“And the guest list,” he reminded her teasingly, trying to lighten the mood.It was better off that way.
“Yes, that.” She folded her arms in front of her. “In any case, I suspect it is a good thing that I have decided to not invite Lady Pennywise any longer. I cannot imagine any good coming out of that.”
It caught him off guard to see her talking like that. There was a hint of possessiveness in her voice that stirred something inside of him as well.
Suddenly, he found himself unsure of how to respond.
He settled for a teasing smile though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Lady Pennywise will undoubtedly be devastated to find herself excluded from your guest list.”
“She will survive, I’m sure,” Violet replied, her tone clipped. But as she spoke, her gaze flicked to him, wary and searching, as though trying to gauge his reaction.
Nicholas didn’t press her further though he felt the tension in the room grow thicker with each passing moment. He wasn’t sure what unsettled him more—her sudden boldness or the emotion that it stirred in him.
The silence stretched between them, awkward and charged. Violet shifted in her seat, clearly searching for an escape. “Well,”she said finally, her voice brisk, “I believe I’ve taken up enough of your time tonight.”
It occurred to him then that perhaps he was not the only one running away from his feelings.
“It’s late, and I require rest. As should you,” she continued, getting up now.
He rose as well, more out of instinct than anything, and took a step closer. “Sleep well, then, Violet,” he said, his tone softer now though the teasing lilt remained. “Perhaps you’ll dream of more guests to uninvite.”
Violet narrowed her eyes at him. “Goodnight, Nicholas,” she said, turning on her heel.
As she made her way to the door, Nicholas watched her go, the faint sway of her skirts lingering in his mind long after she disappeared from view. He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples, and his gaze dropped to the papers on his desk.
Boundaries,he reminded himself. He had drawn them for a reason, but it was clear that it was not possible to avoid her entirely.
Theyweremarried after all.
He was just going to have to learn to live with the fact that she had more of an effect on him than he had ever anticipated.
CHAPTER 19
The big night had finally arrived. The grand hall of the Bernight estate was buzzing with the conversations of elegantly dressed guests, and the sound of glasses tinkling filled the air, punctuated by bursts of laughter.
Violet stood at the edge of the room, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as she observed it all.
Things were off to a good start.
Everything was in place—the flowers, the orchestra, the menu. She had spent days agonizing over every detail. Yet, as she surveyed the room, a knot of unease tightened in her stomach.
What if something went wrong? What if the ton dismissed her efforts as mediocre or, worse, deplorable?
“Violet,” a low voice cut through her thoughts. She turned sharply to find Nicholas standing beside her. He was dressed ina polished suit, and her gaze lingered for a moment before she snapped it back to meet his own.
“You are here,” she said, relief washing over her at the sight of him.
His brow lifted in mild amusement. “Where else would I be? I told you that I would make myself available.”
Violet flushed, lowering her gaze. “I just… I wasn’t sure if you’d come. I suppose it was just another one of my concerns about tonight.”
Nicholas frowned slightly, stepping closer. “Well, I am here now in front of you, so you can cross that off your list of concerns.”
“At least there’s that,” she added, nervousness lacing her voice. She could not help herself.
“There is no need to be so nervous. Look around you, Violet.” He gestured to the room. It was a full house, and almost all the guests had arrived. “You’ve outdone yourself. The room looks stunning, and the guests seem thoroughly impressed. You should be proud.”
She looked up at him, her nerves easing slightly at his words. “Do you mean that?”
