Although she was still quite full from their picnic, the cook had made some of Violet’s favourite dishes, and she had made sure to sample them all as well as send her praises down to the kitchen.
The warm spring day had turned chilly, and Violet found herself curled up on the settee in front of the fire, as relaxed as a cat in the kitchen as Richard poured them all a glass of rich sherry.
“Did you enjoy your birthday?” asked the duke, coming to seat himself beside her, drawing her feet up and placing them on his lap to her absolute astonishment.
Richard relaxed into the chair at her side, his solid presence beside her as soothing as the heat of the fire.
“Oh, yes,” Violet murmured, squirming shyly as Ashton slowly drew the slipper off one foot, and then the other.
“I have never had a birthday celebration before,” she admitted, watching his face as his expression grew dark, his eyes flicking to Richard as his hand tightened around the arch of her foot.
He blinked and relaxed his countenance, his thumb slowly working a heavenly circle over the silk-covered arch of her foot. “Well, I promise you this is just the first of many, as I can assure you we will never be so remiss. It is a delight to honour you on this day.”
Violet ducked her head, murmuring a demure thank you as the comfortable silence returned.
She felt unsure all of a sudden, as she glanced up at the two men who had upended her world. Ashton especially had surprised her.
He was no longerthe dukein her mind now, but Ashton.
She felt something suspiciously like affection radiating off of him as he slowly massaged her feet. There was nothing contrived or rushed about his movements, merely the gentle glide of his thumbs over her skin as he stared contemplatively into the flames.
Was this what she could look forward to? Endless nights of companionship and warmth. It seemed too good to be true.
Ashton blinked, sucking in a breath and placing Violet’s feet gently onto a cushion. “I have a gift for you,” he said, getting up and walking over to the cupboard, bringing out a box.
He handed it to her as Richard watched, his face suddenly serious, and Violet swallowed, opening the box slowly to reveal a velvet-lined case. Inside nestled a beautiful parure, the necklace and eardrops of brilliant gold and pearls, surrounded by diamonds. The bracelet was delicate, thin as air, making the stones appear as if floating.
“It was my mother’s,” said Ashton, his voice gravelly, and Violet quickly looked up, noting the way his expression was carefully composed.
“It is incredibly lovely,” said Violet, running her fingers over the beautiful jewellery. “I hope I can honour her memory every time I wear it.”
“She would have liked you,” said the duke gruffly, batting away her hand and taking out the necklace, holding it before her throat.
“May I?” he prompted, when Violet stared at him a moment too long.
Slowly she sat up, planting her stockinged feet on the carpet and turning in her seat so that he could lean forward and drape the jewels across her neck, the precious metal cool against her skin.
Her eyes met Richard’s as she took a deep breath. His face was surprisingly solemn, almost serious. It made her think of the way he had looked when he told her about the loss of his wife.
Ashton’s fingers teased the skin at the nape of her neck for a moment as he secured the clasp. His hands went to her shoulders and he turned her back to him, a possessive glint in his eye as he examined the effect of the piece against her skin.
“Beautiful,” he said simply, as he touched the central drop where it rested just below the dip between her collarbones.
Violet felt her cheeks warm with a blush, but for once she did not drop her eyes in shyness, rather she stared up in bewildered delight at the approval she saw on his face.
The silence dragged itself out, and then Richard cleared his throat. “I have a gift for you too.” He gathered up a book from the side table, passing it to her. “It is a volume of poetry-”
Ashton groaned, rolling his eyes dramatically. It broke the tension in the air perfectly, and Violet smiled with amusement.
Richard chuckled. “I have highlighted the passages that remind me of you. It is a perfectly respectable volume, I promise,” he added with a wink.
Violet felt tears gather at the edges of her eyes as she looked from one man to the other.
“Thank you. I can’t tell you how much this means to me…” her words failed her, and Violet flashed them a watery smile.
“Come now,” said Richard, leaning forward and raising her chin with his fingers. “We want you to laugh, not cry. We want you to know how much we care for you.”
“Do you really? How is that possible?” The question flew from her lips before she could stop herself.
