“Let me again make one thing perfectly clear.” He stepped even closer and suddenly Violet found it difficult to breathe. Trying to remain indifferent to him was getting harder by the second. And then he spoke, and his voice felt as though it was reaching out to her very soul. “There is no one here, other than you, or any woman in London for that matter, that holds my interest. I’m afraid you captured me from the very first glance and I am hard pressed to try and get you out of my mind. It’s no easy task, I assure you, Violet.”
“I am hardly some society lady, Gideon, as you very well know,” she said quietly, still touched at the thoughtfulness he put into the arrangement of flowers.
“And I am no titled gentleman but an ordinary man who knows his own mind and who he wants in his life.” The quirk on his lips made her wish to reach out to touch his mouth with her own, which of course she would never do.
“You should return to London. I’m sure Asher is worried about you,” Violet stated trying not to become captured by the spell he was weaving around her.
“And you’re changing the subject, my dear.” He held out his arm for her to take. “Come, let me escort you back to your parents.”
“I can walk without your aid.”
“I’m certain you can, but couldn’t you just humor me for a change? I wouldn’t want your father to think I wasn’t behaving like a gentleman.”
“I suppose for my parent’s sake I could yield just this once,” she replied, as she gently placed her fingertips in the crook of his arm.
He gave her hand a pat before he started walking with her back across the lawn. “See… that wasn’t too difficult, was it?”
She lifted her brow to stare at him. “You have no idea just how difficult it is to remain unresponsive to your charm, Sir Knight.”
His smile was wide, showing even teeth. “Progress! You finally admit I am charming and are using your nickname for me again.”
“A mistake I will clearly regret. I could call you a pirate but you forgot your eye patch,” she replied thinking of how irritated she had become when Arianna called him such a name.
“Feel free to use whatever nickname you’d like to call me as long as it’s…charming,” he said, giving her a wink. “I feel as though I just might be breaking through that wall you’ve erected around yourself, my lady.”
“You should enjoy your moment of conquest while it lasts, because you won’t hear such complimentary words from my mouth again.”
“Shall we make a bet on that, Angel?” he asked with an amused grin plastered on that handsome face.
“I think not,” she snapped, trying to hold her resolve to remain indifferent to him in place.
“Afraid of losing?”
“To you? Hardly. But I’m not the betting type. Instead, I’ll remain silent and if I must bear your company, you can continue escorting me to my parents. You can then be on your way back to London.”
He didn’t say anything further but his face told her more than she wanted to know. She had admitted her deepest secret, that she found him charming, to him. And usingSir Knightto address him? Good heavens, that had been a huge mistake on her part. Now he was acting like she had gifted him with a huge treasure. If only he knew how close to the truth he truly was.
She stepped away from him when they reached her mother and father because her fragile emotions were going to get the best of her. But when she saw her brother’s approach from the church with Clarissa and Daniel, she could breathe a little easier. Her parents excused themselves and went to speak to one of their neighbors.
Violet gave her sister-in-law a hug before taking hold of her nephew’s hand. “Captain Tyler, may I introduce you to Owen’s wife, Clarissa, and his son, Daniel,” Violet said. Daniel began playfully swinging their arms.
Clarissa bobbed a curtsy. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Captain Tyler. I’ve heard so little about you and yet you’re related by marriage by my husband’s cousin,” she said brightly. “Patience and Asher’s wedding was so big I’m afraid I can’t remember being introduced to you.”
“It’s also a pleasure to meet you both,” Gideon said nodding. “And yes… my brother and his wife’s wedding was the event of the Season, or so my mother bragged. I’m afraid I was a bit indisposed and didn’t stay for much of the festivities following the ceremony.”
Violet studied him for a moment and realized perhaps this is why she also didn’t remember seeing him at her cousin’s wedding. “It was a lovely wedding. Patience has never been happier,” she murmured.
Gideon nodded. “As is my brother. I believe Patience has made him a new man. I’ve never seen anyone so devoted to his wife.”
Clarissa smiled brightly. “How wonderful that their relationship is a love match and not one of convenience.”
Daniel tugged at Violet’s hand. “Is he courting you, Auntie?” he exclaimed with a frown. “Cuz if he is, he better have Gramp’s approval.”
“Daniel! We don’t say such things aloud,” Violet replied, aghast that her nephew would say something so personal.
Gideon gave a chuckle. “No harm has been done,” he stated, before kneeling down to Daniel’s level. “I spoke to your grandfather justyesterday to clear up any matters of concern he might have had about me spending time with your aunt.”
“Seeing as you’re still in town attending church, he must have liked what you told him.” The young boy tilted his head to stare at Gideon. “So… you plan on marrying my aunt?”
