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“ D aphne has surely outdone herself this time,” Leopold remarked with a low whistle as the Kingsman family stepped into the grand entrance hall of the estate. They had arrived for one of the most anticipated house parties of the Season, personally invited by none other than their longtime friend.

“That’s Duchess of Greymont to you now,” Violet Kingsman teased, casting her brother a playful glance. Despite her light tone, she couldn’t help but silently agree.

It felt that just yesterday that her friend Daphne had been a young girl. And now, she had so gracefully risen to the title of duchess. Violet did not have any sisters, so Isadora and Daphne were not only her closest friends, but their bond was no less than that between siblings.

“Oh, my apologies,” Leopold chuckled. “ Duchess Daphne. I admit, a title like that holds quite a bit of weight.”

Jasper, the oldest of the Kingsman siblings at twenty and four, caught up to them as they walked inside. He had overheard their conversation. “It is definitely one that commands respect. I say that you ought to take a page out of your friend’s book and find yourself a duke as well.”

Violet blushed violently at the suggestion, causing her brothers to exchange amused glances before breaking into laughter.

“I think that is a terrific idea,” Leopold continued.

Her two brothers never missed an opportunity to tease her.

No matter how old she got, Violet would always remain their baby sister—relentlessly mocked but fiercely protected when it truly mattered.

“The only thing is, brother… do you think Violet even knows how to look for a husband?”

“A fair point, Leopold. Between her books and her embroidery, I doubt she’s even noticed a gentleman exists.”

Violet stiffened, turning to face them, her eyes narrowing. “I beg your pardon? And why, pray tell, would I not know how to look for a husband?”

“Well,” Jasper said, spreading his hands with a mock air of innocence, “you haven’t exactly been out much this Season, have you? Unless you’re planning to wed one of your novels?”

“That would explain her standards,” Leopold added with a grin. “She’s expecting a hero to step out of a book and sweep her off her feet.”

“I do not expect—” Violet stopped herself, exhaling sharply.

“I simply haven’t seen the need to attend every tedious ball in existence.

Besides,” she added, her tone turning defensive, “whenever I do attend, it’s not as though there is a lack of attention.

Can either of you say the same about your invitations to dance? ”

The brothers exchanged a glance, and then Jasper smirked. “Oh, we’re not saying you can’t attract attention, dear sister. We’re saying you won’t do anything with it.”

“Exactly,” Leopold chimed in, leaning forward as if about to share a great secret. “You’re far too busy finding reasons to dislike every gentleman who approaches you. Too dull, too boastful, too little interest in Shakespeare…”

“And don’t forget the one who didn’t know Byron’s works,” Jasper added with mock horror. “Truly unforgivable.”

“Well, it is unforgivable,” Violet snapped though her cheeks flushed. “How can I possibly consider a life with someone who cannot even appreciate Byron ?”

“You’re missing the point,” Leopold said, shaking his head in mock dismay. “You’ll run out of eligible gentlemen before you run out of books to read.”

“And what’s wrong with that?” Violet retorted, crossing her arms. “At least books don’t pester me about what I should or shouldn’t be doing.”

“Ah,” Jasper said, leaning back in his chair with a smug grin. “But books won’t help you secure your future, Violet. Unless, of course, you somehow plan to dispose of us both and inherit all the family land.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Violet shot back, unamused by his dramatization. “I will find someone worthy when the time is right.”

“And until then?” Leopold asked, smirking. “Another trip to the library?”

Her glare was sharp enough to make them laugh outright, but Violet turned on her heel, lifting her chin. “I don’t have to justify myself to either of you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be where the intelligent company is—probably with Daphne.”

She swept out of the room, her skirts rustling softly as she moved through the hallway toward the drawing room where she knew her friends would be.

But as she walked, her brothers’ words lingered in her brain.

Fine, there was some truth to them. Admittedly, Violet was something of a wallflower.

While some ladies preferred to draw attention towards themselves, she liked instead to remain in the background.

She had always been more comfortable with a book than a ballroom. But why should that be a flaw?

She bit her lip as she weaved through the glittering crowd.

Deep down, she had always believed that the right person would simply…

appear. That fate or providence or whatever force guided such things would place him in her path at the perfect moment.

Surely, love didn’t require scheming or desperation, did it?

Surely, she wouldn’t have to search for it.

Her perfect prince charming would just appear. He had to.

“Violet.” Isadora’s voice cut through her thoughts. She was already with Daphne, who seemed to have finally caught a moment to breathe in between her hosting responsibilities. “Finally.”

“You’re late,” Daphne teased with a bright smile as Violet approached. “We were about to send someone after you.”

“Oh, am I?” Violet shook her head, “Well, I cannot be blamed for any tardiness. I had to arrive here with both of my brothers, and you know how they can be. Jasper, especially. He likes to live by his own schedule.”

Daphne laughed, squeezing her hand to let her know that she did not mean to seriously chide her.

“No worries, my dear. Perhaps I was just being impatient. Can you blame me? The thing that excites me most about this house party is the fact that I will get to spend more time with my two closest friends.”

“You have done an excellent job at it, too,” Isadora noted, smiling. “I have never seen such grandeur at Greymont Estate.”

“I agree,” Violet joined in, “In fact, my brothers and I were discussing the same thing—that you have done a spectacular job with the arrangements.”

“Ah, lovely to hear that the both of them could make it. Where are they now? I have not greeted them yet,” Daphne said, smiling genuinely.

Violet shrugged her shoulders, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. “I do not know, and frankly, it would be better for me to avoid them for some time. They spend every possible moment in reminding me how I should be scavenging for a husband.”

Daphne tilted her head, a glint of amusement in her eyes as she observed Violet’s exasperated expression. “Well, they are your brothers. Teasing you is practically their favorite pastime. But surely even they must know that you don’t need to be ‘scavenging’ for a husband.”

Violet let out a dry laugh. “I try to ignore their pessimism as much as I can.”

Isadora chuckled, fanning herself lazily. “To be fair, Violet, if I had brothers, I imagine they’d be saying the same. We ladies are not exactly given much room to breathe without someone mentioning the prospect of marriage.”

Daphne smiled cryptically but said nothing. Violet and Isadora exchanged a look.

“Something wrong?” Violet asked.

Daphne bit down on her lip, “Oh, no, no. Quite the opposite.” The Duchess was acting coy and in a manner quite unlike herself. Violet knew then that she had something of substance to share—she knew her friend too well and could read her like the back of her hand.

“Out with it, Daph, ” Violet nudged her, smiling now. “You clearly have something to say, and I did not come all the way from Nightingale Manor for you to keep mum like this.”

Daphne nodded, steeling herself. “I have known for some weeks now, but I thought I should wait for the right moment when I could tell the both of you in person. I thought it might mean more this way.” She paused for a moment, her hand coming to rest gently on her abdomen. “I’m expecting.”

There was a beat of silence, just long enough for Violet and Isadora to process the announcement, before they both erupted into a flurry of congratulations.

“Daphne!” Violet gasped, reaching out to clasp her friend’s hands. “That’s wonderful news! Oh, I’m so happy for you.”

Isadora mirrored the excitement. “This is marvelous! You’re going to be the most radiant mother, I just know it. Does Ambrose know? Of course he does. What am I saying? How is he taking the news?”

Daphne’s smile softened at the mention of her husband. “Ambrose is thrilled, of course. He’s already fussing over me as if I’m made of porcelain.”

“As he should!” Isadora grinned, enthused.

“We’ll be with you through this, too,” Violet assured her, her earlier irritation with her brothers completely forgotten. “Does this mean that Isadora and I are going to be aunts?”

“Yes,” Daphne beamed. “The baby is due to arrive by the beginning of next year, and we cannot wait.”

The three women fell into discussions of what they would do when the baby arrived and if it would be a girl or a boy.

They had countless discussions like this before, of course, as many young girls did.

But this time, one of them was actually going to become a mother.

It felt like yet another steppingstone in their friendship and a true indicator that they had grown up.

“Daphne beat us all to the altar, and now she is the first of us to become a mother,” Isadora noted, smiling. “Quite the pioneer she is.”

Daphne blushed at the comment while Violet grinned. “That she is. She found her Prince Charming well before either of us.”

The two friends nodded at the mention. “Oh, we were quite the dramatic trio, weren’t we?” Isadora admitted, laughing. “Looking for Prince Charming when most ladies would be happy just to find a husband.”