Chapter 29

Violet stepped into the drawing room, where her parents were already waiting for her to return from the funeral. Lord and Lady Blackwood had come home after the service, saying that they wanted to give her some time with Greyson.

"There you are, darling. I was wondering when you would return. The weather is so unpredictable these days, you never know when a storm is going to break out." Lady Blackwood placed her cup back on the tray.

She wore a thick black dress just like Violet, but her face was far less pale and drawn. She had never been one to show her emotions, and Violet wished she could display the same kind of restraint.

Her father gave her an encouraging smile and then turned back to the book he was reading. In all the years she had known him, he had never been much of a talker, unless he'd had a few glasses of wine.

Violet forced a smile, removing her gloves as she took a seat beside her mother on the large settee. "I spent some time at her grave. It was quite peaceful once everyone had left."

"Were you alone? What about Greyson?" Her mother looked at her with a frown before pouring her a cup of tea.

"Greyson went on to be with the rest of his family. I'm not his wife yet, so I didn't think it would be proper for me to be at his side the whole time."

The lie broke Violet's heart and brought an even deeper frown to her mother's face.

Lord Blackwood closed his book and watched the exchange with great interest—something unusual for him.

"I can't say that I agree with that statement, but if the two of you agreed that is how things should be, then I won't interfere. The two of you did agree on the matter?" Lady Blackwood handed Violet a cup and waited patiently for her response.

"We did." Violet accepted the cup and took a sip, averting her gaze in the process. "In fact, we did a great deal of talking, and we both decided that a holiday abroad would do me some good."

"A holiday abroad before the two of you are married? I have never heard such a preposterous notion," Lady Blackwood scoffed. "A scandal like that would irrevocably destroy our reputation. I am surprised that Greyson would even suggest such a thing." She lifted her hand to her chest in indignation.

"Not the two of us." Violet placed her cup back on the tray. "I will be going alone—with my maid as a chaperone, of course. I thought I might visit one of my great aunts in Scotland or France."

Her mother lowered her hand, yet the explanation did little to smooth the furrow between her eyebrows.

"Are you sure you want to leave Greyson during such a perilous time?" her father piped up in an unusually soft voice.

It wasn't that her father never had a hand in raising her, he just preferred to leave matters to her mother, especially when it came to matters of the heart.

Lady Blackwood looked from one to the other, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

Violet gave her father a pleading look. "Everyone has a different way of dealing with things like this, Papa. Greyson prefers to be alone, and I think staying abroad would benefit me a great deal."

"Very well, I think something can be arranged. You do have a great aunt in France, but I only wish to know if you are absolutely certain." He raised an eyebrow in question and searched her face.

Lady Blackwood let out a heavy sigh. "I don't think my heart can handle it anymore. Things seemed so certain between you and Greyson, why must you always be so stubborn and have things your way?" She shook her head irritibly. "Mark my words, you are making a great mistake!"

"Mama, it's only for a few weeks…"

"Don't think that I am a simpleton, Violet. You will go for a few weeks and then come back with some cock and bull story as to why you and Greyson cannot marry. I don't want to hear another word." She held up a hand to silence Violet before she could say another word. "I need to go lie down. Perhaps your father can speak some sense into you, because the Lord knows that I have tried." She stood up with a huff and left the room.

Violet thought she had glimpsed a few tears in her mother's eyes. They had disagreed on many matters in the past, but never had her mother cried before. The realization of hurting her mother made her feel lower than dirt.

"You mustn't mind your mother's harsh words, Violet. She only wants what is best for you. I know it may seem as if she only cares about herself at times, but what you don't know about your mother is that she got married to me because she had no other choice," her father spoke softly, folding his hands in his lap.

"I don't understand." Violet shook her head in confusion and searched his face.

His lips curled into a rueful smile. "How could you, when we never told you? We tried our best to shield you from such things, but perhaps we have been mistaken in thinking we were right. Your grandfather was a very cruel man who forced your mother's sisters to marry men for their wealth. The three of them were almost beaten to death, and one of them unfortunately died two years in her marriage."

Shock ripped through her as she realized what her father was trying to say. Her mother had been in such a perilous situation that she had no other choice than to marry him.

"Did you at least love one another?" Violet asked softly.

In her mind, her parents' marriage had always been one of love, despite never believing in it herself.

"Not at first. It was I who fell in love with your mother before we got married, but it took a few years for her to return my affections." His smile brightened a little. "I was in love with her from the start. I was only too happy when she came to me at the tender age of seventeen and asked me to marry her as soon as possible. Your grandfather had arranged a marriage to a duke that was almost thrice her age."

The cruel reality of the way women were forced to marry struck her again as one of the biggest injustices to date.

"The reason I am telling you all of this, my pet, is not to frighten you or even make you love your mother a little more—although I must confess that my life would be a great deal easier if the two of you stopped bickering. Your mother's greatest fear is that you would be forced to marry an old, cruel man if anything were to happen to us. Her reasoning may seem strange, but she thinks that if you choose someone while you are still young, you will be saved from the fate her sisters has suffered."

"Papa, I understand what everyone is trying to say, and with Greyson, I…"

"You love him, but things aren't always fair in love and war," he finished for her, with an understanding glint in his eyes.

Violet swallowed hard as she closed her eyes and let out a ragged breath. How could she explain to her father that she loved Greyson more than words could convey? It had killed her to see him holding back his tears at the funeral. Yet, she couldn't force him to love her if he'd made up his mind.

"I will make arrangements for your journey, but just know that you will have my full support regardless of what you decide to do. If I were deciding for you, I would tell you to wait for this cocky young man whom I thought to be incredibly arrogant at first, but I see now that he's perfect for you. You somehow managed to soften his rough edges." His eyes sparkled mischievously as he winked at her.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she gazed lovingly at the man who had raised her. "Thank you, Papa. I will give it a great deal of thought, but I know deep down that nothing can be done."

* * *

Violet's hands shook as she sat on the edge of her bed, with the envelope in her hands. Her father had written to her great aunt in France, and she knew it would take a while to receive a reply. The funeral had only taken place the day before, yet it felt like an eternity since she had seen or heard from Greyson. Part of her thought that he would have shown up by now, but she knew that was selfish, given the loss he had experienced.

She had decided to try and deal with her past the best way she could, before setting out on a new adventure. Reading the letter from Christina Stone seemed like a good place to start, no matter how painful it was to let things go.

The candle beside her bed flickered as she lifted the envelope and pulled out the neatly folded letter. The sweet scent of vanilla that wafted up brought tears to her eyes.

The Dowager Countess of Montclair had always smelled of expensive perfume. It made Violet feel as if the woman was in the room with her again.

My dearest, dearest Violet,

I know this is a very unconventional way to start a letter, but I hope it conveys just how fond I grew of you in such a short amount of time. It's a strange thing to think that you will be reading this letter after I am no longer with you, but I hope that won't discourage you from reading this.

Death for me is like a welcome release from the pain I have suffered. Do not cry for me, as I know for certain that I will be in a better place.

You said to me on more than one occasion that you and Greyson were not being honest. Well, I am afraid that I must confess that I was not honest with you either. You see, Greyson's father never died. We decided on the day he left to pretend that he never existed beyond that moment in time. This may seem to you as if we were deceiving all of those around us, but we were only doing the best we could.

Violet lowered the letter to her lap as she raised a hand to cover her mouth. Greyson's father had never died? Where was he if he were still alive?

She worked up the courage to keep reading as she lifted the letter once again. Reality seemed to have shifted for her, where she was now a character in some kind of absurd play.

My husband left us for another woman when Greyson was barely a young man. I fear that because of this, he's too afraid to allow anyone close to his heart. I know this must come as a shock to you, but I beg you to keep an open mind and forgive me. What I am about to ask of you will require more than what is fair after we have lied to you.

In the face of my failing health, I took it upon myself to write to Greyson's father, imploring him to come and see his son, for Greyson's sake more than anyone else's.

He will need you, Violet. Please find it in your heart to put aside whatever has come between the two of you. I could see that something had happened, but Greyson was reluctant to tell me what it was. I know you will make the right decision.

Yours forever,

Christina Stone.

PS. I don't think Greyson meant to keep the truth from you. That time of his life is far too difficult for him to talk about. I pray that once the scab has been ripped off, the wound will finally begin to heal.

Violet lowered the letter to her lap, trying her best to make sense of what she had read. Not only was Greyson's father alive, but he was on his way to see him if Christina's letter had reached him. Christina had not mentioned when she had written to him. For all Violet knew, she could have sent the letter months before her passing.

It made so much sense to her now. Greyson built walls to keep others out, but all he was doing was hurting himself. She recalled every time he had pulled away or gotten into an argument with her when she had wanted him to open up to her.

She would need to go and see Greyson as soon as possible, to warn him if not to be there with him.

He may not want you there, the voice at the back of her head whispered again. What would happen if she showed up to his lodgings unannounced? That is if he was even at his lodgings. He may very well have decided to stay at his ancestral home after his mother's passing.

"What do I do?" she whispered to the dimly lit room.

She could go and see him, yet her father had already begun to make arrangements for her trip to France.

She fell back on the bed, allowing the letter to fall to the ground as she stared at the ceiling, her legs dangling over the edge. There was so much to decide, and it felt as if there was even less time to make those decisions. She could go to France and leave everything behind, or she could go and help the man she loved despite his indifference toward her.

I already know what I'm going to do.

The decision she made was hard, yet she knew she would stick to it no matter how difficult it was.