“I was just…” Violet struggled, “well, it’s not as if anyone has been here trying to show me the ropes of how to be a duchess…”
Nicholas raised his eyebrow, taking a step back. “Is that what the problem here is? You need…tutoring?”
Violet felt her face flush again. It was a bit of a sore spot for her, after all. Being thrown into this world and having no direction for it. “That isbesidethe point I came here to discuss with you.”
Nicholas’ gaze slipped to her clenched fists, an amused smirk forming on his face in response. “What seems to be the problem here,Duchess?”
“Whyis it that you avoid me?” Violet asked. “I have been in this estate for two weeks, and the only time that we spoken to each other was on the day of the wedding.”
Nicholas shrugged as though this was a completely normal thing. “I don’t see the problem here.”
“Really?” she pressed. “Do you really seenothingstrange about two people in a marriage union having so little interaction with one another that it almost borders on non-existent.”
“Duchess, I really must ask you, do you suffer from short-term memory loss?”
Violet glared at him, not impressed with his random insult.
“Because let me remind you,youset some rules when you came here. I am merely following them.”
Oh. How convenient it is for him to put this all on me.“I did set some rules, yes. But I never said that I wished to be left alone for mealtimes as well. You have not been seen at the dinner table even once.”
“Oh, have I not?” he responded, teasing. “Pray, forgive me, then,Duchess.”
“Would youstopcalling me that?” she snapped.
“Hmm. You make a fair point. Perhaps you need to start acting like one to deserve the title,” he remarked.
Violet’s jaw dropped at his audacious comment. “Deserve?”
Nicholas leaned against the wall, arms folded across his chest. “I simply meant,” he said, his lips twitching with the threat of a smirk, “that perhaps if you carried yourself with the authority of a duchess, you wouldn’t feel the need to defend yourself so fiercely.”
“I carry myself perfectly well, thank you very much. The problem lies withyouand your absence at the dinner table. Your constant avoidance of me,” she fought back.
She was not going to give him the satisfaction of winning this argument.
“Avoid you?” Nicholas repeated, raising an eyebrow, and then broke into a laugh. “You make it sound as if I’m skulking aboutthe estate like a villain in the shadows. You reallydobelieve the vampire allegations, it seems.”
“Well, wouldn’t you?” she shot back. “Surely, it can’t benormalto never show up at the dinner table.”
“It is merely a force of habit,” Nicholas explained, “I wasn’t aware that sitting through hours of strained silence at dinner constituted normal interaction.”
“It wouldn’t be strained if you actually tried!” she countered, her voice rising slightly. “You’ve made absolutely no effort to?—”
“To what? Engage you in bland, awkward small talk?” he interrupted, mockingly. “I assure you, I am atadmore interesting than that.”
Violet narrowed her eyes, her doubt evident in the way her lips pressed into a thin line. She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head slightly.
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “You doubt me.”
“Can you blame me?” she shot back. “All I’ve seen of you is your talent for avoidance and sarcasm. Forgive me if I fail to find that riveting.”
Nicholas’ expression shifted slightly. “I see. So, what is it that you want here from me?”
“I just want…” Violet sighed. “Your Grace, if it’s not so much to ask from you… would you please begin to show up for dinner times? I feel as though I might lose my mind if I have another serving of roast in complete silence.”
That got a chuckle out of him. “I am really not one to make negotiations like this.”
“Then let me rephrase myself.” She cleared her throat. “Youareto join me for dinner at the table from now on.”
