The carriage came to a stop with a jolt, breaking the spell she had him under.He frowned up at the house.He didn’t want her to go inside.
“He is not home.Stuart is in Essex, shooting with his friends at the Earl’s country house.”She gave his shoulder a small nudge.“Can I go inside now?”
He nodded and climbed out of the carriage.Rhys watched her walk inside before turning his back on the Hanover Square mansion.He untied Matthew’s horse, mounted, and headed east toward the Angel.He had a damn dog to collect.
Chapter Nine
Violet sailed intothe house on the wings of hope.This afternoon had been both terrible and wonderful, in turns.Gaining insight into her father-in-law’s sexual proclivities was not pleasant, but it could perhaps be helpful.It would have to be more than just that he was cruel to his bed partners in order to bring a man like the duke to his knees.But she had made an unlikely ally in Mr.Seaton.Even though she had cast up her accounts in front of him, he had been stoic and kind afterward.She appreciated that he hadn’t made a huge fuss over her.
That brothel had been awful.She’d always resented her sheltered upbringing.When she was younger, she’d yearned for adventure.Violet wrinkled her nose.Perhaps the wider world was as bad as her mother had said.As she handed over her cape, scarf, and gloves to Hodgins, Ginny hurried across the foyer to her side.
“Ma’am, your husband is home.”Ginny’s expression was placid in front of the butler, but her eyes were wide with worry.“He is looking for you.”
“Home?”Violet’s heart raced.He usually spent at least a fortnight when he visited the earl.“I was not expecting him home for days yet.”
“I believe there was an accident,” Hodgins offered.“His gun misfired, and the blast knocked him off his horse.”
“Oh dear, is he all right?”Violet asked.
“I believe so.Ruined his favorite jacket, but otherwise just some bruises, Bertram told me.”
Bertram was her husband’s valet.He was perhaps the only other person who suffered as much abuse as she did at Stuart’s hands.A slim, elegant fellow, the valet had often offered her sympathetic looks and small smiles of encouragement.He always let Ginny know what Stuart’s moods were on a given day so she could warn Violet.
“Lord Sommerset is in his study,” Hodgins said.
“Thank you.”Violet ran her hands down over her dress.She felt disheveled, but if Stuart was wondering where she was, then there was no time to freshen up.His mood would only darken the longer he had to wait.She took a deep breath.“How do I look?”
Ginny assessed her with a critical eye.“Lovely as usual.”
Violet turned and climbed the stairs.When she was in front of Stuart’s door, she knocked.
“Come in,” his voice called out.
She entered the room slowly, not sure what to expect.Her husband lounged in a chair by the window.He smiled at her before picking up a glass tumbler and taking a long swallow of the amber liquid.“Where have you been, wife?”
“Visiting friends.”She stood in the middle of the room, too scared by his tone to come any closer to him.“The Duchess of Hartwick is expecting anytime now.She is in need of distraction.”The lie came out smoothly.She used to be a terrible liar, but necessity had cured her of that affliction.“I was feeling ill, though.My nausea persists with this babe inside me.”She was babbling, but perhaps reminding him of the babe would distract him.
But he just stared at her.The only indication of his mood was in the fierce grip he had on the tumbler of whiskey, his knuckles white as he raised the glass again to drink.“And the man who exited the carriage with you?Who the hell was that?”
Her surprise must have shown on her face because Stuart’s eyes narrowed.Her gaze bounced to the window.It faced out of the front of the house.“He is the duke’s brother.He was simply escorting me home.”
Stuart rose to his feet so quickly she didn’t have time to even flinch before his glass sailed past her head and smashed against the fireplace mantel.She jumped at the loud shatter of glass, but knew better than to run.Stuart stalked over to her.He grasped her arm painfully.“Did you think you could consort with whomever you wish while I am away?Do you think you could cuckold me in front of the whole neighborhood?”He shook her roughly.
“Stuart, you are overreacting.Nothing happened.The duke asked him to escort me home, as any gentleman would.”
“Liar!”He slapped her across the cheek, sending her stumbling backward into one of the wingback chairs.
Tears stung the back of her eyes.She cowered as he moved closer.She reached out one shaky hand.“Darling, there has never been anyone for me but you.You know that I was always meant for you.”
A loud knock sounded at the door.Stuart’s head snapped around.“What?”he barked.
The door swung open, and Hodgins stood on the other side.“Sir, you asked me to remind you that you have dinner plans at eight with Lord Denby at the club.”Hodgins’s demeanor was cool and formal as always, his voice perfectly modulated.
Stuart ran a hand through his hair and down his face.“Yes, of course.Thank you.”
Hodgins’s gaze swept over to her, and he nodded before turning back to Stuart.“My pleasure.Shall I tell Mr.Bertram that you are ready to change for dinner?”
“Yes.”Stuart turned and walked out of the room.
