“You are being polite.” It was impossible that he saw her differently than anyone else. If so, then he would be the first of the gentlemen that she’d met previously.
The thought gave her pause. If Violet assumed as such of Lord Ferrard, then she was no better than the gentlemen who judged her without bothering to gain so much as an introduction, which was unfair to both herself and Lord Ferrard.
“I’ll be honest,” he finally said. “I do find you different from anyone else of my acquaintance.”
At least he was honest with her, and Violet far preferred being called different than odd.
“However, don’t mistake my thinking you as such in a negative manner. I prefer to be around someone who is unique as opposed to someone who is no different than any other lady I might encounter in London.”
The odd sensation in her belly flipped, sending warmth into her chest and a lightness within her being. Unique was far better than odd or even different.
He glanced at the list she held in her hand. “I assume the Harleys are aware of your intentions today and won’t be alarmed if you do not return before it begins to grow dark.”
Violet glanced up at Lord Ferrard from beneath the shadow of her bonnet and considered how much she could trust him.
He already had certain expectations, based solely on her rank and gender. Therefore, she could allow him to return her to the Harleys and she’d simply walk to the inn, but it was likely he’d want to see her delivered directly to the door, which would never do. However, she couldn’t risk the Harleys knowing that she’d not returned to Forester Hall, at least not yet, because it was likely Mrs. Harley would inform her father, who would insist that she return home.
“I’ve my own confession, Lord Ferrard,” she finally said, and hoped that he’d keep her confidence. “I am no longer staying with the Harleys.”
He frowned. “Why is that?”
She quickly explained being asked to leave, and the reasons. “I’ve no desire to return to Forester Hall until the afternoon of January sixth and have taken a room at the inn where my maid and the other servants from Forester Hall are waiting to see if they become ill.”
“Why don’t you wish to return home?”
She blew out a laden breath. “I feared that if I returned, Father would decide to match me to one of the invited bachelors, and that will never do.”
“Yet, you and I have agreed to a courtship. You could safely return now,” he offered.
She had considered the possibility for the briefest moment before it was dismissed entirely. “Then we’d be forced to endure their interference when we both know that this courtship is temporary. If I return and you are required to call on me there, my family will expect a betrothal, or worse, my grandmother may deem it necessary to provide advice, and I would rather go on as we’ve planned.” Besides, her grandmother was far too perceptive and seemed to know information that she shouldn’t be privy to. Of course, she claims thatJonathantells her everything that happens at Forester Hall and in Laswell, which is quite ridiculous since Jonathan, grandmother’s first love, had been dead nearly fifty years.
Violet smoothed her pelisse over her thighs. “If Lucinda can wait to wed until she is two and twenty, then I can as well as I intend to live my life as fully as possible in the interim. However, if forced to court with my family present, they will give me no peace.”
Chapter 6
Emory knewthat the very suggestion of how they were to go about theircourtshipwas highly improper, as they would lack the one thing required for an innocent lady—a chaperone. Yet, he could not find it within himself to insist that Lady Violet return to her home.
Oddly, it wasn’t until they’d spent the afternoon driving through the country that he’d realized how stifling Society was in how gentlemen and ladies went about. The rules were necessary, of course, as an innocent’s reputation should never be called into question. Were those rules as important in the Village of Laswell as they were in London during the Season?
Inwardly he answered yes, they were, but Emory chose to ignore that voice and reasoned that he was an honorable gentleman, so Lady Violet had no concern that he’d behave in an inappropriate manner.
Bloody hell, he could argue with himself from now until the courtship came to an end, but Emory knew that courting Lady Violet without supervision of a chaperone was simply wrong. Yet, he would continue to do so anyway. Further, it was something he looked forward to and may explain why he woke in an excellent mood. Duties and concern didn’t weigh so heavily on him today. They lingered, as he couldn’t completely let go of them since his future was also in the balance. But something had changed, and he was certain that it was on account of making Lady Violet’s acquaintance.
He and Lady Violet had spoken on many subjects the day before, though not in depth, simply observations, but it was more conversation than he’d ever had with any woman outside of his family.
Yes, Lady Violet was odd, different, and unique, but that was what he really liked about her, and he couldn’t help but laugh at all the nonsense he’d heard. Lady Violet was anything but shy, nor was she conceited, and he’d be willing to wager that she might be one of the most intelligent women he’d ever met, perhaps more intelligent than most gentlemen who’d had the advantage of a formal education. Nor was she boring. Further, and perhaps the most important was that her forthrightness and honesty had allowed Emory to relax for the first time since… he couldn’t even remember the last time he hadn’t watched his behavior, what he said, or was mindful of each expression. In London he was judged, as everyone was judged, and that knowledge was never far from his mind. However, there was no artifice to Lady Violet, and he let go of his control of being seen only as one should be viewed.
It was bloody refreshing to finally look forward to spending time with a lady.
“What has put you in a fine mood?” Liam asked from his seat at the dining room table. “And where did you disappear to yesterday? If your belongings hadn’t still been in your chamber, I would have thought you’d returned to Hawthorn Park to avoid courtship with a lady you’d never met.”
By the time Emory had returned to Liam’s home, it was past dinner, and his brother had been called away. He’d not returned before Emory had gone to bed.
“Yes, well, I may have been too hasty in my decision to hide away in your home,” Emory chuckled, then went on to explain his first encounter with Lady Violet and how they’d spent the day. While he and Lady Violet agreed to keep the secret behind their courtship from their families, Emory had no concern in telling his brother, as Liam would not gossip to the residents in Laswell, nor would he tell their mother and father the truth.
“You intend to court her?” Liam asked in surprise.
“Yes.”
