Page 51 of How to Start a Scandal

‘I’ll think about it,’ she whispered.

He smiled at her. ‘I’m very pleased to hear it.’

‘Will you be at Lady Norrick’s soirée tonight?’ Violet asked.

‘I believe my mother has confirmed our attendance.’

‘I will be there,’ Violet said.

‘Then I look forward to it.’ He studied her, as though memorising her face. A soft smile touched the corners of his lips. ‘You are so very beautiful, Violet.’

His words were like honey pouring over her, golden and sweet and perfect. He lifted a hand to her face and hovered just before actually touching her jaw. She tilted her chin slightly higher, making it easier to touch his lips to hers.

But he did not. Instead, he stepped back to put a proper amount of space between them and bowed. ‘I shall see you this evening, Lady Violet. Please do consider my request.’

‘I will,’ she said softly. ‘Thank you for coming, Lord Dalton. And for your patience and understanding with my response.’

He paused as though he intended to say more, but instead offered well wishes for a good day and departed. She watched his proud, handsome figure disappear from the room and her knees went soft, barely strong enough to keep her upright.

As soon as the door clicked closed behind him, she sagged against the wall, nearly upsetting a small table with fragile notions. The door to the drawing room opened even as her head still spun. Lord and Lady Hollingston stood in the yawning doorway, their expressions keen.

‘Well?’ Violet’s mother came closer. ‘Will you allow him to court you?’

Violet’s stomach tightened. ‘I told him I would think about it.’

‘That you would...?’ Lady Hollingston gave an exasperated sigh. ‘Violet, where are your senses? This is the best offer you will receive. Most likely the only one. You are too old to attract anyone else. And certainly age will not do your figure any favours—’

‘Enough, Judith.’ Lord Hollingston shot his wife a hard look. ‘Is it any wonder she lost her confidence after her debut when you shamed her into wearing the dress you preferred?’

‘Is it any wonder she detests the idea of marriage when you offer such an example of being a husband?’ Lady Hollingston snapped back.

Violet pushed off the wall and waited for their bickering to stop. Their disagreements were a common occurrence. They used to hide their lack of affection for one another, but it had become more open as the years crept onwards and the house emptied of children.

Theirs was indeed an unhappy marriage, but that had never been the cause of Violet’s trepidation. If anything, it had been the reason she’d wanted to wed, to escape.

‘If you feel as though you can mother her better than me, then by all means.’ Lady Hollingston held her hand out in invitation towards Violet and quit the room with her back ramrod straight and her skirt whipping around her ankles.

‘Should I call you Mother now?’ Violet asked with a little smile.

He scoffed. ‘Insult me and see where it gets you.’ He winked to soften his words. ‘Lord Dalton seemed to think you had taken a liking to him. That perhaps you had changed your mind about marriage. Is that true?’

‘I do like Lord Dalton,’ she said cautiously.

‘You do know not all marriages are like the one I have with your mother.’ He cast a scowl over his shoulder. ‘I didn’t even much care for her when we first wed. Her family was ridiculously wealthy.’ He sighed. ‘And my title had little behind it but a name.’

Violet said nothing, afraid of interrupting this rare confession from her father. Generally his life, his past, was something he did not speak of.

As abruptly as it had started, it stopped. He smiled at her. ‘If you enjoy Lord Dalton’s company and you promised to think about the matter, I hope you truly take it into careful consideration. It would be a shame to lose out on a good match due to pride.’

He pressed a kiss to her forehead and left her in the capacious room with a war of indecision raging in her mind.

Was it worth the risk?

As soon as Seth entered the soirée, Rawley was at his side, asking after Caroline.

‘Even if I told you she was here, which she isn’t, you wouldn’t do a thing about it.’ Seth frowned at his friend, fighting back the temptation to tell Rawley what Caroline had been reduced to doing because of his crippling shyness.

‘I keep meaning to approach her.’ Rawley swiped a hand over his parted hair. ‘I even walk towards her, but every time I get close, once I see her...’ Rawley shook his head. ‘She’s so beautiful.’ He pressed his lips together like an old man. ‘I believe you may be mistaken about her feelings. Surely she doesn’t mean me.’