“So he didn’t defect? He was captured?”
Greys didn’t answer right away.
“That is the official account.” It was Simon who answered. “His timing is rather convenient.”
Could it be him? The image of the man she’d once agreed to marry flashed in her mind—medium build, blond hair, laughing eyes, and an easy smile.
She’d thought she’d forgotten.
“He is coming home,” Violet murmured. “He lost his memory?”
Not that she loved him, and not that it ought to have mattered, but she couldn’t help but experience a small amount of relief to believe he hadn’t intentionally abandoned her.
She turned to Simon with a shaky smile. “He is not an imposter?”
A shadow crossed his face. “No one will know that for sure until he can show himself. But, if the story is true, if he was held captive, he’ll be a very different man than the man you knew before.”
Violet nodded.
Simon removed his timepiece from his pocket and frowned. “I’ve some deliveries to inspect. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave the two of you to discuss this alone.” As he rose, Violet only barely kept herself from begging him to stay.
Greys addressed him instead. “My thanks, Cockfield. I’ve some new cheroots—Chaswick sent them over. Join me later in my study, won’t you?”
Violet would have rolled her eyes if she wasn’t so shocked at the startling news about Christopher. By now it had become obvious to her that Simon was as much friend as he was butler to her maddening cousin.
She stared at the door after Simon disappeared, feeling far more bereft than was good for her. Had he been going to break things off? He had known that Christopher had been found.
Was that what he’d needed to discuss with her?
She hoped so. Oh dear, she most certainly hoped so. She wasn’t ready to let him go yet.
Not even close.
“Violet?” Greystone’s voice captured her attention. “You must be terribly distraught over all this. What can I do to help you?”
She forced a smile in her cousin’s direction. “I don’t suppose anyone can do much of anything until we know this man isn’t some imposter. There’s a great deal at stake, after all. I’m surprised no one’s come forward before this.”
And with her words, she very nearly convinced herself that the man sailing toward England could not be Christopher.
“True,” Greystone agreed. “I should have realized you would handle the news rationally.”
“And besides, we have an engagement ball to prepare for.” This time, her smile felt more natural. “I don’t want anything to take away from your special night. Especially not this. I do like Diana so very much, and I couldn’t be happier for the both of you. You know this, don’t you?”
“I do. I only wish the same for you.” Greystone smiled.
Violet didn’t protest as she usually did. But neither did she agree.
“Lord Huntly is not at all happy with me, but—” Her cousin met her stare and shrugged, unable to hide his contentment.
“Was Lady Isabella disappointed?” Violet felt sorry for the girl and had been thinking about her.
“Her heart wasn’t broken,” he answered, looking serious. “And although I wouldn’t change things for the world, I was sorry to have gotten her hopes up.”
“She’ll find someone else,” Violet assured him. “What matters most is that you are happy.” That made Violet happy.
Despite the stinging in her chest. What would it be like to love someone like that, knowing they loved you as well?
“Disgustingly so.” He grinned and leaned back in his chair, looking more relaxed than he had since arriving. “Speaking of happy, how is Posy managing?”
