As they disappeared into the crowd, Violet let out a shaky breath, her fingers brushing against Nicholas’s arm in a silent gesture of gratitude.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said quietly.
“Yes, I did,” he replied simply, his tone firm. “They were trying to get the upper hand, and you were far too polite to notice.”
“Oh, I did notice,” she replied, smiling now.
“Fine. Then you were too polite to say something in return to them.”
“I suppose I am lucky that I have you here with me, then,” she said, surprised by how easy the words came to her.
“I suppose,” he said, jaw tightening. “Nobody insults my wife.”
The words sent a warmth rushing through her though she quickly masked it with a small, polite smile.
There it was again—that lingering feeling that she got whenever he did something to stand up for her.
“Well, thank you.”
Nicholas’s dark eyes lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary before a voice from the crowd called his attention. He straightened, his jaw tightening slightly as he turned toward the source of the interruption—a lord waving him over.
“Excuse me. It seems I am needed elsewhere.”
Violet nodded, her chest inexplicably tightening as he left her side.
His absence felt immediately noticeable. She watched him go, in awe of his stride and how he seemed to command the room.
“Ah, there you are!” Leopold’s voice broke through her thoughts, and she turned to see her brother approaching, a glass of wine in hand and an unmistakable smirk on his face. “Finally, I’ve caught you alone. You seem to be very in demand this evening.”
“Leopold,” she greeted, a small smile forming despite herself, “have you been keeping an eye on me this entire time?”
“I cannot deny that. Watching you in action, dear sister, is quite entertaining. I must say, you’re handling all of this remarkably well. Acting like a proper duchess now, aren’t you?” He grinned, raising his glass as though to toast her.
“Acting? Oh, you are mistaken, Leopold, Iama duchess.”
“Yes, yes,” he said, taking a sip of his wine. “You have proven that much. You’ve really taken to the role, I have to say. Even keeping that husband of yours in check.”
Her cheeks warmed slightly at the mention of Nicholas.
“He’s been very supportive of me.”
“How endearing.Supportive?” Leopold mused, his smirk deepening. “Is that what we’re calling it now? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like something else entirely.”
“Then you must get yourself a pair of glasses,” she replied, knowing full well that her brother loved to tease her.
“Oh, come now, Violet,” he said, conspiratorially. “I saw the way he looked at you just now. Like you hung the stars in the sky.”
Violet resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Trust her brother to make everything sound more dramatic than it had to be.
“You’re imagining things. Perhaps it would do you good to focus your attention elsewhere,” she replied.
“And miss this blossoming love between the both of you?” he grinned, “Absolutely not.”
“Leopold!” she hissed, cutting him off as she glanced around to ensure no one else could hear. “Must you always be so insufferable?”
“It’s my duty as your older brother,” he replied with a wink, clearly enjoying himself. “But it looks to me as though maybe the two of you have not admitted it to each other yet.”
“I am doing just fine, thank you,” she insisted. Yes, the two of them were getting along, but to say that there was blossominglove between them would be too much.
