A tremulous warmth crept through Violet’s chest. “You mean that, truly?”
“I do. Darling girl,”—Em reached out, tucked a stray curl behind Vi’s ear—“you’re special and wonderful. Can’t you be that…anda little more careful?”
Vi loved her sisters. She truly did.
“You’re right. I really ought to think before I act.” Expelling a breath, she confessed, “I didn’tintendto push Carlisle into the fountain. But I lost my temper, and the next moment he was bathing in champagne. I felt horrible about it for days.”
Her sisters looked at one another—and erupted into gales of laughter.
“It’s not amusing,” Vi protested.
“I know, dear,” Thea said between gasps, “but I can’t help it. If you felt horrible, imagine… imagine how poor Carlisle felt!”
“Felled by a female. I’m sure that was a blow to his pride,” Emma said with a chuckle.
Feeling lighthearted now that a burden had been lifted from her chest, Vi gave a snort. “He’ll recover. After all, he has plenty of pride to spare.”
“He is a bit of a stuffed shirt, isn’t he?” Em said.
“He has good qualities, too,” she protested.
“What are they?” Thea said slyly.
“Although he can be a bit old-fashioned… he’s an honorable man.”
As she said the words, she realized the truth of them. Carlisle had protected her reputation after she’d made him a laughingstock. After they’d kissed, he’d made her an offer—true, it was the worst marriage proposal in the history of Christendom, but it was the intention that counted, wasn’t it? He’d even owned up to his mistakes, apologizing when he realized that he’d hurt her.
“And despite his bluster, he’s kinder than he lets on,” she mused.
Thea returned from the wardrobe with Vi’s evening gown. “According to Lady Blackwood, her husband has the highest opinion of Carlisle. Says he’s a gentleman’s gentleman, the kind of man you’d want at your back in a battle.”
She thought of the Priest Hole, how he’d found it before she had. He was competitive, a man of action, and she admired that. And as annoying as his stubbornness could be, there was no denying his strength of will and commitment.
“Thereissomething reliable about him. And he’s a solid, quick-witted chap.” Why hadn’t she recognized his good qualities earlier?
“Some gentlemen improve upon acquaintance,” Thea said as if reading her mind. “What we think of as pride might in actuality be a reserved nature. A sort of discomfort around others. I should know: when I first met Tremont, he seemed standoffish as well.”
“His reserve didn’t last long around you, Thea,” Em said with a wink.
Thea blushed.
Emma adjusted a floaty sleeve. “Now, Vi, are you forming an attachment to Carlisle?”
Leave it to her sister to hit the nail on the head. In the past, Violet might have tried to evade the question out of embarrassment. She was still far from comfortable sharing her feelings, but she was learning the benefit of being more open.
“How would I know?” she asked. “How did the both ofyouknow?”
“I was attracted to Tremont from the moment we met. He was so handsome, and I felt tingles whenever he was nearby,” Thea said dreamily.
Vi started a mental list.
Tingles. Check.
“Did you feel tingles too, Emma?” she asked.
“Yes, but they were overshadowed by a strong desire to throttle Strathaven. His Grace was, without a doubt, the most frustrating man I’d ever met.” A grin tucked into Em’s cheeks as she worked on the buttons on the back of Vi’s dress. “He still is, bless him.”
Frustration. Double check.
