Her declaration silenced them momentarily, but the tension lingered. She did not wish to make a spectacle of her life—even if it was only her close family members. She did not have the energy either to muster up a convincing enough lie.
She desperately hoped that they would drop the topic.
“I think—” Jasper opened his mouth to argue, but Arabella interjected before he could speak.
“Enough,” she said gently but firmly, stepping forward and placing a hand on Violet’s shoulder. “Jasper, there is really no need to be so insistent. It is quite rude, actually.”
“I’m not being rude,” he defended. “I’m just curious. He seems to be away indefinitely by the way Violet is describing it. Is that normal, you think?”
“Curiosity has its place, Jasper, but this is not one of those times,” Arabella insisted. “You must learn to discern that. We are here as guests at her house, and it does not bode well for us to question her like this.”
Violet exhaled quietly, grateful for her mother’s intervention though the tension in the room remained palpable. She glanced at Jasper, who raised his hands in mock surrender.
“I’ll leave it alone—for now. But I am not entirely convinced by your explanation. We care about you, and you’ll forgive us if we’re a little protective.”
“You’re more than a little protective,” Violet muttered, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.
Right now, it was bordering on intrusive, but she did not say that out loud.
“We wouldn’t press if you weren’t so evasive. You could dispel the curiosity by being more clear with your answers,” Leopold added.
Arabella sighed, her hand still resting lightly on Violet’s shoulder. “Enough, boys. Violet is capable of handling her own marriage. You forget that she is a duchess now.”
“And what good is being a duchess if she is not being treated well?” Jasper argued.
“I’m being treated very well,” Violet affirmed. “Nicholas looks after me just fine. He’s just busy with matters that require his attention. That’s all.”
Or hedidlook after her. He was gone now. She did not even know if she was going to see him again.
Arabella moved to Violet’s side, placing a gentle hand on her arm. “My dear, you don’t have to explain yourself to anyone. Matters of the heart are rarely simple.”
Violet’s composure wavered at her mother’s words. She had not expected her to say something like that.
“It’s not what you think,” she said quietly though her voice trembled. “Nicholas hasn’t hurt me. It’s just…”
It took her a moment to settle on the right word.
“Complicated,” she said finally. That is what it was.Complicated.From the start to the finish.
Arabella gave her a knowing look. “Marriage can be like that. And yours is still very new.”
Violet exhaled a sigh. “This is between Nicholas and me. Please respect that.”
“I don’t like it, but if that’s what you want…” Leopold frowned.
“It is what I want.”
Arabella nodded approvingly, a faint smile gracing her lips. “Your brothers mean well, but they would do well to remember that not all battles are theirs to fight.”
“I will seek your help if I ever need it,” Violet conceded. “But for now, let this be.”
Arabella wrapped her arms around Violet. “You’re stronger than you think, my love,” she murmured in her ear so that her two sons couldn’t hear. “You’ll find your way.”
Violet closed her eyes, allowing herself a brief moment of solace in her mother’s arms.
Arabella pulled back gently, her hands resting on Violet’s shoulders. “Now,” she said with a bright smile, “let’s not dwell on matters that can’t be solved in a single conversation. We came here to spend time with you, not to interrogate you.”
“I would appreciate that.” Violet nodded furiously.
