Violet felt her cheeks burn.
For me. James sent me flowers.
The housekeeper waved at someone waiting in the hall, and one of the footmen entered holding a large vase of the most beautiful bouquet of flowers Violet had ever seen. Delicate purple flowers that seemed to shimmer in the afternoon sunlight.
Her breath caught in her throat.
He didn’t just send me flowers. He sent me violets.
Tears pricked her eyes. In all her years, no one had ever sent her flowers, and certainly, no one had ever thought to give her violets. It was the most thoughtful gift anyone had ever given her—she was quite speechless.
“There is a note as well,” the housekeeper added, handing her a small card.
Violet shifted the bouquet to her hip and flipped open the card. In an elegant hand, her husband had written,
You might find it churlish that I destroyed the letter you wrote to me last night and am now expressing myself in writing, but my duties for the day prevented me from delivering these flowers personally.
Violet, thank you for being so understanding last night. I have not forgotten our plan to talk tonight. I was also hoping that your family could join us tonight for supper and that we could all share a special meal. Perhaps after that you and I could talk?
Thank you for being the best wife a man could ever hope for.
J.
P.S. Did you read the scandal sheets this morning? I laughed so hard when I read it. “… right his devilish ways.” They’re not very subtle, are they? I hope you found the whole thing as amusing as I did. Let’s give them more spectacles, shall we?
Violet’s heart was in her throat. He didn’t hate her! Nor did he blame her for what had happened last night. He didn’t even seem to care that they’d caused a scandal! Probably because he’d weathered much worse storms in his life. She had to admire him for that—for being the kind of man who didn’t sweat over scandal because he knew what a real tragedy was.
She looked up at the housekeeper and had to blink back tears.
“These are very beautiful,” she croaked, indicating the flowers. “The Duke has excellent taste.”
“Indeed, he does,” the housekeeper agreed, smiling knowingly at her.
She seemed to be saying,In flowers and in wives, and it touched Violet more than she could say.
For the rest of the morning, Violet barely paid attention to anything Mr. Cain and her sister spoke of. What harm could it really do to let her sister flirt for once? Perhaps Mr. Cain would even prove himself to be worthy of her sister as a suitor and a husband.
It was with some irony that Violet noted how much more generous she was to her sister’s caller now that she had received flowers from her husband.
Happiness in my marriage makes me happier for other people.But how long will this happiness with James last? He still hasn’t said he’s changed his mind about children or having a real marriage.
At last, Mr. Cain left, and Rosalie couldn’t stop smiling.
“Oh, Violet, he is so charming and witty!” she gushed as she hopped around the room. “Did you hear the conversation that we had about trends in contemporary literature?”
“I wasn’t listening,” Violet admitted. “My head is in the clouds today. By the way, we will be having dinner tonight with the Duke. He has asked us to gather for an intimate meal.”
“Does that mean Iris and the Duke of Eavestone will be there as well?”
“Of course. I’ll write to Iris now and invite them.”
“I’ll be in my room until then,” Rosalie said, sighing dreamily. “Reading, of course.”
“Of course.” Violet laughed as her sister left the room, and then she stretched, stood up, and looked once more at the vase of violets.
She couldn’t guarantee that whatever James would say tonight would please her. He might still stubbornly refuse to be a husband to her. But the violets gave her hope that he was at least considering a compromise.
“Either way, I’ll finally know why he is adamant about never becoming a father,” she muttered to herself.
