Nicholas nodded, his gaze fixed ahead. “A logical choice. And the decorations?”
“I’ve already begun drafting ideas,” she said, her confidence returning slowly as they eased into the conversation. This was a safe topic. “Something elegant but not ostentatious. I want it to reflect our position without appearing… excessive.”
“Very meticulous,” Nicholas remarked, a teasing edge to his tone. “You do enjoy keeping yourself busy, don’t you?”
Violet glanced at him but quickly looked away, her brows furrowing slightly.
Yes. Busy enough so that I do not think about you.But she would not dare say that out loud.
“It is more than just about keeping busy. It’s important, you know.”
“Of course, it is,” he said smoothly though his smirk betrayed his amusement. “But hearing you speak about it now, I can see how everything will be planned down to the last petal on the centerpieces.”
“And what’s wrong with that?” she countered, her tone defensive.
“Nothing,” he replied, his smirk softening. “But perfectionism can be…exhausting.”
“For whom?”
“For everyone but you, I imagine,” Nicholas quipped.
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. “I simply want things to be done right.”
“And they will be,” he assured her. “It is clear that you won’t settle for anything less.”
Violet felt her cheeks warm at the subtle praise though she quickly turned her attention back to the path. “I suppose you have opinions on the guest list as well?”
“Only that it should be manageable,” Nicholas said. “Inviting half of London won’t win you any favors. It’s better to focus on the right people.”
“Such as?”
“The influential ones,” he said, glancing at her. “The ones who can bolster your reputation rather than tear it down. You’ll find that the ton is full of opportunists.”
She nodded thoughtfully, filing away his advice. “And what about you?”
“Me?”
“Will you be there?” she asked, her voice quieter now.
Nicholas stopped walking, turning to face her fully. The faint moonlight cast a glow over his features, making his expression unreadable. “It’s your ball. Do you want me there?”
Violet hesitated, unsure how to answer. It was not as though she did not want his presence—rather, the opposite was true. But she was unsure if he would find it worth his time.
“Yes. It wouldn’t feel right without you.”
His gaze softened, and for a brief moment, the teasing edge in his demeanor disappeared. “Then I’ll be there,” he said simply.
“Are you certain? I understand that your schedule can be quite demanding and…”
He cut her off, “I can make time for you, Violet. You need not hesitate so much. If anything, it will be rather interesting to see how you handle hosting a ball, given your dislike for them.”
“Oh, right, yes.” She found herself flushing yet again. “I suppose I do not enjoy attending them much, but hosting might be different.”
He studied her expression for a moment. “Oh, I don’t know. My opinion on them seems to be shifting slightly. The last ball we attended was not so bad.”
“That was because you were there with me.” The words slipped out of her mouth before she had a chance to stop herself. She did not know where this newfound confidence had sprouted from.
Nicholas raised an eyebrow.
