Chapter 4

Violet's heart fluttered as she recalled the feel of Greyson's lips on her hand. She had felt the warmth of his kiss even through the fabric of her glove. The visceral shiver of pleasure had shot through her body like a bolt of lightning.

The Earl of Montclair was a handsome man, there was no denying it. She shook off the unwelcome thoughts and made her way up the stairs of their London home. Their arrangement was one of mere convenience and nothing more. She had been burned in the past by a suitor and had vowed to never again let herself feel that way about a man.

No matter how attractive and charming he may be.

Her pulse raced at the thought of his dimples and the way his smile reached those mischievous green eyes.

"My Lady." The butler held open the doors for her and bowed as soon as she stepped over the threshold.

"Thank you, Carsten. Is my mother home?"

Her heart pounded in her chest at the thought of lying to her mother. The Countess of Blackwood was strict and cared more about the ton's opinions. She had been married at eighteen and already considered her daughter to be too old at nineteen.

"She is, My Lady." Carsten bowed politely, his thick blonde hair clinging to his head from some or other pomade that had been applied to keep it in place.

At thirty-five, Carsten was the youngest butler that had ever been employed by the Smith family. Yet, his work was impeccable, and none of the family could find any fault with his character.

Anna Smith, the Countess of Blackwood, came hurrying forward, with the hem of her dark blue dress clutched in her hands. Her aristocratic features were creased in a thunderous look. "Oh, for heaven's sake, you are early. Please do not tell me that you bungled this one up like the last one."

Violet sighed deeply as her mother, who was at least a head shorter than her, stopped in front of her. Her shiny black hair was pulled back into a tight bun that eliminated some of the wrinkles that had only just begun to show on her skin at fifty-five.

"Your father and I have tried so hard to get you on the right path, spending all of our efforts on setting up these dates with Miss Webster." Her eyes began to well in a very dramatic fashion as they often did when she was trying to get her point across.

Violet decided to skip her mother's theatrics and cut to the chase. She knew her mother's lectures by heart and didn't feel like standing in the hall, listening to another one.

"The date did not go as planned, Mama, for I am betrothed now."

"I just knew it! Why can't you be like the rest of the young girls who want to get married?" Lady Blackwood lifted her hand to her forehead as if she were taking her temperature.

Violet shook her head and sighed, waiting for her to realize what she had said.

"I just knew I would have to call the doctor for my nerves again—" Her mother froze and looked at her with a puzzled expression. "What did you say?"

The butler lifted his eyebrows in surprise before bowing politely and leaving the hall. The reason the family liked him was because of his discreet manner in handling things. Given the fact that Lord Blackwood was prone to drinking, the family appreciated that quality.

"I am betrothed, Mama. You may hold off on calling the doctor." Violet gave her a tired smile.

"To Lord Willford? That is marvelous news! You must have made quite the impression on him if he asked for your hand in marriage on the first date!" Her mother's demeanor brightened considerably as she clapped her hands together in glee with a very unladylike hop. The fabric of her dress rustled with the action.

"It is not Lord Wilford, Mama. I am to marry Greyson Stone, the Earl of Montclair." Violet felt her heart skip a beat as she said the words out loud. Her plan was beginning to come together, she just hadn't imagined it would be happening so soon.

"Didn't you say he was arrogant and that you would never consider marrying a man like him even if he were the last of his species? An arrogant man with a love for himself that rivaled that of Narcissus? I think those were your exact words." Her mother frowned as she looked at the floor, presumably remembering when Violet had come home from the date.

Violet held back a smile. She had been so angry after their initial meeting that she had come home and slandered Greyson's character in front of her parents. Her comparing him to the Greek God who had turned to stone by staring at his reflection still made her want to laugh.

"I did say that Mama, but it was only because we did not want to let everyone know until we were sure. We decided today that we are a perfect match. We have already begun our courtship, and we will marry as soon as the Season is over. The Season will allow enough time to pass so that no one will think it improper," she quickly explained.

They could keep up appearances for five months before coming up with a plan to end their fake engagement.

Lady Blackwood took a deep breath and pressed her hand to her abdomen. "This does come as quite a shock. I mean, you practically hated the man two days ago."

"Do you object to the engagement, Mama?" Violet searched her mother's face, getting ready to fight for her fake love. She wasn't about to look for someone else now that the Earl had agreed to her plan.

"Not at all, this is still wonderful news. I'm just in shock. I Didn't think this day would come so soon." Her mother seemed to still be processing the news.

Neither did I.

Violet took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her nerves.

"What's going on in here? Do I detect a dispute with my ladies?"

Peter Smith, the Earl of Blackwood, strode into the hall with a slight wobble in his gait. Violet could tell that he'd had more than just a few glasses of wine, but he wasn't so far gone that he wouldn't be able to understand.

His tall frame halted beside his wife as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. His blonde hair was thinning in the middle, leaving a very noticeable bald spot. Violet had always considered him a kind man with light blue eyes that reflected his true intentions despite his penchant for drink.

"Our daughter is betrothed to the Earl of Montclair, Peter dear." Her mother patted his hand in a loving gesture.

"Betrothed?" He squinted in an attempt to focus on Violet. "My little Violet betrothed, how can this be?" He looked from his daughter to his wife.

Lady Blackwood pursed her lips. "Your ‘little' Violet isn't so little anymore. She is nineteen, and it is high time she is married." She shot Violet an accusing look.

"Nineteen?" The Earl frowned as if he were trying to do the math.

Violet wanted to laugh when her mother closed her eyes and shook her head. Watching the two of them together always provided her with an endless amount of entertainment. Her father wasn't a man who was prone to violence when he drank. The only time his drinking had ever posed an issue for the family was when it led to a scene in public, which wasn't a very common occurrence.

"She is nineteen, almost twenty if you count the months until her birthday," her mother added begrudgingly.

"That's great, then! We should open a bottle of our finest champagne to celebrate!" The Earl straightened his lapels as he took a wobbly step to the side.

"If you haven't finished them all yet, you old goat," the Countess accused affectionately and poked him in the ribs.

The Countess insisted that Violet marry as young as she had done, but she often forgot one very important detail. The Earl and Countess had been in love when they married. Their love carried on through the years and set a precedent that had led Violet to unrealistic expectations.

"Then we shall send for more! Our little Violet is getting married!" Lord Blackwood wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders once again and led her into the adjoining parlor with a loud shout of triumph.

Violet took a deep breath as she watched them leave. She prayed that they wouldn't be too disappointed when everything came to its inevitable end.

* * *

Greyson took the steps of Montclair Manor two at a time. Two visits in as many days were far too much for his liking. The less time he spent at the manor, the less time he'd dwell on memories of the past.

His mother looked up at him in shock as he entered. She was standing beside a man whom he recognized as the village doctor. The two were standing at the bottom of the grand staircase, talking in hushed tones. The conspiratorial way they were speaking made a feeling of unease well in his chest.

The village doctor was a squat, old man with a chubby, round face and thick black hair. His round spectacles peeked from his top pocket, where he kept them for easy access when speaking to patients or reading letters.

"Greyson, dear, what are you doing here?" His mother panicked a little as she spotted him coming toward them. The way her eyes flicked to the doctor only added to his suspicions.

"Lord Montclair, I was just about to leave. I am glad to see that you are looking as fit as a fiddle. Your mother's concerns about your lifestyle are entirely unfounded, I see." The doctor's chubby face was warm with understanding.

Did she call the doctor to discuss my lifestyle?

Greyson frowned as he reached the pair. His mother's behavior as of late was strange, but speaking to a doctor about his lifestyle was going beyond even the limits of what he could tolerate.

"I don't think we should keep you any longer, Dr. Stanley." Christina placed her hand on the man's arm and guided him toward the doors, before turning to her son.

Greyson clenched his jaw in irritation, lifting an eyebrow and folding his hands behind his back as he waited expectantly for his mother to explain.

"Please don't give me that look, dear. I am far too tired to argue." She walked over to him with a tired look in his eyes.

Greyson hadn't noticed the dark circles under her eyes, but now found them worrying in the wake of the doctor's visit.

"Are you unwell?" he asked as his irritation was quickly replaced with concern for the only parent he had ever cared for.

His mother's face softened as she smiled and lifted a hand to touch his cheek. "I am well. The doctor was here because one of the maids was taken ill during the night. I only mentioned my concerns about your health as a passing thought. You really need to stop spending so much time at White's." Her voice took on a soft tone that tugged at his heart.

Relief filled his body at her words. The dark circles under her eyes must have been caused by her late night with the maid. The Dowager Countess never left it up to others when it came to the people in their service. She would stay up late and even serve tea to a maid who had been taken ill.

"As long as you are well," Greyson said, a lump forming in his throat.

He didn't often worry about his mother, but when he did, it reminded him of what an amazingly strong woman she was.

"I am. What I am more worried about is the fact that you have come to pay another visit in the space of one week. What have you gotten up to now that requires my help? Have you broken the heart of yet another young debutante?" His mother shook her head in disappointment. "Let me guess, her father is furious and wishes to speak with me?"

"As well as you think you may know me, Mama, I came here with much more exciting news that will make you cancel your plans with Miss Marie Webster." He placed his hand over hers and lowered it to her side.

"Greyson, please do not fight me on the matter any longer. I need a cup of tea before you start." She turned away from him with a shake of her head and looked around for a footman.

"It's not what you think, Mama. I am betrothed. You may let Miss Marie Webster know that the search is over," he said triumphantly.

"You are what?" His mother stopped and looked at him in shock, cocking her head.

Taking a deep breath, he let go of her hand and folded his hands behind his back. "I am to be married, Mama. I thought you of all people would know what betrothed means. It was, after all, your idea."

His mother stared at him for a second with her mouth slightly open. "I don't understand the joke. You are trying to have me on?"

"I can assure you that I am not. I am betrothed to Lady Violet Smith. We shall court until the end of next Season and then marry." He added as much detail as he could to make the scenario believable.

"I thought your rendezvous didn't go as planned?" She seemed flustered as she looked at him, her eyes searching his face for an explanation.

Biting back the irritation he felt at having to go along with the ruse, he began to explain. "I thought about what you said, and after a great deal of consideration, I decided that Lady Violet would be a suitable match. She is beautiful, elegant, charming, and witty. There is nothing more that I could ask for in a wife."

His mother raised her hand to her chest as if she'd had a scare. "Well, you could knock me over with a feather. I didn't think you would decide this on your own. I am thrilled that you have, but still, it's come as quite a shock. When will I meet the lovely young lady who is to be my daughter-in-law?"

"I will have to see about that. Let me first ease her into my life before you draw her into your confidence."

Greyson bought himself some more time, knowing that his mother would grow fond of the girl as soon as they met. Having his mother disappointed when everything ended was something he hoped to avoid.