Page 13 of The Devil and the Heiress
“Good evening, Lord Leigh,” said Lady Helena, her eyes narrowing in censure.
“Lady Helena.” To his credit, he inclined his head as if nothing untoward had happened. “If you both will excuse me.” He offered no other explanation as he turned and left the room.
Lady Helena waited until the door closed behind him before she said, “Dear, I feel I must warn you about—”
Violet held up her hand. “There is no need. Believe me, I understand how foolish it was to be alone with him.” And yet, a tiny but reckless part of her didn’t care. If Lord Ware had planned to compromise her, then why shouldn’t she kiss whomever she wanted? Perhaps finding her compromised by someone else would make him leave her alone.
Lady Helena smiled in understanding, her eyes shining with kindness and a hint of amusement, which remindedViolet why she and August had befriended the young widow not long after arriving in London. She had taken them both under her wing, helping them navigate the often intricate and hazy rules of Society.
“I didn’t mean for it happen,” Violet elaborated, though she had.
“No one ever does when it comes to rogues.”
Violet laughed. “He told me some disturbing things about Lord Ware.”
“Tell me.” Lady Helena laced her arm with Violet’s, and they slowly walked back to the ball as Violet explained.
“It seems your parents are determined to make a match?” Lady Helena asked when she was finished.
“Yes, so I’ll have to speak with them. I do not wish to marry now.”
Lady Helena nodded. “In the meantime, please do look out for yourself. You cannot be alone with a man. I have never known Lord Leigh to be in search of a wife, but stranger things have happened, particularly when fortunes are involved.”
“You don’t trust him, then?” Violet had not been able to find out very much about him, because he seemed to be someone no one spoke about in polite company. It appeared to her that he hovered along the edges of Society, attending social events, but notably absent in some of the more respectable drawing rooms.
“Well...” Lady Helena’s brow furrowed. “He has a reputation...” She smiled at someone walking past and lowered her voice. “He is known for eschewing polite company in favor of that gaming hell and less acceptable companionship. I cannot speak to his thoughts, but if he set out with marriage in mind, he wouldn’t go about it in the conventional method.”
“And you do not believe he would make a suitable husband?” That much was obvious from Lady Helena’s tone.Violet couldn’t figure out why it mattered, but it did. Her breath lodged in her throat waiting for her conclusion to be confirmed.
Lady Helena smiled, but there was a strange sort of sadness in her eyes. “Who is to say what makes a good husband? I think the bigger issue here is that most people in this room would say he is unsuitable, and that would have a profound impact on the social life of his bride. Why?” she asked, her eyes narrowing with speculation. “Are you considering him?”
Violet smiled and shook her head. By this time, they had reached the edge of the ballroom, and she found herself searching the crowd for him, but he wasn’t there. She didn’t think that he had meant to compromise her himself, but why had he told her about Lord Ware? What were his intentions?
“Ah, there you are, darling!”
Violet had to force herself not to cringe at her mother’s voice. She needed some time to distance herself from her thoughts of Lord Leigh before coming back to reality. The moment went from bad to worse when she turned to see her mother approaching on the arm of Lord Ware. He appeared sulky and unhappy with a frown that was almost accusatory.
“I told you she was around here somewhere.” Mother gave the man a playful swat on his arm, but her eyes belied her good humor. They reflected notable relief and perhaps even a tinge of disapproval. “Violet, darling, we were half convinced you had set sail for Greece or some other exotic locale,” she teased. “But here you are speaking with the lovely Lady Helena. It’s so nice to see you again, my dear.”
“And you as well, Mrs. Crenshaw. Please do not be alarmed. I simply needed a moment to catch my breath, and Miss Crenshaw was kind enough to walk with me.”
As the women continued their conversation, Lord Waremoved closer to her and said, “Come take a turn around the ballroom with me, Miss Crenshaw.”
She meant to refuse but couldn’t come up with a suitable reason to reject him. As she was thinking, Mother said, “Of course she will. You two go and have a lovely time. Leave us older ladies here to hold up the wall.” Lady Helena might have been in her late twenties at most, hardly old, but Violet had no chance to protest as Mother all but pushed them together.
Digging in her heels as he took her arm, Violet finally managed to find her tongue. “But, Mother, I shouldn’t monopolize Lord Ware, and there are many dances I have promised to others.”
“They will quite understand.” Lord Ware gave her a stiff smile.
“You see, dear,” said Mother. “Listen to Lord Ware. He knows better about these things than we do.”
To refuse further would have been in bad form, but also, Violet was left reeling a bit from her mother’s quick dismissal. As if she were perfectly happy to take his side in things. With a lump of dread in the pit of her stomach, she allowed him to lead her away.
Chapter 5
Their meeting had been like a single firework—bright and brilliant, leaving a dearth of sound that amplified the silence.
V. Lennox,An American and the London Season
