“You—I—But…”
He was not mistaken.
Her cheeks flooded with a most delightful pink, and her jaw dropped, leaving her mouth open, her lips slack and soft.
They were rather full-looking when she wasn’t pinching them together.
And inviting.
“Are you mad? I really must go…” Violet went to step backward but in doing so, the back of her legs hit the bench, and she dropped onto the seat.
Mr. Cockfield reached out with his good hand. “Are you alright?”
Was she alright? Would any lady be alright after being accused of setting her cap for a servant? And then she realized he was referring to her most inelegant fall onto the wooden bench. She stared at his hand for a moment before taking it and allowing him to assist her up again.
“I cannot imagine why you would arrive at such an absurd conclusion.” But was he right?
Her voice sounded breathier than normal. Likely due to the tingling in her fingertips at his touch and his unusually intimate proximity.
Her lungs half-numb from shock, she dropped his hand and stepped sideways, away from him. He was an overwhelming sort of gentleman even when one wasn’t standing so very close to all of his… maleness.
“You’ve been watching me.” The corner of his mouth twitched.
“But that’s only because of Posy—”
“You want the attention I’ve allotted for your lovely niece?”
“Don’t be—” Violet halted her protests. Something in his words… “attention I’ve allotted for… your niece.” His free time was finite, the same as other mortals, and if some other person took up those moments, he wouldn’t have any left for Posy.
Therefor Posy could realize the folly of giving her attention to such a man and seek affection elsewhere. With Lord Shortwood—not with Captain Edgeworth—or any of the other military gentlemen who persisted in showing up everywhere, but… there was always Mr. Tibbons…
Violet envisioned her niece driving through the park with a very proper gentleman—a gentleman of her own station—a man who could protect her, who would not forsake her…
Good lord. What was Violet contemplating? Would it even work? It would be foolish for someone like her to think she could attract such a gentleman as Mr. Cockfield—a rakish butler, of all things! Wouldn’t it?
And for what, exactly, an innocent flirtation? A not-so-innocent one?
How far was she willing to take this outlandish scheme?
But the most troubling question in her mind sent a shiver through her: Was Posy really her only reason for considering it?
The answer wasn’t one she cared to examine.
“Miss Faraday? Are you well? You’re flushed.” His fingertips landed on her elbow.
Violet’s heart raced. The most she could imagine was a tantalizing flirtation. An affair was out of the question. Wasn’t it?
Of course, it was.
“I’m fine,” she answered, still thinking.
He did seem to enjoy teasing her. Surely, that was something she could take advantage of. And long ago—very long ago, before Christopher—she’d known how to flirt.
Gathering all her courage and feeling more than a little foolish, Violet licked her lips and met his gaze. “What if I did?”
Both brows raised, he merely stared at her. Was he reading her mind again? Did he comprehend her strategy?
“Wish for my romantic attentions?” The disbelief in his voice meant that she was going to need to be more convincing.
