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“She was lovely,” she heard a man’s voice rumble.
“Easy for you to say, you’re married already. Your family isn’t proposing you attach yourself to a social-climbing debutante just for the sake of marrying someone,” another replied. There was a familiar tone to it that made her heart flutter faster. Or perhaps it was the words. He clearly didn’t want to meet her. If she hadn’t already known this trip had been a waste of time, she was certain of it now.
Violette took a deep breath, wishing she could be anywhere else. Do anything but walk into that room. “Introduce me, please,” she said to the footmen who looked at her uncertainly. His look actually helped her composure. “Really, it’s far more polite to just enter than to stand here and eavesdrop.”
But the room within had gone silent. They had heard her, apparently. Nothing to do but square her shoulders and grit her teeth through the evening, then move on.
The footmen stepped inside and Violette followed. She put on her best face, hoping to move through this with some measure of grace. But as she rounded the doorway, her heart nearly stopped in her chest and then began thumping wildly. Air seemed difficult to breathe as she tried to understand what she was seeing. In front of her stood Mr. Theodore Riley.
Chapter Six
The mistakes Theo had just made compounded in his mind as he tried and failed to form words. Both his sisters, Luke, Ryker, and his mother watched him intently. Violette stood in front of him, her large brown eyes shining with what looked to be tears. How could he be so daft? A lady, traveling within hours of his home, was the very lady his mother was attempting to match him with.
Faced with her now, it made complete sense.
And though he’d only known her a day, his chest ached with the thought that he’d just hurt her. He’d lied about his identity and she’d overheard his scathing words. He could not have handled this any worse. He was beginning to think Barbados had scrambled all his good sense.
“Lady Violette,” his voice reverberated in his chest, coming out as a near growl.
“Mr. Riley.” She drew out the Mister and her spine seemed like a broomstick, she held it so straight.
His mother, who had been silent, chimed in. “Mr. Riley?” She stood. “You’re acquainted?”
“We met on the road yesterday,” he said without expanding. The need to protect her surged in his gut. He didn’t know what his mother knew about Violette, but he didn’t want to share that he’d paid for conveyance. It would tarnish her reputation, her viability as a candidate. Not that she was being considered. He needed to finish the venture he’d begun in Barbados. This shipping company would prove to his family that he was a man
—and a successful one at that. He nearly growled at the circles in which his own thoughts were spinning.
“And you introduced yourself as Mr. Riley?” His mother’s voice grew shriller by the second.
His molars ground together. He was confused enough and he hadn’t answered to anyone for some time. This is what he’d been rebelling against. “Habit, Mother. I didn’t share my station abroad. It was a measure of protection.”
Violette gave him a gracious curtsey. “I’m honored to make your acquaintance…again.”
He knew what she meant and he nearly grinned. He liked her bit of sass, wished he could see it more. They had a great deal in common with one major difference. He’d had the funds to live as he chose. Violette was trapped. Which was why he couldn’t trust her. She needed a man like him and he needed to remain untethered. But Theo noted that she looked stunning in her formal gown. She should always be dressed as such with her creamy shoulders exposed by her pale blue silk and her tiny waist highlighted by the cinch of her dress.
He wanted to explain to her, tell her he found her lovely, and if ever a woman could tempt him, it would be her. But how did he say that in front of his family? How did he say it at all without revealing too much about his own feelings and giving her the information she needed to catch a duke? Because he clearly felt something. It had been difficult to leave her this morning and now that she was here, in front of him, he had the distinct urge to pull her close.
He wanted to apologize. He tried to remember the last time he’d felt compelled to ask for forgiveness. It had been a long time.
“How was your journey?” Tricia asked with her usual sunny demeanor.
Violette’s features softened. “Quite easy overall. Thank you for asking.”
“Where is your mother?” He stared at her, wanting to read the answer on her face as well as hear it.
He got his answer before she’d spoken a word. Those expressive eyes crinkled as her mouth tightened. “The journey seems to have taxed her.”
“Is that normal?” He took a step closer, wanting to help her, support her, understand what was happening.
She gave a stiff shake to her head.
“Do you think we could step onto the veranda? The rain has stopped.” Another step and he was next to her, offering his arm.
She gave a sharp inhale before she gently placed her gloved hand in the crook of his arm.
He ignored the stares of his family as they crossed the room. They would, of course, stay in plain sight. But that was likely not why they stared. He’d just declared he would not court this woman and here he was asking her to walk about. But he simply needed a chance to give her an apology. Whatever else he felt about her, he shouldn’t have lied.
She placed her gloved hand on the crook of his arm and he guided her to the doors.
