Chapter 4

Chapter Four

V iolet was regrettably familiar with the easy arrogance of a handsome man. Objectively speaking, her betrothed, Basil, was quite the specimen. Tall. Broad shouldered. Narrow hipped. Perfectly styled, thick brown hair. Lips that were somehow both soft and firm. She had been infatuated with him from their first meeting. Flattered by his interest, it hadn’t occurred to her that an attractive outer shell could mask all manner of character flaws.

Fortunately, she was no longer na?ve.

Nor was she easily swayed by a handsome visage.

Experience had taught her to be wary, and yet she wasn’t blind. And apparently she wasn’t immune. She couldn’t deny that Edward was stunning. His dark golden curls. His startling green eyes. His smoothly muscled thighs. Combined, his features obliterated every notion of beauty she’d ever conceived.

Even more startling was that his beauty was inconsequential next to his seemingly earnest interest in helping them. It wasn’t his looks so much as his manner that had burrowed through her defenses and allowed him to escort her to tea. He exuded an aura of compassion and caring that she’d never witnessed in her life. Being the focus of his engaging, friendly smile was like basking in the warmth of the sun on a brisk day.

It made her weak. Foolish, even.

How else could she explain why she’d allowed him to herd her and Isabelle downstairs? She had let him ignore her desire to leave with hardly a complaint.

What was wrong with her?

She detested high handedness and men who did whatever they wished, and yet she wanted to give him her burdens and see if he could ease them. She wanted to keep conversing with him even though she knew she shouldn’t.

It was clear from his relentless questions and offers to help that he would not cease pestering her until she told him everything. Since she had no intention of telling him more than she already had, the only smart option was to exit the room and pack their bags, but she couldn’t convince her legs to stand.

It was almost inconceivable.

When had she taken leave of her senses?

It wasn’t as if she’d forgotten the lessons Basil had taught her. She was aware that charm could be fabricated. And that beauty could be used as a distraction. She knew it as well as she knew that her skin would burn an unholy shade of red if she didn’t wear a bonnet on a sunny day.

Still, she did not rise to her feet. And she found herself responding to his question about the village. “There is an assembly tomorrow evening. If you wish to make an advantageous impression, you should attend. Everyone from the village and the countryside will be there.”

“Socializing, dancing, punch, biscuits?” he asked, his eyes twinkling.

“I would assume so. Tis a celebration, I believe. Held each year. I can’t quite remember the reason, but the villagers are teeming with anticipation.”

“It’s a stroke of luck that I have the opportunity to meet them all at once, and I’d be delighted to escort you both.”

She shook her head. “Tis a kind offer. But as I said, we truly must be on our way sooner rather than later.”

Even after she said the words, she remained seated.

She couldn’t seem to force herself to leave.

It was ironic, because she’d had no trouble walking away from Basil.

Sometimes life made absolutely no sense.

Edward leaned forward. “I’d consider it a great favor if you’ll remain long enough to accompany me to the assembly tomorrow. It always eases the way if there is someone to perform introductions, and as you said, I’d hate to make a blunder during my first week here.”

“You hardly need our assistance to charm the villagers.” People were going to trip over each other in their attempts to make a good impression on him, and they were unlikely to notice if he was nervous or uncomfortable. Not that she thought he would be either. He hadn’t exhibited the slightest discomfort when she and Isabelle had invaded his bedchamber, so he could obviously handle himself at something as innocuous as an assembly.

He chuckled. “Charm them, sure.” He sobered slightly. “It’ll be odd if you leave immediately. It’ll be hard for me to explain why you left. People will speculate. They’ll say you hate me, or that I drove you away. I think you’d agree that’s not a great first impression.”

She wrinkled her nose. He was right.

How inconvenient.

The only reason she’d lingered so long in the cottage was because she and Isabelle hadn’t harmed anyone by staying. It was unacceptable to her sense of fairness that she might harm his reputation by leaving. She aimed for a pleasant expression as she said, “We’d be delighted to accompany you.”

Somehow he managed to brighten even further. She wasn’t sure she’d ever encountered anyone so determined to be cheerful. Even so, she couldn’t stop her lips from curling upward. If she wasn’t careful, she’d be grinning fully.

How was it that his joy seemed to leap across the room and seep into her?

“Now that we have our plans sorted, you can tell me why you’re hiding in this remote coastal village.” He propped his foot on his knee and raised a single brow.

“Ha.” Her smile disappeared. Of course he’d resume his questions as soon as she agreed to stay. “I’ve already given you what you wanted, you can’t have my reasons too.”

He laughed as if he were amused by her unwillingness to tell him. “Shall I guess?”

“I wouldn’t bother.”

“Why not?”

“Because it does not concern you.”

“But you’ll tell me if I get it right?”

She shouldn’t. “Absolutely not.”

He tapped his finger against his chin. “You’re running away from someone. Your husband?”

“I am unmarried.”

“Your father?”

“Our father is dead,” she responded stonily.

The smile slid off his face. “I’m sorry for your loss. Was it recent?”

“Almost a year now.”

He nodded. “I lost my father when I was hardly more than a boy. I didn’t know him well. He was not terribly invested in the lives of his children, but once he was gone everything changed. Sebastian left and I…well…my sisters were young, so I did the best I could to be there for them.”

His words were raw and honest, and Violet didn’t understand why he was being so truthful. It occurred to her that it might be a strategic decision designed to lower her defenses, and she absolutely hated that it was working. She wanted to tell him about her father, but instead she said, “You’re close to your sisters.”

“Of course. They are my family.”

“Family is important to you?”

“Yes. I would do anything to protect them.” He glanced at Isabelle.

Violet followed his gaze. “Family is important to me, too, but my sister is not the reason we’re here.”

“But you are running from someone?”

“Yes.” She froze as soon as the word was out. With her confirmation, it wouldn’t take much for him to figure out who she was running from.

“Let me protect you from…him?”

She blinked at his sincere offer, and suddenly the thing she’d been certain she’d never reveal couldn’t be contained. She started speaking, even though five minutes ago she would never have imagined telling him any part of the truth. “Before my father died, I became betrothed to his protégé. My future was settled. I would marry Basil, and we would live happily ever after. We didn’t expect father would die so suddenly. One day he was well. The next he was gone.” She took a breath, refusing to allow her eyes to cloud at the memory.

“Basil and his mother moved in with us almost immediately. It made sense at the time, and I was grateful for their support. They had only been with us for a handful of days when I discovered—” She stopped, unwilling to confess the full truth of what she’d learned. “When I decided that I no longer wanted to marry Basil, it was too late. And now, no matter what I say, he refuses to break our betrothal and will not believe me when I tell him I will never marry him. He insists I simply need more time, and nothing I do convinces him otherwise.

“I lack the knowledge and the resources to do more than repeatedly refuse to marry him. When it became apparent I could not convince him, Isabelle and I ran away. We ended up here, and Mrs. Eggington thought we were Lord Greydon’s sisters. I was feeling a bit desperate, so I corrected her. Partly, at least. With a few well-placed lies and omissions, I convinced her we were your cousins. We have remained at the cottage ever since.” She drew a shaky breath. “I’m sorry for the deception, but I will not be forced to marry a man I detest.”

Violet was exceedingly grateful that she’d had the wherewithal to characterize Basil as a man she detested rather than a man she used to love. It was difficult, even now, to admit how completely smitten she had been with him. She had given him her heart without realizing he didn’t deserve it, and she would never forgive herself for being so foolish.

* * *

“He is searching for you?” Edward asked, his instincts shouting at him to protect her from whatever evil Basil wished to inflict upon her. Only a complete scoundrel would force a woman to marry against her will, and Edward would do whatever necessary to save her from such a fate.

“Presumably. We’ve had no indication otherwise, but we also haven’t seen any sign of him, so maybe not,” Violet answered.

“We have had no communication with him at all,” Isabelle added. “He could have someone spying upon us constantly, or he could have no earthly idea where we are.”

“If he knew we were here, he would have come to fetch us.”

Annoyance clouded her voice rather than fear, and after a moment’s contemplation, Edward knew what he could do. Enthusiasm thrummed through his extremities. “I’ll marry you.”

He could not have conceived a better distraction from his life or a better reason to marry. It was almost embarrassing how excited he was at the prospect of a wife who needed him. After Basil was thwarted, he would be able to support her the way he had his sisters. She would rely on him to keep her safe and happy for the rest of her life.

It was beyond brilliant.

The perfect solution to her problem. And his .

She bolted out of her chair, her hands flying to her hips. “Are you daft?”

“Of course not,” he responded as reasonably as he could in the face of her outrage.

If he had taken the time to think about it, he wouldn’t necessarily have assumed she would be pleased by the offer, but he wouldn’t have expected an outburst either. She had been so tightly controlled since they met that he had not realized she was capable of such indignation.

He smiled in an attempt to reassure her and tried to explain, “If you were already married to me, you wouldn’t have to marry him.”

“I understand your logic,” she huffed. “But you are daft.” She blinked rapidly a couple of times, as if she were trying to hold back tears. He was not unfamiliar with tears, but he could not imagine why his offer would make her weepy.

“I’m not daft. It is a perfectly reasonable solution. I can’t believe you haven’t considered marrying someone else already. If you’re married, Basil cannot marry you regardless of whatever arrangement has been previously agreed to. He will not have any control over what happens to you or your future. We can evict him and his mother from your house immediately, and your life can return to normal.”

“Except I’ll be married.” She swiped at her eyes and made a sound that could have been a laugh. “I am not trading one husband for another.”

“Ah.” He hadn’t considered that she would be hesitant to marry in general. He should have. His sister Belinda was most vocal about never wishing to marry, and it was unlikely she was the only woman who felt that way. Violet’s circumstances were a bit different than Belinda’s, though. Belinda could rely on him and Sebastian to protect her, but it seemed as if Violet had only herself and her sister for protection. “Do you have a brother?”

“No. Tis only Isabelle and I.”

“Ah.” He nodded slowly. If something were to happen to him and Sebastian, his uncle would assume responsibility for his sisters until they were married. “Do you have a guardian?”

She sniffed. “I do not require a guardian.”

“Who manages your inheritance?”

“Basil. But he isn’t my guardian. He’s just…in charge.”

Married women were under the protection of their husband, daughters their father, sisters their brother. But unmarried women—how did they manage their affairs?

Belinda would probably have some ideas on how a woman could exist without a man. She’d be horrified that he had to ask, but she would delight in offering an explanation. Too bad she was still in London. “Your father’s house and assets. They belong to you?”

“Technically, yes. They are mine.”

“But Basil believes they are his?”

“No. Maybe. Probably not. I don’t know. He intends for us to marry, and in his eyes we are as good as married already, so it doesn’t particularly matter.”

“Even though you’ve told him that you’ve changed your mind?”

She huffed again. “Yes. As I explained, I’ve informed him multiple times, but he doesn’t care.”

“Perhaps I could speak to him on your behalf?”

“Ha.” Her bark of laughter was both harsh and mocking. “Because he will surely release me from our betrothal if you tell him I don’t wish to marry him.”

“I only want to help.”

“I don’t require your help. I don’t want help. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you in the first place.” She rubbed her forehead with her fingers and quietly murmured, “Why did I tell you? What did I hope to gain?”

She looked frustrated, but he didn’t think it was with him. Perhaps the key to her frustration was the reason she didn’t want to marry Basil. Unfortunately, he couldn’t force her to elaborate. Nor could he force her to accept his help.

“I apologize for overstepping,” he said, aware that he could be too persistent on occasion. He liked fixing problems, and he liked being useful. It wasn’t a character flaw, but when it wasn’t welcome, it wasn’t a strength either.

Before Violet could accept or deny his apology, Isabelle turned and spoke directly to her sister. “You ought to consider his offer.”

He wasn’t sure who was more surprised—him or Violet.

“You cannot be serious,” Violet hissed.

“Are we going to hide forever? What happens when Basil finds us?”

“Isabelle, I…I will figure out a solution. I promise.”

“It isn’t that I doubt you, it’s just…” Isabelle shrugged helplessly.

He hadn’t expected the younger woman’s support, but since it seemed that he had it, he said, “I would be an estimable husband and would treat you with the utmost respect.”

“You’re a benevolent gentleman then? Nothing but goodness and kindness in your heart?” Violet snorted in a most derisive fashion. “You expect me to simply take your word for it?”

It wasn’t as if he had any reason to lie. And he wasn’t being benevolent. Nor was he being kind. He was offering marriage for himself as much as for her, but he had no idea how to explain why he felt such certainty that it was the ideal move for him. It wasn’t as if he’d ever considered it before, and even though he didn’t know if it would help, he attempted to explain, “My brother recently married. He is much happier than he was, and I find myself intrigued by the prospect of having a wife.”

She snorted again. “How lovely for you. And for your brother.”

He tried to ignore the obvious sarcasm. “He hardly knew Emmeline when they married. She was eligible and looking for a husband, and since he needed a wife, they decided to marry each other. It took a bit of maneuvering, but they eventually found their way. They are—dare I say—happy now.”

She sank into the chair she had been sitting in prior to her outburst. “I would be happy if I could return to my home, ask my betrothed and his mother to leave, and have them listen.”

“He cannot force you?—”

“Are you certain I cannot be coerced into marriage?”

His mouth snapped shut. He had no familiarity with either Basil or the law, so he had to assume coercion was possible. “I am not,” he said slowly. “However, I am certain you cannot be coerced into an unwanted marriage if you’re already married. Your erstwhile fiancé would have to kill me first, and I can assure you that killing an earl’s brother is not easily done nor advisable.”

She did not laugh at his attempt to joke. Instead, her shoulders slumped an infinitesimal amount, as if she had been hopeful he would say he was quite certain and that her worries were unwarranted. “I appreciate the offer…”

He bit back a smile. Her unwillingness to accept help should not have been charming, especially when she was rejecting him. “You do not. However, I understand your hesitance.”

“I’ll marry you,” Isabelle suddenly declared.

He whipped his head toward her so abruptly his neck cracked. “You?—”

“Will not marry him,” Violet interrupted with utter decisiveness. “You are not yet seventeen. That is far too young to marry.”

“I shall be seventeen next month. Seventeen is not very far from twenty.” Isabelle scooted to the edge of the settee, her voice gentle and calm. “Edward has been nothing but patient and kind since he discovered us living here. I’m willing to marry him to protect us. You would never have to marry. Not ever.”

As she spoke, Violet shook her head, her eyes burning with resolve. “Absolutely not. Even if it would solve our problem, and I don’t think it will, I forbid it.”

“Violet,” Isabelle said with a sigh. “We cannot continue?—”

“Isabelle.” Violet cut her off.

The two sisters stared at each other like they were having an unspoken conversation. After a long moment, Isabelle nodded slowly and scooted back on the settee. “Fine.”

“So?” he asked, when neither of them offered an explanation.

“No one is getting married. We shall leave the morning after the assembly,” Violet stated plainly, as if that were the only option that made sense.

“No,” he almost shouted.

Both sisters froze.

“I mean…surely we can come up with a solution that does not require anyone to marry or you to leave. I will think on it.” While they were arguing, he had realized that his offer to marry Violet had not been quite as benevolent as he’d thought, because he had no interest in marrying Isabelle. He wasn’t entirely sure what to make of that. Or of the fact that marriage between him and Violet still seemed like the perfect solution to him.

Based on the way she raised her brow again, she didn’t believe he’d think of another solution. It was quite a feat for her to keep her mouth closed and still say so much.

He tried to explain. “It is true that I believe that marriage to me is the easiest and most prudent solution. However, if you find marriage abhorrent, I’m confident we can come up with another way for you to return to your life without pledging your troth.” He paused and then added, “My brother is a lord of the realm and as such is reasonably powerful.”

He regretted the last sentence as soon as he said it. Not because it wasn’t true, but because he didn’t want Sebastian swooping in and saving the day. He would ask his brother for help if necessary, but surely if he tried, he could come up with a solution she deemed adequate.

“I’m sure Lord Greydon would be delighted to provide his support. Especially once he discovers we’ve been residing in this cottage for months while pretending to be a relation.”

“My brother is quite reasonable. He will understand once I explain the situation. Though if you don’t wish for his assistance, we won’t request it.”

She rubbed her fingers against her gown. “You’re being entirely too agreeable. You’re unfazed by our presence and by my refusal to marry you, but you’re still offering your help. Why?”

He almost choked at the confusion on her face. Had she really received so little support that she couldn’t conceive he did not have ulterior motives? “I suppose I’m at a bit of a crossroads. I could use a…purpose.” It sounded ridiculous even to his own ears.

He was a second son. His purpose was predetermined, at least until Emmeline had a son and Sebastian had an heir. Even then, when he was no longer directly in line to inherit, his brother had made it clear that he could simply live off of the earldom. He could exist without offering anything in return. Unfortunately, he didn’t want that life.

“A purpose?” Her brow wrinkled. “Like a cause?”

“Not exactly. Like a family of my own.”

Mrs. Eggington swept into the room, an overflowing tray balanced in her hands. As she placed it on the table, Edward couldn’t help wondering why he hadn’t considered seeking a wife before.

It truly was the perfect solution.

Maybe, just maybe, fate had compelled him to wait for Violet.