Then Violet cleared her throat, her tone softening. “I received a letter from my mother today,” she said, glancing up at him. “She’s asking me to visit. I thought… perhaps we could go together?”
Nicholas considered her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he inclined his head slightly. “It’s only fitting that I spend some more time with your family. When were you thinking of leaving?”
“Soon,” Violet said, relieved he hadn’t dismissed the idea outright. “But only if it doesn’t interfere with your schedule.”
“I shall carve out the time for it,” he nodded. It was said in a matter-of-fact manner, but it still made her heart flutter slightly.
Get a hold of yourself, Violet.
“Thank you.”
Nicholas straightened, stepping away from the desk. “Well, I shall leave you to your… reading, then. Goodnight, Violet,” he said before turning toward the door.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Violet sat back, wondering how such a simple interaction with him had left her cheeks warm.
CHAPTER 11
“Good morning.”
Violet looked up, surprised to see the Duke at the breakfast table the next morning. Nicholas looked calm, though, as he took a seat across from her.
“Oh.Good morning,” Violet replied, setting her teacup down carefully. “I wasn’t expecting to see you this morning.”
“You seem surprised. Am I such a rare presence in my own home?”
She hesitated before responding, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Not rare, precisely, but considering how I had to goad you to come to dinner the other night, yes, I would say that this is not entirely an oft occurring event either.”
He poured his coffee, his smirk faint but unmistakable. “Perhaps I’ve decided to change my habits.”
“How uncharacteristically spontaneous of you.”
“Uncharacteristic?” He let out a small laugh. “Oh Violet, it seems like you really do not know me at all, do you.”
Violet tilted her head slightly. “A man of intrigue.”
He took a slow sip of his coffee, his dark gaze steady on hers. “Wouldn’t that make things more interesting for you?”
Violet let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “I think I prefer to reserve judgment for now. After all, this is only the second time you’ve deigned to join me for a meal.”
Nicholas leaned back slightly in his chair, the hint of a challenge in his expression.
“And yet, you’ve already formed such strong opinions about me. What else have you decided about my character?”
She opened her mouth then closed it again, realizing too late that she had walked straight into his trap.
“I haven’t decided anything,” she said quickly though the warmth creeping into her cheeks betrayed her.
“Oh, I don’t believe that for a second,” Nicholas replied. “You’ve likely analyzed every word I’ve said, every gesture I’ve made. Am I right?”
Shehad.But she was not about to admit that out loud to him. Certainly not over the breakfast table.
“Not every word,” she shot back, her chin lifting slightly. “But you do have a habit of… making an impression.”
He leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on the table. “And what kind of impression have I made, Violet?”
Violet narrowed her eyes, refusing to let him see how flustered she felt. “For one one thing, it makes one wonder quite a bit what precisely you’re thinking when you smirk like that.”
Nicholas chuckled softly, like he had heard the statement many times before.
