He shook his head.
“Too feminine with the embroidery, I think.”She continued to tug him along.“See, I like things that have texture—soft velvets or carved wood in interesting patterns.”She spotted another set of drawing room chairs.These were upholstered in a sky-blue damask silk and trimmed in beautifully carved mahogany.She ran her fingers across the whorls and rosettes of polished wood, smooth under her touch.Then she sat down.The curved shape cradled her back perfectly.“Lovely,” she murmured.
“I like them,” Rhys said.“Blue was my mother’s favorite color.”
Violet glanced over at Zeke.“Please tell me there is a matching settee?”
He nodded.“This way.”Taking another turn, he led them down the next aisle, which stored larger pieces of furniture—settees, sofas, and even a few chaises.
“Why don’t you keep the sets together?”she asked.
“When I bring them to the showroom during auction, I do present them as sets.But here in the warehouse, I like to keep things organized by category,” Zeke replied.
Violet nodded.She began to see that what initially looked like a disorganized hodgepodge was, in reality, carefully organized into categories.They were in the drawing room furniture section, but close by, she could see a section of dining tables and next to it, dining chairs.She wandered down the aisle, and that’s when she spotted the chaise.Richly upholstered in deep royal purple, the curved backrest was tufted with smooth gold buttons, and the edges were trimmed in gold braid.Violet grinned and walked over to it, unable to keep from running a hand across the soft pile of the velvet.
“You have a good eye,” Zeke said.“It’s French.It is said to have come from the Palace of Versailles.”
Rhys came up behind her and laid his hands on her shoulders.“Do you like it?Try it out.”
She sat down, then scooted back to lean against the backrest with a contented sigh.She ran her fingers along the gold braid, enjoying the softness of the silk thread.“I could see this being fit for a queen.”
Rhys turned to Zeke.“Have it sent to Lady Sommerset’s house.A gift from me.”
“No, it would be perfect for your house.I can recline on it while you play the piano for me.”
Rhys stared down at her for a long moment.Then he nodded.
Zeke cleared his throat.“Well, I think I will let the two of you look around.Just let me know which items you want, boss.I can get the boys to bring everything over tomorrow.”
She couldn’t remember having spent a more pleasant afternoon in a long time.Then, all week long, Rhys had arrived at her house every afternoon.They went for walks in Hyde Park, and one day he took her to that same coffee shop in Covent Garden they had been to before.Thursday morning, they went to Hartwick House to visit the new family.They kept their visit brief, but those few moments when she had gotten to cradle baby Julia had been precious.
As perfect as the week had been, not once had she woken up to Rhys sitting in her bedroom watching her sleep.And aside from a few scorching kisses, he hadn’t touched her other than holding her hand.He hadn’t even invited her over to see how the chaise lounge she’d chosen looked in his front room.Perhaps he was busy with work?He had told her that he didn’t keep regular hours.Sometimes, he worked the auctions, usually held in the late afternoons, and he routinely walked through the neighborhood, checking on his rental properties.
Violet got the sense there was quite a bit more to his various businesses that he hadn’t told her about.But she couldn’t help but feel as though he simply used his erratic schedule as a way to avoid being alone with her.Before the morning when he had pleasured her so thoroughly, he had shown up at all hours to see her.
She stood from her reading chair.Blast it, she would just go see him tonight.Even if he wasn’t home, Louisa would let her wait for him.
Her door opened, and Ginny poked her head in.“My lady, your mother is here to see you.Mr.Hodgins has put her in the drawing room.”
Her mother had come by unannounced?How very odd.“I will be right down.”
Violet hurried over to the mirror to check her hair.She smoothed her hands down the silk of her black dress.Her mother would be pleased to know that the mourning clothes had arrived on Tuesday afternoon.Violet was glad to have clothes that fit properly.The waistline of this dress was high enough to not be restrictive.The fabric of the bodice crisscrossed her bosom, then draped and flowed down behind her in a pretty waterfall effect.She quickly opened her jewelry box and placed her wedding band back on her finger.Then she headed downstairs.
“Mother, what a pleasant surprise.”
Her mother stood by the front window, looking out.“What in God’s name are you doing, child?”
Violet stopped in her tracks.“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
Her mother whirled around.Her cheeks were stained with color.“I have just come from tea at Lady Harlow’s house.She pulled me aside to tell me that you have been seen around town with some man with a scar down his cheek.She saw you walking in Hyde Park from her carriage.And she said Lady Mansfield saw you at the Covent Garden market on the arm of the same man and was telling anybody who wanted to listen at the Davies ball.”
Violet closed her eyes briefly.Why had she thought there would be any privacy for her, even in her mourning?She crossed and sat down on the settee.“Mother, please sit.I don’t see why my walking in the park with a man is gossip-worthy.”
“It has been less than a month since your husband died, and you are already having an affair with a man no one recognizes?You are supposed to be in mourning.You are ruining your reputation.”Her mother paced from the window to the fireplace and back again.“Who is this man, anyway?”
“His name is Mr.Seaton.He is the half brother of the Duke of Hartwick.”
Her mother’s mouth dropped open.“The criminal?”
