Chapter 5

Violet stepped into the office located on the side of a busy London street. The bell tinkled above the bright red door, alerting the matchmaker to their presence.

Marie Webster stepped out from behind her desk. She was tall, with blonde curls that hung down her neck despite her efforts of pinning her hair to the back of her head. She had fine features with bright blue-green eyes that almost appeared blue in a certain light.

"Good day, ladies." She heaved a tired sigh and pursed her lips.

Violet and her mother seemed to be a tiresome burden for the poor matchmaker. Having visited her shop more than a few times, Marie Webster was more than likely expecting them to say that the date had been a failure.

"Shall we set up the next date, then?" she asked with an almost apologetic glance at Violet.

"On the contrary, Miss Webster. We are here to inform you of the most wonderful news." Lady Blackwood held her head high, as if no greater joy had ever been experienced by a mother.

"Oh? Did Lord Willford ask for a second date?" Marie gave Violet a curious stare, as if she hadn't been expecting the match to succeed at all.

Even she knew that Lord Willford was a bore…

Violet faked a smile to hide the sigh that had escaped her lips despite her best efforts.

"The news is even better than that. We have a proposal!" Her mother practically beamed from ear to ear as she made the announcement.

Marie seemed quite taken aback by the news. "That is surprising. And I am assuming that you have accepted? Are you sure you want to proceed with this match?" she asked Violet with a concerned frown.

"That is the most surprising news of all. It wasn't Lord Willford, it was the Earl of Montclair who suddenly changed his mind and made a proposal!" Lady Blackwood cut Violet off right before she could answer.

Raising her eyebrows in surprise, Marie gave Violet a strange kind of smile that made her a little uneasy. Why was she looking at her as if she could tell that something was afoot? Her eyes sparkled mischievously in the same kind of manner that Greyson's did, but with a more feminine intention behind the mischief.

Violet looked around the little room with its marble flooring and mahogany desk. She needed something else to focus on beneath the woman's scrutinizing gaze. The statue of a bulldog that stood beside the desk never failed to amuse her. Its horrid green scarf looked as if a child had attempted the very first knitting pattern. The only other notable features in the room were a set of wicker chairs and a matching table, along with an expensive chess set in the far corner of the room.

"I would love to know how all of this came about?" Marie asked with a smile that only grew broader as Violet avoided her gaze.

"It's a bit complicated…" Violet began sheepishly, hoping that the matchmaker would buy her story as easily as her mother and father had.

Suddenly, the small bell above the shop door chimed, announcing the arrival of another person.

Violet's heart skipped a beat as her stomach fluttered.

Greyson stepped into the room, wearing a bright blue coat that brought out the green in his eyes in a haunting manner and accentuated his dark brown hair.

"Speaking of the devil. Lord Montclair, we were just talking about you." Marie cast Violet a knowing look.

Lady Blackwood held Violet back by the elbow when Marie gestured for them to take a seat in front of her desk. "Is that him?" she hissed excitedly in Violet's ear, clutching her daughter's arm as if her life depended on it.

"Yes, Mama, that is Greyson Stone, the Earl of Montclair. Now, will you please let go of my arm before you break it?" Violet hissed back and pried her arm out of her mother's grasp while the others were talking.

"He's incredibly handsome." Her mother sounded as if she would swoon.

Reaching the two vacant chairs beside the Earl, Violet rolled her eyes at the way her mother was blatantly staring at her supposed betrothed. He could have been a pirate, and her mother wouldn't have cared, not now that she had seen how handsome he was.

"This is quite an interesting turn of events. I can't say that I have had a match turn out like this," Marie remarked conspiratorially as she glanced from Greyson to Violet after taking her seat.

"I thought it would be best to inform you of our decision as soon as possible. I would hate to catch my beloved on another date with a strange man." Greyson looked directly at Violet for the first time since entering the office.

Lady Blackwood pulled a fan out of her purse and began to fan herself. "His voice is just as wonderful as his face," she whispered to her daughter while covering her mouth.

Ignoring her mother's whispers, which weren't as discreet as she probably thought they were, Violet said, "I think we both thought that informing Miss Webster would be a good idea, My Lord. And might I add that I would not have gone on the date if you hadn't been so uncertain the first time around." She shot him a look that said he'd better not contradict anything she said.

Marie's eyebrows knit together as she watched the two speaking to one another, while Lady Blackwood swooned more.

"Don't be silly, Violet, darling. You know I told you that I would make the announcement soon enough. You can be so temperamental and impatient." Greyson smiled at Violet affectionately, returning the challenge in her gaze.

"She can, oh Lord, she can." Her mother looked as if she were about to faint if she didn't catch her breath soon.

Violet knew exactly what was going on in her mind. Not only would she be boasting to her friends that her daughter would be marrying one of the wealthiest men in London, but he was handsome and charming to boot.

"I thought we discussed how things were going to be done, darling." Violet's voice dripped with sarcasm as she narrowed her eyes at him.

He was intentionally trying to make her seem like the submissive wife, and she wasn't about to back down. The arrangement had, after all, been her idea.

Lady Blackwood mumbled something to herself about them being already on a first-name basis and using terms of endearment. Her expression seemed to convey that she would burst into tears of joy if Violet and Greyson were any sweeter to one another.

"Well, it looks like the two of you are better acquainted than I would have thought." Marie smiled at the scene unfolding before her and reached into her desk drawer.

"This wedding will be grander than anything the ton has seen in many years." Lady Blackwood seemed to be in a world of her own as she vigorously fanned her face and neck with increasing speed.

The corner of Greyson's mouth quirked up into a smile that made Violet's chest flutter. She had to look away.

Why does he keep looking at me with that wolfish grin?

"I take it we will be canceling any future dates, since your minds have been made up?" Marie looked up from the piece of parchment she had retrieved from the drawer, her quill poised above the paper.

"Definitely," Violet and Greyson both spoke at the same time, leaning forward in their chairs.

Marie raised her eyebrows and gave a smile. Violet hoped that their performance was believable.

Marie Webster met a lot of hopeful couples in her time. Rumor had it that all the matches she had made succeeded, no matter how much the couples had protested.

Violet cleared her throat when an awkward silence ensued. "That is to say that both Lord Montclair and I are more than certain that no other matches will need to be made."

"Very well, I will cross the names off the list and hope to receive a wedding invitation soon." Marie drew the tip of her quill over the page in one swift motion, crossing out the rest of the potential matches that had been set up for Violet and Greyson.

The sound that the quill made over the piece of parchment was music to Violet's ears. It was almost as if the first phase of her plan had been executed successfully and a string quartet was singing her praises.

"I had a similar case in the past with one of the very first matches I made. The Duke and Duchess of St. Claire decided to court after their first unsuccessful meeting, but never have I had the pleasure of seeing a couple agree to get married after one date that hadn't panned out." Marie looked at them conspiratorially, as if she knew more than they were letting on.

Recoiling a little, Violet wondered if they hadn't made a mistake in coming to Marie in person. Marie was sharper than a tact, and Violet wasn't sure if her performance with Greyson was good enough. It may have been if she had discussed with him who would be breaking the news to her.

"I think we can both agree that we have been caught in a situation where the heart wants what it wants." Greyson winked at Violet, making her wish that he'd tone down the charm at least a fraction.

No new couple that she'd ever seen acted as forward and endearing.

"Wonderful, I look forward to seeing how this all pans out." Marie let out a small giggle that she attempted to disguise by pursing her lips and clearing her throat.

Violet made a mental note to set firmer boundaries with Greyson when they were alone again. He needed to act as if they wanted to get married, not pretend to be in some kind of romance novel. She rolled her eyes and shook her head, hoping that the matchmaker wouldn't see. Everyone knew that true love where the hero and heroine doted on one another only existed in poorly written books.

"I guess there is nothing left to add, then." Marie pushed her chair back and stood up, placing her hands on the desk. "Unless there is something else that the two of you would like to ask or even declare?" She paused and looked at Violet and Greyson in turn with one raised eyebrow.

Violet's palms began to sweat as she wondered if the game was over. The conspiratorial way Marie was looking at them implied that they were found out.

"If there is anything to declare, it would be that your skills are far greater than anyone could ever have imagined. Lady Violet and I never thought we would find love and attraction as pure as our own in this lifetime. You are quite the master when it comes to matching two people, Miss Webster."

Greyson held Marie's gaze with a blatant challenge, as if he could tell that she was calling them out.

"That is exactly what I expected you to say, My Lord. I am thrilled that my services have been very helpful. I can only hope that your love proves to be as effective for both of you in the long run as it is now. People can get hurt when contracts are entered into lightly."

Her strange tone made Violet frown. She was warning Greyson about something, but what was it?

"I can assure you, Miss Webster, that both Violet and I have given it a great deal of thought and consideration. Nothing will transpire between us that will not be beneficial for us both." Greyson lifted an eyebrow and returned her stare, matching her tone with every syllable.

Is Marie implying that I could get hurt if we proceed?

Violet's thoughts suddenly filled with confusion as she took in the exchange. It could have been possible that Greyson had informed Marie of their agreement, but that wasn't likely, when he needed the arrangement as much as Violet did.

"Come now, Violet, we need to get back home. There is so much to be planned. When will your next meeting be? We must start informing our family and friends before the news reaches the rest of the ton." Lady Blackwood got to her feet and started fussing, as if she had been in a world of her own and hadn't heard even a single word that had been exchanged in the room.

Greyson tore his gaze away from Marie's and approached Lady Blackwood. "If I may, Lady Blackwood, there is a ball that will be held in two days. I think that would be the perfect time and place to announce our betrothal to the rest of the ton. I was hoping that Violet would be in attendance along with yourself and your husband, of course." He bowed politely and gave her a charming smile that didn't go unnoticed by Violet.

He knows exactly what he is doing.

Violet scoffed inwardly and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Greyson was using her given name with her mother to show how close they were and how comfortable he felt in her presence, as if he were already part of the family.

The tactic worked, causing her mother to blush and fan her face. "Well, I must say that I am impressed, My Lord. It isn't often that you find a man who knows when a ball is being held and much less one who is eager to attend with his betrothed on his arm," she gushed as she batted her eyelashes at him.

"Let's not overwhelm Lord Montclair, Mama. We will see him at the upcoming ball, and you and Papa will be able to talk to him then." Violet looped her arm through her mother's in the hopes of dragging her away.

"Violet, you may call him Greyson in front of me. He's practically part of the family already," Lady Blackwood hissed behind her fan in an attempt to correct her daughter.

Greyson looked triumphant as Violet attempted to drag her mother away. She was stuck with a fake betrothed who thought himself the most charming and capable man in the world, and her mother needed to learn the art of discreet whispering.