Chapter 30

"Please, Violet. Forgive me."

Violet just about resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

She felt stronger now, more capable of handling all of this now that they were back at the manor. In the safety of her own home, she could think more clearly and deal with this better.

"You have to forgive me, Violet. I am your brother. You know I only had your best interests at heart. I wanted to make things right."

"By selling me?" Violet sneered. "By basically treating me like an object to be gambled away and toyed with? Is that what you think is best for me? To have me kidnapped? I cannot believe you, Paul."

Her brother turned away from her, turning his attention towards her husband instead. "William, hear me out, please. You have to listen to me. I mean, you are the man who took my home from me. You took all that I have left, without Eagleton Manor, I am nothing."

But William looked like he"d had enough of Paul, and he was not about to listen, for which Violet was truly grateful.

Much as she cared about her brother, and she had not wanted him to be hurt, he did not feel the same way about her, that was obvious.

She could not allow him to continue getting away with everything like he had been doing. Her brother simply would not learn his lesson at all.

"You are the one who chose to gamble away your home. Your sister"s home also. You are the one who has done all of this to yourself. You cannot blame this on me. You should not blame it on me."

All the color drained from Paul"s face. "I was not trying to blame it on you. You misunderstand what I am trying to say, I simply wish for a chance…"

"You have been given numerous chances," Violet snapped. She was sick of listening to her brother now. "And you have not taken them. William will not just pay off your debts. That is never going to happen. Not without you paying him back every single cent."

Paul scoffed. "That is ridiculous, Violet. If I could afford the debt, then I would pay it. I have no way to pay anyone back."

"Actually, I have an idea."

Neither of them were expecting William to pipe up, so as Violet turned to face her husband, she could sense Paul doing the same thing.

"I have actually been in contact with some of my associates in the Colonies and they have a job ready and waiting for you, Paul. Since you were going to run away and leave the country anyway, this seems like the perfect solution."

Paul gasped in horror. "A job? Doing what?"

"Does it matter?" William snapped. "You will work for a decent sum, and your employers will keep a portion of your wages to repay your debt."

Paul looked truly astounded. "I cannot do that. What do you mean?

Violet is my sister. That makes you my brother in law. It is your duty as my family to help me."

Violet froze.

How on earth was William going to react to that statement?

William scoffed. "Duty has nothing to do with love, Paul. I do not have any duty to you. Especially since you are the one who got yourself into this mess. You need to, one day, learn your lesson."

Violet watched as William extended her hand towards her. She had no idea what was going to happen next, but she laced her fingers through his and allowed him to lead her away from her brother.

She had rescued Paul from being murdered by the gang that he had gotten himself in to trouble with, but her husband was right. He needed to take responsibility for his own actions.

If he was bailed out of his own messes all the time, then he would never change, and if there was ever a person who needed to learn and grow, it was him.

"Do not worry," William murmured to her as they walked. "I will have a word with the house keeper in the moment to make sure Paul is bathed, fed, and given fresh clothing. He will be looked after until the morning."

Violet squeezed his hand a little tighter. "What happens in the morning?"

"He will be accompanied to the morning ship."

Much as that unnerved Violet, to know that her brother really was going to be sent away to work at the Colonies, it was for the best and she knew that she needed to accept that.

She had no choice in the matter.

She swallowed hard and nodded, hoping and praying that Paul would really make something of the opportunity. Sure, he might not see it that way at first. He was likely to view it as a punishment, but over time, perhaps he would see that William gave him life.

He could have been killed. Sharks and the gang would have surely wanted him dead when he could not pay up, so he had been saved.

"Well, I am sure you are looking forward to a rest," William said with a smile. "So here is your room. It has been a long day. A long few days actually. But hopefully from here on out, life will be smooth."

Violet held on to Willim. She was not yet ready to let him go. Yes, it had been a long few days, and of course she was looking forward to peace, but at the same time there was still a lot that needed to be said.

"Did you mean it?"

The question fell out of her mouth before she could really think about what was being said. It might not have been where she planned to begin, but here they were now.

"Did I mean what?" William queried with his brows knotted together.

Violet swallowed hard.

It was hard for her not to get caught up in nerves.

"That the duty has nothing to do with love?"

That comment might have been meant for Paul, but she picked up on it too.

William chuckled with a sweet smile playing on his lips. "Duty might not have anything to do with love, but that does not mean it cannot lead to love."

"And… what exactly do you mean by that?"

Violet needed it crystal clear. She could not beat around the bush any longer. William was going to have to tell her exactly what he meant.

He leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead before continuing. "In some cases though, what started as a duty, or what I thought might have been a duty in the beginning, is actually love."

"Love?" Violet"s breath caught in her throat.

"Oh yes." William beamed from ear to ear. "Because I have fallen in love. In love with my wife, who would have ever thought it."

As his lips brushed against hers, and her heart began to race, Violet knew that it was finally time for her to be honest about her emotions as well.

It terrified her to do so, but William had been so open and honest, he had allowed himself to be vulnerable, so she should too.

"William, I love you as well." She rested her forehead against his and grinned. "And I will love you forever."