Chapter 13

"Iknow you think this is all amusing, but the only reason I agreed to the arrangement was to make my mother happy. I do not intend to marry. You know I won't," Greyson said adamantly, after explaining the situation to Stuart in the comfort of the billiards room.

His father had never cared much for using the room, so Greyson often found solace in the brown décor. The walls were decorated with animal heads, trophies from his many hunting endeavors.

Stuart sat thoughtfully for a moment with a glass of single malt whisky in one hand. "Personally, I think you are an idiot, and I call bull crap on all of it." He downed the amber liquid in one gulp and placed the empty glass on the table beside him.

"I beg your pardon?" Greyson shot his friend a puzzled look.

Leaning forward, Stuart clasped his hands between his knees, a serious look on his face. "I've listened to your story, and I've also spent the evening watching you fall deeper and deeper in love with the woman you are pretending to court."

"Don't be ridiculous, I am not in love with Violet." Greyson smirked before rolling his eyes.

The mere idea of him being in love with anyone was utter nonsense, and Stuart knew it. Stuart knew the story of his father and why he'd vowed to never marry.

"You can deny it all you want, but sooner or later, this little scheme of yours will come crumbling down around you. Mark my words, I've spent the evening watching two people who are utterly enchanted by one another. Granted, I thought that both of you were aware of it, but now I know you're equally matched in your stupidity." Stuart chuckled before giving Greyson a serious look once again.

The idea of Violet falling in love with him made him feel strangely proud. Greyson knew that women often swooned, but he wasn't aware that anyone had ever fallen in love with him. How could they, when he kept them at arm's length? Violet had been the first woman he'd ever spoken to as more than just a casual conquest.

"Violet may be falling in love with me, but that doesn't mean that I feel the same," he insisted, holding his head high.

"You are so full of shit, Greyson, honestly." Stuart dropped his head in his hands in utter defeat.

"You are the only one around here that's full of shit," Greyson shot back.

He and Stuart had often called each other out on matters over the years, but he'd never had to defend himself as much as he was doing right now.

Stuart took a deep breath and looked up. "You have an utterly gorgeous, amazing, funny, and not to mention perfect woman in your grasp, and you're denying your feelings. Because of what? A man who hasn't been a part of your life since you were a child?" Stuart held his gaze with a look of compassion that infuriated him.

"You don't know what you are talking about. My father destroyed my mother. You've never so much as courted a lady, yet you speak on matters of the heart as if you were an expert. I will never allow myself to hurt or be hurt like my mother." Greyson dug his fingers into the armrests until his knuckles turned white.

Love was a farce that people ventured into with delusional hopes. He and Violet were doing the intelligent thing, as far as he was concerned. They'd agreed to buy themselves time, and if a friendship developed from that, then so be it.

Stuart swallowed hard as he considered his friend's words. "I know I'm not an expert on matters of the heart, but what I do know is that I wouldn't let the right woman slip through my fingers if she ventured into my life. The way the two of you melt into each other's eyes is something that the rest of us can only dream of—your mother included. I'm sure if you ask her, she'll tell you that she was unlucky in love but that she wishes it for you. Why do you think she pushed you so hard to find someone like Violet?" He sighed again after shaking his head.

Greyson had wondered why his mother had pushed him so hard and insisted on finding someone for him. Perhaps it was because she was getting older, or the fact that her maid was doing poorly. Sudden illness could make people act in strange ways, especially when they saw it unfolding before their eyes.

Whatever the reason had been for his mother's change of heart, he knew it wouldn't have been because she wanted him to fall in love. She had been right in saying that someone needed to take over the estate if anything should happen to either of them, but there were other ways to solve that problem.

Their conversation ended when the butler came into the room to announce that the ladies were waiting in the drawing room.

"I think we had better go and end the evening with the ladies," Greyson said stiffly and then stood up, but Stuart blocked his path as soon as the butler left the room.

"Don't be a fool, Greyson. See what's right in front of your eyes before it's too late. Don't allow your father to take away more of your happiness than he already did in your childhood."

His words made Greyson pause. Was he allowing his father to ruin his life in more ways than he already had? He'd always acted under the assumption that he was protecting himself and those around him, but now he wasn't so sure.

* * *

The conversation in the small drawing room was light as Violet turned to see Greyson and Stuart enter the room. She liked his mother's charming mannerisms and the funny stories she told.

"I hope we aren't interrupting anything?" Stuart asked as he chose a seat beside the Dowager Countess.

"I was just telling dearest Violet a few stories from when you were young." She glanced at Greyson with a warm smile.

"Younger. I am still young, Mama, as are you." Greyson sat down on the sofa opposite Violet, and it seemed to her as if he were avoiding her gaze for some strange reason.

Had he told Stuart about their little plan and his friend had talked him out of it? Her heart skittered a little as she swallowed past the lump in her throat. They were indeed playing a dangerous game.

His mother looked from one to the other as he seemed to brood on the sofa. "You know, I think I need to go to bed. I have the most dreadful headache all of a sudden." She pressed the back of her hand to her forehead in a dramatic fashion.

"Should I send for the doctor?" Greyson instantly jumped to his feet as his mother stood up, concern marring his features.

"No, no, a little sleep is all I need. You stay here and keep dear Violet company. I think Stuart can help me up the stairs." His mother grasped his hands in hers and gave them a little squeeze before turning to Stuart.

Violet thought that the Dowager Countess was being a little too obvious in her attempts to get her and Greyson alone, but Greyson didn't seem to notice that his mother was pulling the wool over his eyes.

"I am at your service." Stuart instantly jumped to his feet and offered his arm with a bright smile.

This is a little painful.

Violet cringed inwardly as she watched the spectacle unfolding in front of her. They couldn't have made it any more obvious that they were trying to leave them alone. Greyson, however, still seemed to be concerned about his mother, and Violet wondered if she hadn't been ill in the past.

"It was such a pleasure meeting you this evening, Violet dear. Please, don't be a stranger." Lady Montclair offered her hands to Violet and kissed her on both cheeks as she stood up.

"The evening was lovely and thank you for being such a welcoming host." Out of the corner of her eye, Violet noticed that Greyson was paying close attention to their interaction.

The two left the room as Greyson and Violet sat back down. The atmosphere was strained and tense until she decided to broach the first subject that came to mind. Anything at all was better than sitting in the strained silence.

"So, this whole sham courtship has been great. The good news is that our appearance together at the ball is bound to produce a whole bunch of hopeful suitors. After we end things, I can always just convince someone else to play the lovelorn match." She smiled lazily and placed her hands over her knee, leaning a little forward on the sofa.

Greyson's head suddenly snapped up as he glared at her.

I was wrong, that wasn't better than nothing.

She realized that she had offended him when he continued to glower at her.

"I only meant that it was another option if my mother were to pester me again in the future," she tried to placate him.

"You could always keep your options open and start looking for a husband now. As a matter of fact, I could give you the names of a few friends right now if you'd like," Greyson snapped, wearing a sour expression.

"I was only trying to make conversation, but perhaps you would like to keep your options open and see other women. You are fully at your leisure to do so, My Lord," she snapped back at him, feeling her heart skitter with nerves.

Why is he acting like this when he was flirting with me at dinner?

Their playful banter had suddenly turned into a heated argument for no apparent reason, and she was having none of it.

"I haven't seen any other ladies since you and I made our agreement official. It's you who brought up the prospect of meeting other men." His eyes glared daggers at her.

"Are you trying to imply that I am a harlot? My Lord?!" Her breathing deepened as her blood began to boil.

Just who did he think he was, accusing her of being a loose woman, when he had been a notorious rake?

"I am only going on what you brought up, Lady Violet!"

Violet was on her feet before she could stop herself, her fists clenched at her sides. "Don't you raise your voice at me like that!" she angrily whispered back and lifted her chin defiantly in the air.

"I didn't raise my voice! I whispered. You keep reading things into the situation that aren't true!" He jumped to his feet as well, his nose inches away from hers.

Violet stood her ground and took a step forward until she was looking up at him. "I was making a joke because of your awkward behavior. You seem to change moods just like you used to change ladies in the past!"

The whispered battle continued as they both refused to back down. Anyone witnessing their argument would have found it comical, but the atmosphere was anything but funny as she poked him in the chest.

"You took things the wrong way because your breeches are in a knot for no good reason!" She felt her anger fade a little when he gripped her wrist in his hand and lowered it to her side.

The look in his eyes was anything but amused as he tilted his head to the side and brought his lips closer to her own. "I have respected the basic boundaries of our agreement, and I expect you to do the same. You are mine and mine alone until everything comes to an end."

Goosebumps spread across her arms. His hot breath tickled her lips as her own parted instinctively in response. She could feel his other hand touching her hip, gently caressing her side through the fabric of her dress. Their chests rose and fell with each panted breath, the air between them becoming charged.

Images of Greyson lowering her onto the sofa and kissing a path down her neck and chest flashed in her mind. The sound of his breathing drowned out the doubts that had lingered in her mind.

I want this.

Her heart thudded in her ears as she closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable kiss.

He said I am his.

His lips brushed against hers in an embrace that was softer than the fluttering of a butterfly's wing.

Suddenly, they heard whistles and the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs, signaling Stuart's return.

Violet and Greyson both jumped apart, hurriedly taking their seats as if nothing had happened.

"Your mother will be just fine. She needs a good night's rest…" Stuart trailed off as he walked into the room and spotted the awkward, unnatural positions of their bodies.

Greyson cleared his throat and picked at a thread on his sleeve, while Violet rubbed the back of her neck with an awkward smile.

What is wrong with us?!

They couldn't keep their hands off one another, yet they fought like a cat and a dog at the drop of a hat. She was beginning to think that they'd lost their minds. Faking a courtship most certainly wasn't the best motivator for proper behavior.

"This is definitely not awkward at all. Have the two of you been sitting like this the entire time?" Stuart looked from one to the other with a raised eyebrow.

Violet suddenly stood up. "It's getting quite late, I think I should go back home," she announced, having had enough of the argument.

Her pulse still raced from their almost kiss. The sooner she left and cleared her head, the better it would be for everyone involved.

Greyson stood up as well. "It is getting late. I think we had better all turn in for the night," he said gruffly and began to make his way toward the door.

"Will Violet and I travel alone in the carriage, then?" Stuart asked innocently.

"No, you will take a separate carriage home, and if you don't like that idea, you can walk!" Greyson snapped and then stormed out of the room.

Violet's heart fluttered as she recalled his words.

You are mine.

He was certainly possessive of her, for someone who wasn't interested in getting married at all. The demand he had made about her not being allowed to see anyone else while they were courting rang in her ears and made her breath catch in her throat.

Greyson Stone was certainly a confusing man.