Violet curtsied gracefully, her voice steady despite the knot in her stomach. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The leader of the group gave a faint smile. “Ah, the new duchess,” she said, her tone measured. “We’ve heard so much about you.”
“Indeed,” another chimed in, her eyes flitting over Violet’s gown with an air of appraisal. “And may I say, Your Grace, you’ve chosen a… bold color. It’s quite striking.”
“Striking, yes. It suits her, don’t you think? A duchess should stand out, not fade into the background.”
The ladies exchanged glances, their smiles fixed but their eyes betraying the subtle sting of his words. “Of course,” the first lady said smoothly. “How fortunate for you to have such a discerning eye, Your Grace.”
“Fortunate indeed. Though I’d argue it’s I who am fortunate. Violet has brought vitality to Bernight House that was sorely lacking before her arrival.”
Violet’s cheeks warmed at the compliment, and she cast a quick glance at Nicholas, unsure whether his words were entirely for show.
“How lovely,” another said, her smile brittle. “And how are you finding your new role, Your Grace? It must be quite the adjustment.”
Violet hesitated, unsure how to respond, but Nicholas didn’t give her the chance. “She’s thriving,” he said firmly, his gaze sweeping over the group. “Her efforts at the estate have already made a marked difference, and I have no doubt the ton will soon come to appreciate her as much as I do.”
The ladies exchanged polite murmurs.
“How… inspiring,” one of them said though her tone suggested otherwise.
Nicholas’ smirk returned, and he inclined his head slightly. “If you’ll excuse us, ladies. There are many more people eager to meet my wife.”
As they stepped away, Violet let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Her grip on his arm relaxed, and she glanced up at him, her expression thoughtful. “I do not think they liked me very much,” she admitted.
“Like you?” he repeated, shaking his head slightly. “That, I cannot say. But jealous of you? Certainly.”
Violet blinked, startled. “Jealous?”
“Of course,” he said, his smirk softening into a small smile. “They’re not fools, Violet. You are the center of attention tonight, and that is enough to make anyone jealous.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away, unsure how to respond. For all his teasing and insufferable arrogance, Nicholas had a way of making her feel… seen. And that, she realized, was worth far more than the approval of a few judgmental matrons.
CHAPTER 16
“You missed the ball last night.”
Nicholas adjusted the reins of his horse, urging it into a steady trot as the expansive fields stretched out before him. He had come out early this morning to meet his dearest friend Ambrose, who rode alongside him at an easy pace.
Ambrose shrugged lazily, brushing a speck of imaginary dust off the sleeve of his riding coat. “I cannot imagine I missed anything interesting.”
Nicholas hesitated, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. Memories of the night before flooded back to him. Violet in that gown, the sound of her laughter, how they had danced together. It was seared into his thoughts. For the briefest moment, he considered telling Ambrose about it.
But he dismissed the thought just as quickly.
“Nothing of note,” he said finally, his voice even but his grip on the reins tightening slightly.
“Now that’s a curious answer,” Ambrose replied, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I know you too well, Nicholas. Something definitely happened.”
Nicholas let out a short laugh. “You’re imagining things. It was the same as any other ball.”
“Right,” Ambrose drawled, unconvinced. He adjusted his hat against the sun, his grin growing. “And nothing of interest at all? Not even your first public appearance with your duchess? Considering the circumstances within which you married, it is hard to believe that there was not interesting chatter at the sight of you both at the very least.”
Nicholas sighed, rolling his eyes. “If you must know, the ton behaved exactly as one would expect. But I hardly gave them a second thought.”
Ambrose’s brow lifted, a sly grin spreading across his face. “Ah, of course. That’s because all your attention was elsewhere—on the Duchess. Am I correct?”
Nicholas’s jaw tightened at the question, but he maintained his composure. “Violet was… pleasant,” he said carefully.
