It had been an adjustment for all of them.When the duke had been formally accused of murdering Robert Barclay, she and Rhys had gone to her house and offered her small staff employment.In the first few weeks, Rhys had constantly grumbled about all the people in his house.So had Louisa.Then Max bit Paul, and the footman left to find work in a safer household.In the end, Violet had found other opportunities for most of the staff, save Mr.Hodgins, Ginny, and Jim.Louisa and Hodgins seemed to have worked out who was in charge of the household.Violet still wasn’t sure who that was most days, but things ran along fairly smooth.Although sometimes, she missed the days when it had just been her and Rhys in an empty house, making love on the purple chaise.
There was a flurry of activity from out in the foyer.Then Matthew, Elizabeth, and their whole family swept into the room.
Stella crossed to kiss Violet’s cheek.“Thank you for having us.I have been dying to see the house!”
Matthew walked in with one hand holding on to Robert’s small hand, and in his other arm, he cradled baby Olivia.He looked around the room slowly.“Rhys, I didn’t know you played the fucking piano.”
“Language!”His wife smacked his shoulder.Elizabeth appeared from behind her husband with a huge smile on her face.She held high a copy of thePiccadilly Press.“Hot off the press.”She handed it to Violet.
Rhys and Zeke gathered around her to read the headline—“Duke of Lavensham Convicted of Murder!”
Rhys whistled low.“They actually did it.”
“Yes, they did.”Hartwick’s low rumble came from the doorway.He and Lucy entered the room with Malcolm and Adeline right behind them.
Plenty of warm greetings were shared, and there was a lot of petting of sweet baby heads.Violet took Robert’s hand and led him to a table where she’d had lemon biscuits set out just for him.“Go ahead, ruin your appetite.I won’t tell your mother.”She gave him a wink.He immediately stuffed two biscuits into his mouth.Then he offered another one to Max as the dog ambled over to greet him.They had discovered the dog had a soft spot for children.She gave Max a scratch behind the ears for being a good boy.As she straightened, she winced as a sharp pain shot up her side.Strange.
As they all sat down to dinner, the topic of conversation returned to the duke’s conviction.Hartwick looked across the table at Rhys with his serious gray eyes.“Today, after the conviction, the king stripped Lavensham of his title and all his property.I made the argument that there was a living heir.But His Highness dismissed it as only rumor.I’m sorry.”
“It doesn’t matter.”Rhys slipped his hand into Violet’s.“I don’t want anything to do with it.And I certainly don’t need his money.We are happy being Mr.and Mrs.Seaton.”
Violet nodded her head in agreement.“I have had enough of the house of Lavensham to last me a lifetime.This baby, whether it’s a boy or a girl, will grow up in a safe, loving home, and that’s much more important than any title.”
“Here, here.”Kingsbury raised his glass of wine.
“It’s more justice meted out than I ever thought would happen.I am glad that he has lost everything.Now he understands what it is like.”Elizabeth ran a hand over her son’s hair as he sat next to her, eating glazed carrots like they were candy.
Hart and Elizabeth shared a long look between them.Retribution was something they had both waited a long time for.Violet was just glad that her baby would be safe from the duke.“Let us speak of happier things.All this talk of Lavensham has given me indigestion.”
Rhys looked over at her with that little divot between his brows.“Are you feeling unwell?”
“Just fine,” she said, even as she felt another twinge in her side.She was not going to ruin her dinner party by being sick.She smiled brightly at her friends.
“How is your family, Violet?”Adeline asked.“Have you seen them since your nuptials?”
Violet nodded.“Everyone is good.My mother and father came for a visit just last week.My mother said that Jane has become engaged to Mr.Greene, one of the Earl of Dunlop’s younger brothers.”Although thankfully not the brother who was passed out at the Birdcage that day they’d visited.Jane’s Greene brother seemed a very serious fellow who appeared to worship the ground she walked on.It was, in Violet’s opinion, the perfect match.“They, once again, tried to convince us to come to the country with them, for the health of the baby.”
Rhys snorted.“Not likely,” he muttered.
Violet chuckled.Rhys had not forgiven her family for how she had been treated.He probably never would.They certainly didn’t trust him either.An uneasy truce had been put in place between Rhys and her father.Violet knew her parents regretted how they had used her and had even asked for forgiveness.But for now, all Violet was willing to give them was the occasional visit over tea, while her husband stood in the corner watching over her, as he always did.
The rest of dinner conversation leaned heavily into the trials of newborn babies, the merits of French style in furniture design, and a showcase of songs from Stella’s new performance inThe Beggar’s Opera.Violet continued to have pangs throughout the meal.By the time dessert was served—her favorite, apple tarts—she had no appetite for it.
Rhys leaned over.“Sugar, are you feeling unwell?”
This time she was honest.“Yes, I am having these sharp pains in my belly, and I am feeling quite nauseous all of a sudden.”
He stood abruptly.“Everyone, you must go home.Violet is feeling unwell.”
“Rhys, you can’t order everyone to go home!”Her cheeks flamed as all eyes around the table looked at her.
“I can, and I will.”He faced the table at large.“Go home.”
*
Violet held tightto her husband’s hand.The pressure in her womb was unbearable.It had been hours since Rhys had kicked everyone out of the house, and the labor pains had continued to worsen as the night wore on.Ginny had called for her mother.The lady’s quiet competence had soothed both Violet and Rhys as they realized the baby was coming tonight.But now the midwife was crouched down between her legs to examine her progress, and the intrusive poking of fingers was awful.
“You are ready to push, my lady.Take some deep cleansing breaths to clear your mind for the task,” the midwife urged.
