying him would have fulfilled your requirements."

Lord Craighall sniffed. "I will admit that was a little surprising and certainly unexpected and had I known that he was to be claiming such a title, I would never have insisted that you end the engagement, especially not for someone such as the Marquess of Gilmerton!" Clicking his tongue, he shook his head. "Now, no more arguments. We make our way to Lord and Lady Butterstone's ball and from there, we will see which gentlemen we can find who will be acceptable to me."

Violet's heart ached but she followed after her father without a word. How much she wished he had not stepped in her way when the time had come for her to marry Lord Kettridge – though he was now the Duke of Lancaster! It had been the evening before the wedding when her father had announced that he did not think he could give her his consent to marry the gentleman any longer – and Violet's heart had been torn apart, broken into tiny little pieces. Her father's reasons had not made very much sense, only stating that Lord Kettridge did not have as much coin as he had expected, and though Violet had begged and pleaded with her father, telling him of how much she cared for the gentleman, her father had ignored it all. Her mother had been of little help either, for she had stayed silent and had said nothing, permitting Lord Craighall to do just as he pleased. Thus, she had been forced to send him a note instead of going into the carriage to make her way to him, to make her way to the church where he was waiting.

Three years on, that pained her still.

"Whatever took you so long?"

Violet climbed into the carriage and sat down, ignoring her younger sister's question as their mother sniffed and tutted lightly, clearly blaming Violet for the lateness of their arrival at the carriage.

"I am present now, am I not?" Violet murmured, though Marianne tossed her head. Marianne was much more inclined towards doing what her father asked, seemingly agreeing that the gentleman with the greatest fortune was worth pursuing, rather than considering character or the like. Violet was not certain whether or not her sister fully understood what it was that their father intended for her to do once she was wed to this supposedly wealthy gentleman but all the same, Marianne was much more open to such a thing than Violet. After being torn away from the only gentleman she had ever opened her heart to, Violet could not even fathom the thought of pursuing someone new all over again… and certainly not with the intention of making sure she married the richest gentleman she could.

"Your sister is continuing to remind me that I should have permitted her to marry the Duke of Lancaster, though he was only the Earl of Kettridge at the time."

"It was not your fault, Father," Marianne said quickly, throwing a sharp glance towards Violet as though she was somehow to blame for her father's frustration as Lady Craighall nodded fervently. "You were doing your best to keep Violet away from an impoverished gentleman – "

"The Earl was not impoverished!" Violet's hand curled into fists as she glared back at her sister. "He had two thousand a year!"

"And there are gentlemen who have five thousand a year – and some who have even ten thousand a year!" her father exclaimed, turning to her sharply. "Do you not think that you would be better off with one of these gentlemen? Am I not doing my duty as your father to make certain that you marry well? Is your mother not caring for you in the same way?"

"The Earl of Kettridge was to be someone I could marry well," Violet protested, though her throat grew dry and began to ache as her father snorted in obvious derision and her mother looked away. "I am well aware that the sole reason that you demand we marry such gentlemen is in the hope that, in doing so, your own fortunes will be restored, father." Seeing the way his head snapped towards her and hearing the swift intake of breath, Violet kept her chin lifted and her gaze fixed upon her father's even though inwardly, she trembled at the obvious anger flashing in her father's eyes. "I do not know what it is that has forced us to economise these last few years, but your clear hope is that my sister and I marry rich, wealthy gentlemen who will then be either generous enough or irritated enough by our persistence to give you money in some way or another. Is that not so?"

Lord Craighall took in a long breath and Violet winced inwardly, waiting for his wrath to fall on her heavily.

"How dare you speak to me in such a manner?" Lord Craighall was breathing furiously, sitting forward in his chair and turning to face Violet all the more as the carriage continued to roll forward towards their destination. Lady Craighall had turned her head back towards them both but continued to stay silent, allowing her husband to dominate the conversation just as he always did. "I want only the best for my daughters! And," he continued, thumping one fist into the other hand, "when you marry whichever gentleman I find for you, why should you not, as grateful daughters, assist me in my own difficulties? Do you not see that I have given you a great deal of coin when it comes to preparing you for society, for marriage?"

Violet said nothing, turning her head and looking out of the window. The last two years they had not returned to London and though Marianne and even Violet herself had asked their father as to why they were not returning to society, he had never once given them a clear answer. What he had mentioned, however, was the money which was spent on both of his daughters, on the coin which was required to keep them in the best fashions and the like and slowly, Violet had begun to realize that her father was in some sort of financial difficulties and that had been the reason for their absence from London though, of course, Lord Craighall had never confirmed it. She had once tried to speak with her mother about the situation but Lady Craighall had feigned a headache and told Violet to leave the matter with her father… which Violet had not had any other choice but to do.

"Ungrateful, Violet. That is all you are," her father stated, coldly. "Marianne, I shall focus my attentions on you first, I think. Mayhap when Violet sees your happiness and contentment, she will realise what it is to be thankful and grateful rather than filled with complaints and frustrations." He cleared his throat. "My dear, you understand my reasons, I am sure. Let us both fix our attentions on Marianne and leave Violet to stand as a wallflower for a time. That will teach her a good deal, I am sure."

Lady Craighall nodded.

The urge to respond, to snap a response back to her father was sharp but Violet kept her lips tight shut. She had always been a little quieter than her sister but in the last few years, Violet had learned all the more that it was best to remain as quiet as she could in certain situations. On this occasion, any response she would give her father would only make him angrier and given that she was now to be left as something of a wallflower, it would not be wise to say another single word.

"Thank you, Father," Marianne said sweetly, catching Violet's eye for a moment as she smiled warmly back at her father, making Violet's stomach twist. "I look forward to being acquainted with many new gentlemen and ladies this evening. How unfortunate that you shall miss out, Violet."

Violet bit her tongue, hard and kept her gaze trained on the window rather than looking at her sister, mother or her father. This was her first evening back in society, the first evening that she was going to make her way into the ton , and already, Violet could see just how dreadful an evening it was going to be.

***

Sighing, Violet leaned her head back against the wall of the ballroom and blinked back the tears which burned behind her eyes. It was not as though she were upset over how eagerly her parents had taken Marianne away from Violet and ushered her into society's arms, but rather that being here again, being in a society ball in the heart of London was reminding her of all that she had shared with Lord Kettridge… or the Duke of Lancaster, as he was now.

Her gaze shifted lightly across the room, never stopping on only one single face but rather simply meandering. There was no great difficulty in her standing here, adorning the wall and being held back by the shadows for in truth, it was easier than going back through society and having them all glance at her and whisper about her, but the pain in her heart was growing all the more. How well she remembered being in the Duke's arms! How much she had adored being in his company, laughing and smiling with him as they had talked about anything and everything. She had found him to be a gentle character, to be the sort of gentleman who was both considerate and caring as well as being perfectly genteel and proper. When he had professed his love for her, the feelings within her own heart had cried out with the very same affections and she had found herself falling deeply in love with him.

And the agony of tearing herself from him had left a deep and as yet unhealed wound.

"Violet? Lady Violet?"

Blinking in surprise, Violet pushed herself away from the wall so that she stood tall before turning to see a pale face peeking out at her from the shadows. "Yes?" She did not recognize the lady, struggling to see her clearly as the darkness tugged at her.

"It is I, Miss Chesterton… Miss Julia Chesterton."

"Julia!" Violet exclaimed, her heart leaping suddenly as her friend came a little closer, a tentative smile on her face. "How good to see you again! I am sorry it has been so long but – "

"I think it has been three years, has it not?" the lady asked, coming to embrace Violet for a moment. "Though I have appreciated your letters."

A slight flush came into Violet's cheeks. "I have not written as much as I ought to have done."

Miss Chesterton only smiled. "Do not concern yourself in that regard, my dear friend. It was good to hear from you. I am sure you must have suffered a great deal these last few years after the ending of your engagement to Lord… that is, the Duke of Lancaster."

Violet's heart slammed hard against her chest but she managed to have a small smile. "I thank you, Julia. It has been very difficult."

"You mentioned in your letters that it was not your decision but your father's, though I have not said that to anyone else," her friend said softly, as Violet nodded, glad that her friend was still someone that she could trust with such things. "Do you know why?"

Violet closed her eyes and sighed. "It seemed that my father believed that the Earl of Kettridge had more of a fortune than he did. Therefore, on discovering the truth of his finances – which I found to be more than satisfactory – he decided that I ought to find a gentleman with a greater fortune." She let out a harsh, broken laugh. "You can imagine his regret, now that Lord Kettridge was given a greater title and, no doubt, a greater fortune!"

Miss Chesterton put her hand to Violet's, pressing it gently. "I am sorry to hear that," she said, quietly. "That must be very painful indeed. Though now you are back in society, back here for the Season." Her tone became a little lighter. "Does that mean that you intend to seek out another match?"

Not wanting to tell her friend yet more about what her father had said, Violet looked away. "I do not know. Marianne is here with my father and mother at present and they have stepped away for a few minutes."

Miss Chesterton's eyes flared. "And left you here alone?"

The heat in Violet's face grew. "I think I am to be something of a wallflower this Season, Julia. My sister is to be given preference and since I have already ended an engagement, I think I shall remain here in the shadows for a time."

"Then I shall remain with you," came the reply, as Violet looked back at her friend, a little surprised. "Yes, alas, I am to be a wallflower also this Season as my mother is most insistent that my elder sister find herself engaged to a particular gentleman and given what happened to me last Season, my presence is not particularly welcome."

"Last Season?" Violet asked, not quite certain what her friend meant. "I do not know what – "

"I was courted by a gentleman who then was discovered to be a gentleman without good character," Miss Chesterton exclaimed, her face growing a little red. "He was frequenting houses of ill repute and spending a great deal of money there. The shame of discovering that about him was deep but the ton , of course, threw their disdain not only upon him but also upon me – and only because I was acquainted with him and courted by him. It is disappointing that society should view me in such a way but what can I do other than accept it? Therefore, given that my sister is hopefully to be courted by an exceptional gentleman, my presence is not required and I must hide myself away here."

Violet smiled softly, sympathy rising up within her. "I am sorry to hear it," she said, gently. "But in my own selfishness, I am glad that you are here with me. It means that I am not going to be entirely alone."

"I find myself grateful also," Miss Chesterton laughed, making Violet's smile grow all the bigger. "At least, through the next few months, we shall have friendship and that is something, is it not?"

"It is, yes," Violet agreed, finding herself a little happier now. "And I am going to be grateful for that."