Emory looked over to find his brother studying him.
“I’m not in love with Lady Violet,” Emory stated before his brother got outrageous ideas of his own. “Just because I want to see her protected and knowing how much she does not want to return to Forester Hall until all of the bachelors are gone, does not mean I’ve developed an emotional attachment to Lady Violet.”
Liam turned to focus forward and nodded. “I understand.”
There was something almost mocking in his tone and Emory nearly argued further, yet to do so might prove Liam’s point. Or his brother would assume Emory was protesting too much and would never believe that Emory was not in love.
Of all the ridiculous…He’d known Lady Violet only two days and it was impossible to fall in love in so short of time. He simply liked her and wanted to protect her. If Liam saw more than there was, that was his mistake, and Emory wasn’t going to argue further.
As Bess hadto remain at the inn, Mary assisted Violet. Her duties were few with Silvia ill, but upon hearing about Lord Ferrard’s courtship, Silvia instructed how Violet should dress and how Mary should arrange her hair, then insisted on Violet borrowing gowns more appropriate for a courtship. Violet thought it unnecessary, but her friend did not yet know the truth, nor would she until she’d recovered from her illness and after Lord Ferrard had returned to Sussexandafter Silvia promised to hold Violet’s confidence. Not that she feared that Silvia would speak out of turn, as there was no one that Violet trusted more. She had confessed many concerns, truths, and secrets to her dearest friend and she’d not yet given Violet a reason to doubt Silvia’s trust.
Today Mary prepared a blue walking dress which matched Violet’s lightweight, grey pelisse, per Silvia’s instructions. Not that Violet cared what she wore for her walk with Lord Ferrard, unlike yesterday. Instead, she was more interested in any of the answers he had to the question that had plagued her since the night before.
She suspected what Lord Ferrard had been about, and it did not sit well with her.
“Lady Violet, a Lord Eardly has come to call,” Mrs. Buckley announced while Violet waited in the parlor for the appointed time when she was to meet Lord Ferrard.
Eardly claimed that he’d not give up, but he truly must. How had he even learned that she’d returned to the Harleys’.
“Inform Lord Eardly that Lady Violet is not at home,” Mrs. Harley instructed as she glided into the parlor. “That is to be your instruction for each time he may call. I’ll not have Lady Violet associated with such a gentleman.”
“Yes, Mrs. Harley.” Mrs. Buckley bobbed a quick curtsey, then left to do as instructed.
“You do not approve of Lord Eardly?” Was there more to the gentleman’s reputation than she was aware.
“He is not worthy of you,” Mrs. Harley stated. “Ladies Joanna and Esther advised that he is a fortune hunter. As you are not at Forester Hall where you might be protected from such, I will see that you are shielded while in my home.”
“Thank you.” Violet really didn’t wish to have to tell Eardly again that she had no interest in his attention, and now she would be able to avoid him. No doubt he’d eventually give up and be on his way and she’d be free to move about again. Not that she feared him, or what he might do, but he was a nuisance and Violet wished to waste no further time repeating what he should have already accepted.
“Lord Ferrard is waiting on the walk,” Mrs. Buckley announced.
“Thank you.” Violet tied the ribbon on her bonnet and hoped that their chaperone did not arrive too soon, as she would like to have a private discussion with Lord Ferrard.
As she exited the home, Ferrard strode toward her, his lips set in a grim line.
“Why was Eardly here?”
“He wishes to court me. I advised him yesterday that I have no interest and when he called today, Mrs. Buckley informed him that I was not at home and those will continue to be her instructions if he calls again.”
“Yesterday? Did you encounter him after you returned to the inn?”
Ferrard was unreasonably alarmed, for which there was no cause.
“I visited the book shop and encountered him on the street.” Given the hardness in Ferrard’s sapphire eyes, Violet decided against telling Ferrard of how Eardly had kept hold of her elbow and then followed her across the street. He was already reacting in an irrational manner, and she’d not give him cause to overreact further. “I informed him of our courtship and rejected his suit.” That should put his mind to ease.
“You shouldn’t be out alone,” he insisted.
“I was perfectly safe, Lord Ferrard.” Violet took a deep breath because she was not going to further argue a subject upon which they would not agree. He saw her as a helpless woman, as most gentlemen in Society did, and very little could be done to change their minds. Therefore, she’d address her other concern. “Why were you outside this home last night?”
“I was out walking.”
She arched an eyebrow. “I thought you detested lying.”
At least his cheeks colored with embarrassment.
“I saw you with Tommy Shilling. You were talking to him and then you left Tommy standing in the shadows.”
“I’ve paid him to keep watch on the Harley home.”
