“He is not a criminal!He runs several legitimate businesses.”She winced a little at her half-truth, the memory of Rhys killing those two men in the alley behind the brothel still vivid.But it was true that he wasn’t currently part of that gang of criminals.
Her mother waved a hand dismissively.“I don’t know which is worse.”
“The fact is, I am widowed.What does it matter who I spend my time with?”
“Don’t be daft, Violet.You are still the Marchioness of Sommerset, and you are carrying the next Duke of Lavensham.You don’t want people questioning the parentage of your baby, do you?Most of society did not know you were pregnant until after Stuart’s death.Lord knows I tried to tell as many people as possible at the funeral.”She finally perched on a chair across from Violet.“How you conduct yourself during your mourning period matters.Your reputation affects your family.Think of Jane.She has several good prospects calling on her.”
Violet was so tired of having the entirety of her sister’s prospects resting on her shoulders.Bitterness rose in her throat.“That is all I have heard for the last two years—think of your sisters, your match ensures their future, be good, stay quiet, don’t antagonize your husband.Don’t I deserve some happiness now that he is gone?”
“Nobodydeserveshappiness,” her mother snapped.“Life is hard, Violet.All you can do is support those that matter, support your family.”
Violet rose to her feet.“And who supported me, Mother?When my husband was hurting me?”Her chest expanded with anger.“Not even my own father would stand up for me when faced with threats from the Duke of Lavensham.Yes, Father told me your big secret.That David isn’t his child.So, pardon me if I don’t take advice about what is scandalous from the woman who had an affair with her husband’s best friend.”
The satisfaction of seeing her mother’s mouth fall open was hollow.She didn’t wish to judge her any more than she wanted to be judged.The anger that she had finally let loose hung in the air between them.But Violet was not sorry about expressing herself.She had held everything inside for too long.
Her mother recovered quickly.She ran a hand over her coiffure, smoothing imaginary stray hairs.“I admit that I have made mistakes in my life.But I only want my girls to not end up with the same regrets that I carry.”She rose to her feet.“Even if you don’t care about the rumors for your family’s sake, think about what your father-in-law will think when he hears them.He still holds the purse strings to your future.Be smart, my dear.”
Violet stood stock-still as her mother crossed the room, kissed her cheek, and then left.She clenched her hands into fists at her side.“I deserve happiness,” she said loudly in the empty room.“And the duke can go to hell.”She slapped a hand across her mouth.A slightly crazed giggle escaped, though.Perhaps Rhys was starting to rub off on her, and really, she wasn’t even sorry about it.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Rhys opened theback door to his house and let the dog trot inside first.The warmth of the kitchen hit him square in the chest.Louisa turned from where she had been wiping down the table.“Evening.”
“Evening, Louisa.Aren’t you usually home by now?”He shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on the hook by the door.
“Yes, sir.”She folded the towel in her hands neatly.“Your lady is here.I fed her already, and we had a nice chat.”
“She’s here?”
“Yes, sir.And I’ll be going home now that yer back.”She gave the dog a friendly pat on the head when it bumped its head against her leg.“I left your dinner over by the stove, as usual.”
“Thanks, Louisa.I can’t imagine what she is doing here,” he murmured.
He had been out walking around with the dog, trying to clear his head.But fuck if the taste of her sweet pussy didn’t still linger on his tongue.He had stayed out of her bedroom this week only by sheer force of will and a thin thread of control.He wanted to go slow with their relationship, to take care with her.She was still fragile and so precious.
He thought a lot about them while on his nightly walks with the dog.The truth was, he didn’t know how to proceed with Violet Sommerset.He didn’t want to just be her lover.But what future could a lady like her have with someone like him?The Duke of Lavensham wasn’t likely going to let his heir be raised by gutter trash.
He sighed.The best thing would be to back away from Violet.As hard as it would be to stay away now, it would be impossible to give her up if he ever made love to her properly.Once he’d been inside her, he would be lost.
“It sure does look nice around here this week.I’ve finally got furniture to dust.”Louisa tilted her head and studied him.
“Sorry about the extra work,” he said.
“No, I approve.Mayhap it’s time for you to set aside this lone-wolf shite and get busy living.”She tossed her cloak around her shoulders.“I think your mother would approve.”
Rhys’s lips twitched with a wry smile as his housekeeper walked out the door.Damn it, she was right.Vow or not, his mother would have never wanted him to be alone for his whole life.He ran a hand through his hair.“Come on, dog.Let’s go find your favorite person.”
The dog cocked one ear in question.Rhys pushed open the kitchen door, and the dog’s other ear rose as the discordant sounds of piano keys being hit filtered down the hallway.The dog trotted down to the front room that Violet was now calling his music room.When Rhys entered, the lady was down on her haunches, petting the dog.She looked up at him as he came in, and her smile stopped him in his tracks.Would he ever get used to having all that sunshine aimed in his direction?
“Louisa said she fed you.”
“Good evening to you too.Yes, I have been fed and watered.”She rose gracefully to her feet.Her black silk dress fell in tailored perfection around her ankles.Peeking out from all that black were a pair of yellow satin slippers.She must have seen him staring at her feet because she tapped one, then the other.“It is my little show of rebellion.A tiny bit of color.”
He stepped forward to cup her cheek.“Violet, what are you doing here?”
Her smile disappeared.
Rhys bit back a curse.What was the matter with him?“I am happy you’re here.I just wasn’t expecting to see you in my house.Although, come to think of it, maybe I shouldn’t be surprised.”He brushed a thumb across her cheek.
