“Well, you ought to get used to it. Especially tonight,” he nodded. “This will be our first official event that we are attending as a couple, and it would be wise to keep up appearance. If only to make the ton shut up about their ridiculous theories about our marriage.”
The smile on her face disappeared for a moment, but she was quick to compose herself. “Oh, right. Appearances. That is all there is to it.”
“I have no doubt in our abilities to do so,” he continued. “Thatgown has done half the work for us already.”
Violet cleared her throat, rubbing the side of her arms. She took a few moments to speak again, and Nicholas found himself wondering just what exactlywas going through that mind of hers.
“I see. Are you suggesting that we act like a happy couple?” she finally said. “Young and in love with another?”
He smirked. Now, it was getting interesting for him. “Yes. That is exactly what I am suggesting. It has not been lost on me what the ton has been saying about our marriage. It’s either that you have trapped me in a marriage or that I have coerced you due to my title.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “And what is the truth?”
“Somewhere in the middle,” he admitted. “Both of us were… thrust into this. But now that we are here, I say that we give them a good show.”
Violet studied him, her expression unreadable. For a moment, Nicholas wondered if he had overstepped, if his bluntness had hit a nerve.
“A good show,” she repeated, her tone thoughtful. “And how, exactly, do you propose we do that?”
“By being convincing, of course. A few shared smiles, some well-placed laughter, maybe even a dance or two.”
Her brows rose, and her lips quirked into something resembling amusement. “You truly are committed to this act.”
“It might make the evening more bearable,” he said lightly.
But as the words left his lips, the idea of holding her close, of feeling her warmth as they moved across the dance floor, made his smirk falter for the briefest moment.
Violet didn’t seem to notice. She was too busy contemplating his words, her gaze flickering downward.
“I suppose you’re right,” she said finally. “If we’re going to act like a happy couple, we should at least try to be convincing.”
“You make it sound as though it’s an impossible task.”
Her eyes snapped up to meet his, and for a moment, the air between them shifted.
“Isn’t it?” she asked, her voice quiet. “You and I… we barely know each other.”
“And yet,” Nicholas replied, leaning forward slightly, “here we are.”
Her breath hitched almost imperceptibly, and he caught the faintest flicker of vulnerability in her expression before she quickly masked it.
She cleared her throat, sitting up straighter. “Yes, well, circumstances have a way of forcing people together.”
“They do. But we do not have to make it seem so forced tonight.”
Violet frowned slightly, her hands smoothing over the fabric of her gown again. “You make it sound so simple.”
“It is,” he said. “At least, it can be if we let it. Why complicate things?”
She didn’t respond right away. He could see the wheels turning behind her eyes, the internal debate she seemed to be waging with herself. What would he give to find out whatactuallywasgoing through her mind? For a moment, he wanted to ask her what she was thinking, but he stopped himself.
Instead, he reached out, his hand brushing against hers lightly before he realized what he was doing. Violet looked down at the contact, her lips parting slightly in surprise, and Nicholas quickly withdrew, clearing his throat.
“Well,” he said, his tone returning to its usual lightness. “Shall we, Duchess? I believe we have a performance to deliver.”
The carriage stopped. They had arrived at their destination.
Violet blinked, her composure returning as she stood. “Of course, Your Grace,” she said though her voice was softer than before.
