Violet nodded. So, not all hope was lost. “But to allow that person to find you, you need to give him a chance. Will you at least consider that? Allow yourself a chance to get to know a few of the gentlemen who have come forward?”
“Oh, Aunt,” Posy sighed. But then there was another knock. This time it was Gwen.
“Lady Iris asked me to remind you that Lord and Lady Chaswick will be arriving any minute.”
Violet nodded but felt some hope for her niece, whereas before she’d been prepared to give up. But she did so want Posy to find happiness.
“We’d best be going down now.” Violet tucked Posy’s hand into her arm. “We’ve an engagement to celebrate!”
Violet and Posy reached the doors to the formal drawing room just as Simon was exiting.
“Have they arrived yet?” Violet asked, meeting his gaze and doing her best not to show that she was buzzing inside.
“Not yet.” He turned to Posy, his hand brushing Violet’s—not unintentionally, because he stilled, and the backs of their hands remained touching.
“Did you accomplish your errand this afternoon…?” he asked Posy.
“I did, thank you, Mr. Cockfield,” Posy answered, and Violet glanced between the two of them, wanting to inquire as to what her niece was up to—but if she did that, she might not get the opportunity again to speak privately with him this evening.
As Greystone’s butler, he was going to be overseeing a good deal once guests began arriving.
“You go in, Posy.” Violet stepped away from Simon and gestured toward the door. “I wish to, er, finalize a few last-minute details with Mr. Cockfield.”
“You needn’t worry, Aunt. I’m fairly certain he has everything well in hand.”
“Yes, well.” Violet frowned. “One can never be too certain.”
“All right, then. But you aren’t fooling anyone. You merely wish to be alone with our handsome butler.” Violet thought her heart was going to drop into her slippers, but then Posy burst into laughter.
“Posy!”
“I’m only joking.”
“Posy…” Violet stiffened. “You mustn’t joke about such matters.”
“I wish you a most pleasant evening, my lady.” Simon bowed in her niece’s direction, and, of course, Posy responded to his dismissal without question.
Violet remained silent until the drawing room door had closed behind her, leaving the two of them alone. She couldn’t count on that for long, however, as servants were rushing throughout the house in preparation for the evening.
She closed the distance between them and touched her hand to his sleeve. And staring into eyes, which were becoming far too lovable, she said, “I simply wanted to—I wanted to make sure—was there some other reason you needed to speak with me this morning?”
Simon tilted his head and then, glancing around the foyer, pulled her around the corner. “Other than Captain Thompson’s…?”
“Yes, I wondered if…”
“If?” he pressed, and Violet exhaled a breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding.
A breath, it felt, that she’d been holding all day.
“So, you did not wish to… end things with… me?”
He stilled and then touched the side of her face. “No. Most definitely not. Rather the opposite. I wished to ask… Tonight. After the ball. If I come to your chamber, will you receive me?”
Would she receive him? She couldn’t help but grin. Because now she wasn’t going to have to summon the courage to ask him to come.
“Yes.”
The blue flecks glowed in his eyes at her answer.
