Page 84 of A Duke Makes a Deal
“Pardon?”
“I know it’s uncouth of me to ask and I pray you won’t ever tell her, but Violet has been rather gloomy these last few daysand I do wish she would smile. I think a dance with you would suit her very well.”
His brow furrowed.
“Lady Violet doesn’t quite like me, your grace.”
“Oh, but she does,” Clara lied. “She’s said that she’s never so challenged as when you are in the room. While it might sound like a complaint, I can assure you, Violet is bored with being so often appeased. To be challenged by anyone is a joy for her to experience.”
“Is that so?” he asked, his eyes searching for Violet again.
When the dance ended, Clara curtsied her thanks and went to find the refreshments while Fredrick made his way to Violet. After an exchange of words, a visibly annoyed Violet followed Fredrick onto the dance floor. Holly was being led to the dance floor by some officer who Clara hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting, as the baron looked on cheerfully. She watched them as her mind began to wander absently to Silas—and from there to Cynthia.
Clara was aware that Silas was worried that she would be approached by the former duchess, but so far, she hadn’t been bothered by her since their initial meeting. She sensed that it would be dangerous to fall into a false sense of security when it came to that woman, but she did not wish to spend all her time worrying about a potential meeting, either. That seemed like it would be giving Cynthia far too much sway over her mind.
Thankfully she had her share of distractions. Holly’s presence was reassuring, and since the dance had just ended, Clara started to move around the room, searching for her friend. Unfortunately, she was stalled in her search for several minutes when the baron introduced her to an older woman, the Viscountess of Sunderland. Apparently, she was an old friend of the dowager countess and was eager for Clara to send her mother-in-law her regards.
Once Clara was able to pull herself away from the conversation, she gazed across the ballroom to see if she could find Holly, only she was nowhere to be found. Frowning slightly, she made her way across the ballroom, ready to search the hallway—but she paused when she overheard a barely familiar male voice speaking.
“…and I’m sure I do not know where Miss Violet has disappeared to, though I did see her with that Fredrick Trembley character not too long ago.”
Upset by the implications of the man’s words, Clara turned around and spotted Lord Valle. In a moment of sheer madness and indignation, she approached the man. Holding out her hand to him, he stopped speaking mid-sentence as his eyes caught on her.
“Your grace?” he asked, sounding confused.
“It is your turn to dance, Lord Valle,” she said smoothly. “I have you written down twice on my card and I shan’t be disappointed.”
Both knew he had never asked her for a dance, and that she certainly wouldn’t have permitted him one if he had, but to say no in front of these people would be shocking. He was a gentleman and couldn’t actively cut her. He extended his hand.
She hesitated to meet his eyes until they reached the dance floor. When the music started, she began her questioning.
“What do you think you were doing? Are you trying to cause some sort of scandal for Violet and Fredrick?”
His eyes snapped to hers.
“Of course not. I was merely mentioning that I haven’t seen either of them for nearly a half hour.”
Clara’s mouth set in a thin line. She leaned forward.
“I don’t know what you’ve got planned for my sister-in-law, but I promise you, Lord Valle, should anything untoward happen to Violet, you will incur the wrath of my husband. Whilemost men might be able to forgive those who work against their families, I assure you, the duke shall neither forgive or forget.”
Lord Valle swallowed visibly, the color draining from his cheeks.
“It wasn’t my idea,” he whispered back as they danced. “Cynthia put me up to it.”
“Whatever for?”
“Why does she do anything?” he hissed, more to himself than to her. “She’s a harbinger of chaos. If I was in a better position I might…”
He shook his head and Clara’s brow lifted. It was surprising to hear the young lord’s critique of his fiancée. He seemed rather put out by Cynthia’s meddling.
“Can you tell me what her plan is, so that we might undo it?”
He shifted uncomfortably, but after a moment, Lord Valle nodded.
“Cynthia wanted me to lock Lady Violet away with Mr. Lutz. Apparently, she learned that your sister-in-law has feelings for the man.”
That had been true at the time of their arrival, but in the days since, Mr. Lutz had been far too busy conversing about a trip to America or something of the sort to acknowledge Violet. In response, Violet’s affection for the writer seemed to have cooled.
