Chapter 7

"Get ready to go and get our punch, my one true love. You're about to see a red-haired man get rejected by a wallflower," Greyson teased with a smirk, keeping his eyes on the couple.

Violet had become quiet, presumably also paying close attention to the couple.

The gangly youth with red hair and a smattering of freckles across his nose stalked toward the woman who had become the object of his affection throughout the evening. Greyson smiled to himself, feeling triumphant as the girl took a step back, visibly shaken by the young man's approach.

"And that is what I call a checkmate," he announced smugly and turned to Violet, who continued to stare at the couple with a blank expression on her beautiful features.

Did she not like the teasing?

He wondered if he hadn't made a mistake by calling her his one true love. She had been chatty and bubbly up until a few moments ago. He liked her friendship more and more as the evening progressed, and even hoped that they would be able to write to each other after they parted ways.

"I don't think you should have counted your chickens so soon, My Lord. I think I should call checkmate." She turned and shot him a smug grin right back, a cool look of victory in her eyes.

"What?" Greyson snapped his attention back to the young couple, who were now laughing together. The girl reached out and touched the red-haired man's arm affectionately.

"Not to put too fine a point on the matter, My Lord, but I think that I have won. Off you go to get our refreshments." Her smile brightened considerably as she teased him.

"Now, wait just a moment. There has been some kind of trickery afoot here, and I demand to know what it was." He laughed.

Violet's smile was bright as she turned to the couple, who were now huddled in a corner, whispering. "You judged the man's reactions quite accurately. He was nervous about approaching her, but you failed to take both parties into account. While he was nervous and continuously glancing in her direction, so was she. She had eyes on him from the moment he entered the ballroom," she finished explaining and turned to look at him.

"I must say that I am impressed. You got all that from just observing them?" Greyson sat back and focused his full attention on her.

Violet Smith was turning out to be far more interesting than he'd initially imagined. Her cunning and wit were sharper than those of anyone else he knew.

"Yes, and I must confess that I know the young lady. She's had her heart set on talking to the young gentleman for quite a while. I am happy that her wish has finally come true, even if I don't believe in the concept myself." She let out a sigh, as if the confession had taken a weight off her chest.

Greyson allowed his mouth to fall open in fake shock. "Violet, are you telling me that you cheated?" He lifted his eyebrows in question.

"You can hardly call it cheating when no prior rules were set." She bumped him again with her shoulder in the same kind of playful manner that made him breathe a little deeper.

He'd been used to women falling over him as soon as he flashed a smile, but Violet was different. She didn't seem to be affected by his flirting or want to chase him for his wealth. Her motives seemed genuine.

The relaxed atmosphere between them was charged with an underlying attraction that Greyson couldn't deny. The slender, smooth curve of her neck and her firm chest inevitably drew his attention throughout their conversation. Her lips were small and perfect, the exact shape of Cupid's bow that beckon even the strongest-willed men.

"If you would like a studied and unbiased opinion, I think that gentleman with the curled mustache is having an affair with the red-haired lady from across the room. Both seem to be with their partners, yet neither can keep their eyes off one another." Violet looked out over the dance floor with a subtle nod of her head in the right direction.

Turning away from her with a frown, Greyson spotted the couple in question. The tall man was thin enough to be blown over by a gust of wind, and his mustache curled at the ends in very unflattering spirals. The lady, however, was slightly plumper, with a generous chest that rivaled anyone else's. Her bright red hair was piled high atop her head like a messy beehive of pins and flowers.

The man had his hand on the back of a blonde lady, but his eyes were fixed on the red-haired woman. Greyson winced when the woman winked at the man from behind her fan.

"Do you suppose his mustache tickles her nose when they kiss?"

"What?" Violet giggled and turned back to him.

"I mean, just look at the thing, you could hang a cane from the handlebars and even safeguard the keys to a safe. You have to admit that a clean-shaven face such as my own is far preferable to that." Greyson rubbed his hand over his jawline and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at her.

Violet shook her head and laughed. Then she leaned in a little closer and whispered, "You know, your arrogance can be endearing at times."

The corners of his mouth quirked up into a conspiratorial smile. "And I must say that I find your ability to whisper very attractive. It's a quality that you most certainly didn't inherit from your parents."

The soft giggle that escaped her lips floated to his ears and caressed his desires most unexpectedly. Her lavender perfume was intoxicating to his senses as he leaned a little closer, taking in the soft curve of her lips and the seductive allure of her light blue eyes. He wanted nothing more than to kiss her at that moment.

Her lips parted slightly, the passion plain in her eyes.

Does she want me to kiss her?

His pulse began to race with lust when she lifted her hand to her throat and gently ran the tips of her fingers over her skin. His breathing becoming heavier, he leaned a little closer.

"Greyson…" she whispered as her eyes fluttered shut.

"What do we have here?" An oily voice suddenly broke the spell.

Greyson came to his senses and pulled back. Violet seemed a little flustered, as if she had been in a trance, but quickly regained her composure.

"McCormack, what are you doing here, you wet blanket" Greyson stood up and laughed in an attempt to hide his disappointment at the sudden interruption. He'd been pulled into the moment to the point where nothing else in the world mattered more than kissing her.

"I spotted you from across the room and couldn't help but wonder who the gorgeous beauty who seemed to command your attention all evening was." The man turned his attention to Violet and shot her a lazy smile.

Feeling a strange urge to protect her from the man who had been more of an acquaintance to him rather than a friend, Greyson stepped closer to Violet as she stood up.

Jason McCormack, the Duke of Whitehall, was a tall man with sandy blonde hair and light brown eyes. Women usually swooned at his oily demeanor, which was often mistaken for charm, but Violet seemed to shy away from him, to Greyson's relief.

"Of course, allow me to introduce you. Violet, this is an acquaintance of mine from White's, Jason McCormack, the Duke of Whitehall." Greyson smiled reassuringly at her and gently placed his hand on her elbow.

"Come now, Montclair, you and I have known one another long enough to be friends." The Duke's eyes swept over Violet with a wolfish hunger that made Greyson want to knock him out.

"As I was saying, this is Violet Smith, the woman I am going to marry." Greyson's tone forced McCormack to look at him.

"The woman you are going to marry?" The Duke smirked. "Well, now, that is something. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Violet, even if you are with one of the most cunning men of the ton." He bowed politely.

Violet curtsied, subtly drawing a little closer to Greyson's side.

Greyson was pleasantly surprised that she was leaning into him like that. He'd thought she'd shy away, considering her no-touching rule. Then again, he also felt closer to her now that they'd spent a few hours talking.

Another man stuck his head out from the crowd and called to Greyson, beckoning him over with a serious look.

"That will be the business deal," Greyson spoke softly and turned to Violet. "Would you care to accompany me for a few moments? It won't take very long, and then we can slip away again." He searched her face to ensure she was comfortable with the situation.

Violet placed her hand on his arm. "I would—" she began, but the Duke quickly cut her off.

"I can stay here and entertain the lovely Lady Violet in your absence." He kept his eyes on her, licking the corner of his mouth predatorily.

Greyson felt his rage growing but didn't want to put Violet in a situation where there would be a scene. The man across the room was growing increasingly impatient as he gestured for him to join his group.

"Would you like to stay here until I return?" Greyson once again looked to Violet for an answer.

"I… I will be right here when you return," she stammered and looked over his shoulder at a group of women who were taking a keen interest in the conversation.

Realizing that it was better to avoid making a scene rather than put their plans in jeopardy, Greyson nodded, his hand lingering on her elbow. "I will be right back," he whispered to her and then left, but not before shooting the Duke a warning look.

The Duke smirked triumphantly and turned his back to Greyson even before he'd managed to walk off. It had long been a game between the men to see who would be able to flirt with the most women. Greyson hoped that the Duke had gotten the hint and sensed that Violet wasn't part of their game.

Reaching the group of men who were all deep in conversation about business, Greyson took a moment to glance back at Violet, who was laughing at something the Duke had said.

"Ah, here he is, just the man we needed. Can you settle a dispute for us?' The balding man who had beckoned him from across the room placed his arm around his shoulders and pulled him into their circle.

Greyson paid little attention to the conversation at hand, glancing over his shoulder at regular intervals. Violet seemed to be enjoying the Duke's company.

Or is that a forced smile?

His jaw clenched in frustration at having been drawn into a conversation about business when his betrothed was halfway across the room. Breathing a sigh of relief when the conversation finally came to an end, he cracked a joke that made the other men laugh and served as an opportunity for him to slip away.

A cold chill ran down his spine when he spotted Violet heading toward the open doors that led to the garden. The Duke had his hand on her elbow, guiding her in the direction of a tall maze of shrubbery.

Greyson pushed his way through the crowd, losing sight of them as they entered the gardens.

Not on my watch.

He gritted his teeth in anger and pushed a man who wouldn't budge aside.

The nearby guests gasped in shock, but Greyson ignored them and hurried toward the open doors. The cool evening air caressed his skin as soon as he stepped onto the terrace. An eerie silence filled the air as he looked around in an attempt to spot them, his pulse racing with anger and anxiousness.

"No, let me go!"

The sound of Violet's muffled voice calling for help made him set off at a sprint into the maze. His breaths came out in ragged bursts as he frantically searched for the right path, speeding by opening after opening.

Soft, terrified whimpers drew him to an alcove just as he reached a large topiary of a horse reared to charge. Rounding the corner, he spotted the Duke's back and Violet pinned against a stone pillar. She was frantically trying her best to get away from him, but he was having none of it, as he grabbed her wrists and tried to force her into submission.

Seeing red, Greyson rushed forward, gripping the man by his shoulders and yanking him back with so much force that the Duke stumbled backward.

"What the devil?!" the Duke yelled in shock, landing on his backside, in the dirt, as Greyson rushed to Violet's side.

Her eyes were wide with shock as a look of relief crossed her features.

"Are you hurt?" Greyson cupped her chin in his hand and lifted her face to his.

Viole shook her head, her arms trembling from the shock of the Duke's manhandling.

"Just what the hell do you think you are doing?" Greyson suddenly rounded on the Duke, his fists balled at his sides. Violet's palpable fear was the only reason he stopped himself from beating the man into a pulp.

"Steady on, I didn't know you were serious about her. I thought she was the same as the rest of the chits you lie to in an attempt to bed them," the Duke growled and came to his feet, dusting off his jacket and breeches.

Taking a step forward, Greyson glowered at him. "Leave now, before I ruin the rest of your life…" His voice was cold as his chest heaved in anger.

The Duke glanced over Greyson's shoulder in disgust before scoffing and turning to leave. "You can have her if you want her that much. Good luck to you both." His tone dripped with scorn as he sauntered out of the alcove.

Turning back to Violet, Greyson realized that she was about to cry. He immediately drew her into his arms.

"Shhh, I am here now," he whispered above her head as she began to sob.