“What will she make of our… arrangement, do you think?” asked Ashton after a loaded pause, studying the doctor over the rim of his glass. “What was your impression?”
Richard straightened, leaning forward with a thoughtful expression. “She is shy, but responsive. She reacts well to praise. I think she will be grateful to escape that dreary house, her parents are truly awful.”
William grimaced in agreement. “We are in accord then?”
The doctor nodded sharply.
“I will arrange the contract first thing in the morning. There is no need to delay.”
Richard sighed again, a pensive look crossing his normally cheerful face. “What will we tell her?”
Ashton walked across the room, clapping a hand on the other man's shoulder and then seating himself in the opposite chair.
“We will tell her the truth. You are a doctor and my most trusted friend. You will assist us,assist her, in conceiving an heir. She will not object once she discovers the pleasure of submitting herself to us. I am sure of it.”
Ashton grinned confidently. “We will just have to make sure she enjoys herself enough that she forgets her proper upbringing.”
Richard downed his sherry and nodded, offering a wry grimace in return. “Very well.”
He paused, shooting the duke a warning look. “The girl needs care, Ashton. Tenderness. I won’t let you scare her witless with your stern ducal demeanour.”
William huffed in amusement. “You have already developed a soft spot for her, I see. Very well. I will behave myself, for now.”
CHAPTERTHREE
Violet stepped softlyinto the breakfast room, moving to the sideboard and filling her plate in silence as her parents chattered away at the table. Her sisters were already seated, eating quietly.
“There you are, Violet. Late as usual,” called out her mother in a shrill voice, patting her mouth with a napkin as she waved her impatiently over.
Her father glanced up from his coddled eggs, eyeing her balefully as he shovelled in another mouthful.
Her mother sniffed disdainfully at her husband’s table manners, but said nothing, turning her attention again to Violet as she sat down with a slice of toast.
“The Duke of Ashton has sent over his marriage offer, it ismostgenerous.”
She eyed Violet over her teacup, glaring at her from across the table. “Although what he sees in you, I honestly can’t imagine. What exactly did you say to the doctor?”
Violet shrank into her seat, shaking her head slightly as she crumbled her toast between lifeless fingers.
“Nowgel, you will gratefully accept his offer, and you will do nothing to disgrace this family, do you hear me?” boomed her father from the head of the table, thumping his hand down and sending the china rattling. “You might be the mere daughter of a baronet, but I’ll be damned if you do anything to compromise our chance at this alliance.”
“Yes, of course,” mumbled Violet, staring down resolutely at her plate as she tried to prevent the small flash of excitement she felt from showing on her face.
Her eldest sister, Esther, shot her a mulish look from across the table. “I don’t see why Violet should get to marry him. I mean, I am the eldest and-”
“You do not say no to the Duke of Ashton, Esther,” interrupted their father with a scowl. “You always were an ungrateful thing. I will not allow this opportunity to better our connections slip by.”
“Well,” sniffed her mother. “Let us hope that the duke will at least be discreet about his peculiarities-”
“Harriot-” snapped Violet’s father, flashing her mother a warning glower.
Violet’s mother frowned, but shut her mouth and raised her chin. Once her father went back to his breakfast, she turned again to Violet. “Keep your mouth shut and do as you are told when you’re there. Scandal can’t touch you once you’re a duchess. Think of your sisters and everything we have sacrificed for you all.”
Violet blinked in confusion.
Never had her parents ever denied themselves anything. The idea of them suffering for their children’s sake was beyond preposterous.
She knew better than to argue. Violet had long ago had that lesson knocked into her head.
