“The man.” His jaw tightened as he spoke. “The one you mentioned earlier, the one that you were…keen on.”
“Oh.” Her cheeks flushed. He was still focused on that? She thought they had long moved on from that conversation. “Well,I do not know, but it would be a touch awkward if he was, so I hope for my sake that he is not.”
“I hope he is here.”
She blinked, caught off guard. “You… hope he is?”
“Yes,” he said simply, his jaw tightening for a moment before his smirk returned. “It would be… entertaining.”
“Why?” she asked, genuinely puzzled. “Why would you want that?”
Nicholas shrugged, his expression maddeningly nonchalant. “It would be fun.”
“Fun?” she repeated, incredulous. “We seem to have very different ideas of what constitutes fun, Nicholas.”
That earned her a genuine laugh. “Perhaps,” he conceded, his smirk softening into a smile. “But consider this—many men in this room are already envious of the fact that you’re by my side tonight. Why not add one more to the list?”
Violet stared at him, caught between exasperation and disbelief. “You’re insufferable. And agreatactor, I might add.”
Very, very convincing.
“Insufferable or not, you are by my side,” he smirked, enjoying the moment far too much. “I suppose it worked out for me, didn’t it?”
“I suppose I have no choice in the matter.”
“Ah, yes, the recurring theme of your life. No choice at all. And yet, here you are by my side, holding your own better than anyone else in this room. When will you admit that you have a role to play in this whole charade as well?”
Violet didn’t know how to respond. She glanced at him, her green eyes searching his face, but before she could speak, he extended his hand again.
“Shall we?”
“Shall we… what?” Shehatedjust how much of an effect he was having her.
“Shall we continue to charm the room? Or would you prefer a moment to compose yourself?”
Violet raised her chin, determined not to let him see how much he unsettled her. “I am perfectly composed, thank you.” She glared at him instead.
“Oh, don’t take offense. It’s rather endearing, actually. The way your voice gets just a touch sharper, your complexion turns warm—little tells that you’re flustered.”
“I am not flustered,” she said firmly. She hated how he could see right through her.
“Of course not. How very silly of me to suggest such a thing.” He grinned. “You are the verypicture of calm.”
“Evenif I am,” she replied, “you are the one to blame for it. It is amazing, really, just how skillful you seem to be at that.”
“Only when I’m inspired. And you, my dear, seem to be a constant source of inspiration. Now please, let’s go. I wish to introduce you to some more people.”
He led her over to a group of ladies—all married and much older than herself.
Violet tightened her grip on Nicholas’ arm ever so slightly, a subtle gesture that betrayed her nerves.
He glanced down at her, his expression unreadable but his voice calm. “Relax, Violet. They won’t bite.”
“Oh, I am not so sure about that,” she murmured under her breath, earning a faint smirk from him.
As they approached, the ladies turned their attention toward them, their expressions polite but laden with a faintly condescending curiosity. Nicholas inclined his head in greeting, his movements effortlessly elegant.
“Ladies,” he said smoothly, “allow me to introduce my wife, the Duchess of Bernight.”
