“Good.”
“Good?” she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief. “Why in heaven’s name would you want that?”
He stepped closer then, his voice dropping slightly as he said, “Because you’re my wife, Violet. I want to show you off.”
Her breath hitched at his words, and for a moment, she couldn’t find a response.
Nicholas held her gaze, his expression steady, and she realized there would be no changing his mind.
Madame Celine returned then, her arms laden with the finest silks.
“If the Duchess would step this way,” she said, gesturing toward the fitting area.
Violet hesitated, glancing back at Nicholas one last time. His smirk had softened into a smile, and he inclined his head slightly, encouraging her to go.
“No need to be shy, Your Grace.”
Reluctantly, she followed Madame Celine, her heart pounding.
She wasn’t sure what unnerved her more—the thought of being the center of attention in a grand new gown or the way Nicholas’ words lingered in her mind.
He wants to show me off.Her cheeks still burned. And for reasons she couldn’t quite name, that realization left her feeling both flustered and oddly pleased.
Violet was ushered over to the fitting room. Madame Celine and her assistants fussed over the gown she was trying on. It was one after the otheruntil finally, they decided on one.
The gown was a teal blue creation, cinched at the waist and flowing beautifully from there. Tiny crystals adorned the edges, and it fit her slender frame perfectly.
It was stunning, almost otherworldly, and Violet felt a pang of emotion as she caught her reflection in the gilded mirror.
Is that… really me?
“Exquisite,” Madame Celine declared, stepping back to examine her work. “You wear it beautifully, Your Grace. This is a gown worthy of someone in your position.”
“It’s… quite something,” Violet admitted, smoothing her hands nervously over the fabric. “But I worry it might be too much.”
“Too much?” Madame Celine’s sharp eyes narrowed as if Violet had just insulted her. “There is no such thing as too much. It is exactly what it needs to be. A lady of your standing must never fade into the background, Your Grace.”
Violet pressed her lips together, unsure how to respond.
Madame Celine approached, adjusting the gown’s sleeve carefully. “A lady’s dress, Your Grace, is not merely fabric and thread. It is a statement. It tells the world who she is and what herworthis.”
Violet nodded though only feebly. She was still overwhelmed by the gown’s grandeur.
Madame Celine stepped back again. “But a gown, Your Grace, also does something far more important than impressing society. It keeps a husband interested.”
That caught Violet’s attention immediately.
“I beg your pardon?”
Madame Celine’s expression remained serene, like she had uttered the most normal thing in the world.
“Your Grace, a woman’s attire is one of the tools she wields to maintain her husband’s admiration. A beautiful gown, well-fitted and elegant, ensures his attention does not wander elsewhere.”
“I—” Violet stammered, utterly taken aback. Thelastthing she had expected to receive was advice on how to keep her husband interested.
“This is of course, not to say that you are in need of it. The Duke looks quite besotted with you as is. Otherwise, he wouldnot have brought you to my establishment,” Madame Celine said smoothly. “However, I know these things through years of experience, Your Grace. You are young, and this is all new to you. But believe me when I say, a woman who commands attention through her appearance will never be overlooked. It is far better to be noticed than to blend into the crowd.”
Violet turned back to the mirror, her mind whirring. Her thoughts drifted to Nicholas, to the way he had looked at her when they entered the shop.
