Chapter 24

Greyson waited for Violet inside the tiny café where they had first met. The setting wasn't very private, but he thought it was perfect, since their journey had started there. He'd lain awake all night thinking of what Stuart had said and came to the conclusion that he was truly and irrevocably in love with Violet.

She had somehow managed to worm her way into his heart and claim all of his affections for herself. He shook his head and smiled. Although he was still deathly afraid of being abandoned, the thought of having Violet at his side assuaged some of his doubt.

The tiny bell above the door tinkled, bringing him out of his thoughts. His breath caught in his throat when he looked up and spotted Violet.

The light blue dress she wore was simple but complemented her eyes in a way that made her stand out from the rest of the ladies.

How did I not realize how perfect she was the moment I laid eyes on her?

His pulse began to race with every step that she took toward his table.

"I'm sorry I am late," she spoke softly, and Greyson instantly realized that something was amiss.

Had she somehow found out about his proposal?

"Never mind that, you're here now." He pulled out her chair and helped her into her seat, allowing his fingers to brush her arms.

Her lips parted in a silent gasp, giving him the reassurance he needed. They were both immensely attracted to one another.

"I'm glad you agreed to meet me here. I couldn't think of a better place to ask you a question." His palms began to sweat as he took a seat opposite her.

"I think we should end things now," Violet blurted out before he'd even pushed his chair in.

The world around him suddenly slowed to a blur as the patrons' voices faded into the background. He could see that Violet was still talking, yet all he could focus on were those suitcases at his father's feet.

She's leaving. Everyone leaves in the end. I was a fool to think that anything would be different now.

"Greyson?" Her gentle voice drew him out of his thoughts as she reached across the table and gently touched his sleeve.

Yanking his arm out of her grasp, he placed his hands beneath the table, clutching his knees until his knuckles turned white.

"Say something." Her voice was barely audible above the din in the café.

"I'm sorry I asked you to come here. I can see that I have wasted your time. I wish you all the best for your future endeavors, Lady Violet. You may tell your parents any version of the story that you like. I will go along with whatever you say and play my part."

He pushed back his chair with such force that everyone in the café turned to stare at him.

"Greyson, I never meant…" Violet's eyes filled with tears.

"Good day, Lady Violet."

Greyson hurried out of the café, leaving her sitting alone at the table amidst the hushed tones and curious glances.

Outside on the street, Greyson stopped as thunder cracked overhead, releasing a blanket of rain that soaked his coat in an instant.

This is what I get for believing even for a second that things could be different.

He shook his head and began to walk away from the café, not caring that he was drenched from head to toe. People were hurrying to take shelter from the rain, watching him pass from beneath shop awnings and lintels of the surrounding buildings.

"Greyson, will you please wait!" Her voice called to him above the downpour and thunder that boomed loudly in the distance.

Whipping around, Greyson turned to face her. "Go back inside, Lady Violet. You have no business being out here in the cold."

He turned away to continue on his way but was stopped when she gripped his arm.

"No business? You dare say that I have no business being out here when I poured my heart out to you, and what did you do? Get up and leave without so much as a word. Did you even hear a single word that I said?" Violet let go of his arm when he turned to face her.

"You want to know if I heard what you said? You dare turn things on me like this when I was about to… when I was about to…" The words caught in his throat, refusing to leave his mouth.

The rain had soaked Violet from head to toe, causing long strands of her hair to cling to her face. "What? What were you about to do?"

She took a step toward him, blinking through the rivulets of water that ran down her face.

"None of that matters anymore. You have made your decision to end our arrangement, and I will respect it. I'm only glad that you did it now. I was beginning to grow tired of lies."

Hislie felt like acid on his tongue, but he had cast aside any feelings that he ever thought he may have had for her in the wake of his anger and heartbreak.

Violet paled noticeably. "You were growing tired of me?" Her bottom lip quivered.

"Just as tired as I am sure you were growing of me. Why else would you decide to end things now? We shared so much with one another in the orchard, at my lodgings, and all those other times when we kissed. I'm sure you're just as glad as I am that neither of us has to pretend anymore."

Greyson wasn't sure if she was crying or not, for the droplets streaming down her face made it hard for him to distinguish between the rain and her tears.

"You were pretending this entire time."

It was a statement, not a question.

"Yes, weren't you?" he asked in a clipped voice.

Violet nodded and bit her lower lip, as if she were coming to a realization. "I should have known." She reached over her head and undid the clasp of the necklace he had gifted to her. "Thank you for your gift, My Lord. I am sure that whoever you choose to pretend with next will think it just as beautiful as I did."

She reached for his hand and shoved the piece of jewelry into it before turning on her heel and stalking away.

Greyson looked down at the necklace in his hand. He'd put so much time and effort into purchasing it for her. His fingers closed over the gold chain, trapping the pendant in his fist.

Why must it always end like this?

The unfinished ship from his youth loomed over his mind like the dark clouds in the sky.

* * *

Greyson hurried up the stairs of his ancestral home. The sooner he told his mother that things were over with Violet, the sooner he could put the entire fiasco behind him and leave.

Servants rushed past him in a flurry, barely offering him a glance or a greeting.

His heart sank as he managed to stop a footman and ask him what was going on.

The look of horror on the footman's face gnawed at his chest. "My Lord, I think you had better go and see the doctor. He is with Her Ladyship now."

Greyson broke out in a cold sweat.

No.

He sprinted up the stairs faster than any of the maids or footmen carrying loads of linen and jugs of water.

"Out of my way!" he yelled, causing one of the maids to gasp in shock as she dropped the pile of linen.

Greyson wasn't sure how he had reached the landing as quickly as he did, but he yanked open the door to his mother's chambers and stepped inside.

The doctor looked up in shock, quickly placing the Dowager Countess's hand on the bed before holding a hand up, stopping Greyson in his tracks.

She can't be gone.

Greyson felt his world crumbling around him, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. His mother lay still on the bed, pale and unmoving.

The doctor took a deep breath before walking over to Greyson, looking him in the eye. "May we speak in the hallway?"

His quiet tone did little to calm Greyson's racing heart.

"Is she…?"

Greyson kept his eyes on his mother's still figure. She looked so small and weak beneath the sheets. He'd noticed she hadn't been well lately, but he had been so preoccupied with Violet that he hadn't pushed her hard enough for an answer. He would never forgive himself if he lost his mother.

"She's resting now. I think we better talk in the hallway." The doctor nodded toward the door and then left the room.

Relief flooded through Greyson, but the feeling was quickly replaced by dread when he noticed the shallow rise and fall of his mother's chest. Turning around, he hurried into the hallway and quietly shut the door behind him. He was about to demand an explanation from the doctor, but the man held up his hand, effectively stopping him.

"Please allow me to explain before you ask any questions, My Lord. Your mother has been ill for quite some time. I advised her to tell you before it was too late, but she insisted on not telling you. She thought it would be better if you carried on with your life as normal until the right time presented itself."

The doctor stopped to catch his breath and gave Greyson a sympathetic look.

Greyson ran his hand through his hair in frustration. How had things come to this? He'd wanted to return home with Violet at his side and tell his mother the good news, but now he was in danger of losing both of them instead of just one.

"She has very little time left. I think it would be best if you said your goodbyes now. She may still be here by the end of the week, or she may not make it till morning. Her heart is very weak…" the doctor trailed off.

Greyson stumbled back against the wall and slid down to the floor.

This isn't real. She can't be dying.

The world began to blur for the second time that day. Was this punishment for the life he had led? Had he tried so hard not to follow in his father's footsteps that he'd inevitably ended up as a rake that broke his mother's heart?

As if he could hear Greyson's thoughts, the doctor got down on his haunches beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know that this is all quite sudden, but you must understand that it is nobody's fault. Your mother was born with a weak heart. She came to me months ago because of shortness of breath. We did a few tests and even consulted a few other doctors. Their opinions confirmed my findings. Your mother's age has caught up with her—it was always a matter of time until her heart gave out."

Months ago.

The words rang in his ears. She had found out she was dying months ago and proceeded to push him in what she thought was the right direction. He suddenly realized that his mother hadn't wanted him to be alone when she passed.

Taking a deep breath, Greyson pushed to his feet. "Thank you, Dr. Stanley. I understand. Have you done everything in your power to ensure her comfort?" He swallowed past the lump that had formed in his throat.

The doctor nodded sadly and stood up. "Your mother's maid has all the tonics and instructions to care for her. I am going back to London, but I will come at once if you need me for anything."

Greyson nodded. "Thank you, please do let me know how much we owe you for your services."

The doctor sighed heavily again. "Your mother has paid in full. She didn't want you to worry about these things when the time came. All you need to do now is stay by her side for as long as you can. Make every second count."

I would have done that months ago if I had known.

Greyson watched the doctor retreat down the hallway before re-entering his mother's chambers.

Christina stirred in her bed, groaning a little in discomfort as she turned on her side.

Greyson felt as if his legs would give out as he made his way to the bed and pulled a chair closer. He took her frail, cold hand in his and pressed it to his cheek, trying to pour his warmth into her.

How had I not noticed how sick she had been?

He lowered her hand to the bed and began to sob, resting his forehead on her arm.

His mother shifted again and looked at him, raising her hand to stroke his cheek when he looked up. "Why are you crying, my dearest? This should be a day of celebration. Where is Violet?"

She searched his face with a faint smile that seemed to suck her energy. The circles beneath her eyes were dark and sunken, making her look as if she hadn't slept in days.

"Please, don't worry about any of that now, Mama. Why didn't you tell me that you were so ill?" He lifted her hand and kissed her fingers, too afraid to move too quickly out of fear of hurting her.

"I didn't want you to waste any time by my side when you had more important things to focus on. I thought I could hold out until your wedding, but I'm afraid that I won't be able to make it till then." Her voice was just as frail and soft.

Greyson shook his head and held her hand to his cheek. "I'm here now, Mama. That is all that matters."

Christina closed her eyes and leaned back on her pillow. Her shallow breaths let him know that she was still alive, but for how long was a question he wished he had an answer for.

How long before I have to say the final goodbye?