Page 83 of An Orphan for the Broken Duke

It was ironic in that way. Violet had kept the secret about Lucy’s origin because she wanted Rhys and Lucy to grow close naturally. And now that they had, the secret would destroy any chance that Violet had at making things right with Rhys.

Once again, she had put somebody else before herself, and where she knew it was the right thing to do, she knew too that there would be no coming back from it.

It wasn’t easy doing the right thing, and nobody knew that more than Violet. She just hoped that Rhys would understand and that maybe… if it was possible… that he would forgive her.

Thirty

It was the following day when Rhys finally paid Violet a visit.

Violet knew that he would come sooner or later. After her conversation with Rose the previous day, she had spent many hours sitting with the anticipation as she tried to reason how she might tell Rhys the truth… not to mention justifying why she had kept that truth from him.

She had her reasons and while she believed that they were good ones, she also knew that they would likely fall on deaf ears. Any happiness and relief that Rhys was sure to feel when he learned that Lucy was his daughter would surely give way to his anger, and that alone might see a final death blow to any chance they had of repairing their relationship.

Is that even what I want? If given the chance, would I go back to him?

Violet tried her best not to ponder on that final question because it should not have mattered. But after the week she had, it was impossible to dismiss and that if there was even a chance that Rhys might want to try again, she would take it.

At the end of the day, Violet still cared deeply for Rhys, and no amount of lies or excuses would change that.

So, when Rose informed her that Rhys’ carriage was seen pulling up outside the townhouse, Violet braced herself the best that she could. She was in the morning room, pretending to read, and that was where Rhys found her.

“Violet…” He stopped in the doorway when he saw her.

She looked up, pretending to be surprised. “Rhys. What are you doing here?”

He raised a dismissive eyebrow at her. “Am I to believe that you were not expecting me?”

“I…” She shook her head and even allowed a gentle chuckle. “I suppose not. Rose told me that you two spoke, and she told me that I might expect you at some point.”

“Perhaps I should have come sooner,” he said.

“No,” she said. “I feel that this is the right time, for many reasons…” She trailed off, the implication sitting between them.

The week that had passed since she left Rhys had done little to change how Violet viewed the man she still called her husband. He was just as tall as she remembered. Just as imposing. And his face was just as square, perfectly symmetrical—a thing of perfection as if drawn by an artist to showcase how true beauty should look.

But there was something else about Rhys that Violet noticed the longer that she looked at him standing in the doorway. It was how the sun shone across his face. It was how his eyes sparkled in the light. It was his smile… his relaxed stance… the happiness that she felt in his presence.

He was no longer as detached or distant as he used to be. He no longer tried to hide his feelings, as if he had none to begin with. She had never seen him so effortlessly uncaring and even joyful.

It had been only one week, but Rhys had changed beyond her wildest imagination.

As I knew he could… as he now knows is not only possible, but right.

“How have you been?” he began, still lingering in the doorway. “Are you well?”

“Well enough.” Her smile was earnest because despite how worried she was, or how bad her week had been, just being around Rhys again did much to dispel those concerns. “And you?”

“Me?” He smiled back, and she saw the truth of her perception. He really was happy. “Things are going well, Violet. And not just for me, but for Lucy. She is… we are happy.”

“I am glad to hear it.”

She was glad to hear it, but that did little to soften the stabbing pain that pierced her heart. While this was what she wanted, she wished that she might be a part of that happiness.

Violet was always one to put others before herself, but this was the first time that she dared to question if that was the right thing to do. Why could she not be happy and look out for others? Why did it always have to be one or the other?

“Rose said there was something you wished to speak to me about?”

“Not here.” Violet closed her book and stood from the chair. “The weather is…” She looked outside to check the weather, and while it was sun drenched and warm, she noticed storm clouds gathering on the horizon. “Well, it has been better, but it is not so bad either. Perhaps a walk in the garden?”