Startled, Violet jumped away from Lord Ferrard as if his touch scolded her.
“I solved the mystery halfway through the book, yet I needed to finish the story to make certain I was right.” Lady Esther shoved her book into her reticule. “Well, that is it then. It’s time to return.”
In silence, they followed Lady Esther back to the Harley home, and when she reached the entry, Lord Ferrard turned and took her hand in his, bent, and brushed her fingers with his lips once again.
“Thank you for a lovely afternoon,” he murmured quietly.
Violet searched his eyes. “Thank you for coming to be a dear friend, Lord Ferrard.” And no truer statement was ever spoken.
“You can always count on my friendship, Violet,” he murmured. “And if there comes a time in the Spring, if a ball becomes too much, you need only say the word.”
If a heart could melt, which it certainly could not, hers would have in that moment. Her family chastised her for the need to be away from others, whereas Lord Ferrard was offering to rescue her.
He bowed slightly. “Until tomorrow, Lady Violet.”
“How many days has it been?”Liam asked as a barmaid set tankards of ale before them.
Following a light supper, they’d come to Crawley’s Tavern again as the ale was good and the atmosphere pleasant.
“How many days since what in particular?” Emory asked, not certain to what his brother was referring.
“Since your courtship of Lady Violet began?”
“A sennight.”
“And you’ve not grown tired of her?” Liam smirked. “No lady has held your attention for so long.”
“We have an agreement,” Emory reminded him.
“True, but you’ve gone out of your way to spend more time than necessary in your courtship,” Liam observed.
“I have not. If this were a courtship, as one in London, besides afternoon visits, we’d dance at balls and take in the theatre. Laswell simply lacks such diversions.”
“I agree.” His brother took a drink of the ale. “Well, you’ve not much longer. Epiphany is in three days. She’ll be free to return home, as the bachelors will be sent away, and you can return to Sussex.”
Three days? That wasn’t nearly enough time. There was still so much more to discover about Lady Violet. Each day he learned something more.
Her pain and the unexpected confession made him ache for her. Violet was strong, resilient, intelligent, and so many things to admire, but she’d proven that she was just as vulnerable and sensitive as anyone else.
“Have you seen Eardly around?” Liam asked.
“No. Have you?”
“As he’s not been out and about, I assume he’s left, so you might want to allow Tommy to return home.”
Emory’s gut tightened. Even though they’d not seen Eardly, that did not mean he wasn’t lurking somewhere. Emory simply didn’t trust the man. “Not until Lady Violet has returned to the safety of her home.”
Liam shook his head and took a deep drink. “You’ve grown quite attached to Lady Violet, for this being no more than it is.”
Yes, he had, though Emory wasn’t willing to examine his emotions on the matter too closely. “She’s become a friend.”
Liam nearly choked on his ale. “Friend?” he nearly laughed. “You do not make friends with ladies. You bed widows.”
Emory frowned. Was he really so bad? Many gentlemen kept mistresses, some even after they married. He didn’t know a one who didn’t take lovers and visit brothels before marriage so why was he being chastised for what others deemed as normal behavior. “And you are so much a saint,” he argued.
“I have been of late,” Liam grumbled. “I’d not thought of the difficulties I might have being the only physician in a village.”
Emory arched an eyebrow. “There are many women here.”
