Page 16

“ G ood morning.”

Violet looked up, surprised to see the Duke at the breakfast table the next morning. Nicholas looked calm, though, as he took a seat across from her.

“ Oh. Good morning,” Violet replied, setting her teacup down carefully. “I wasn’t expecting to see you this morning.”

“You seem surprised. Am I such a rare presence in my own home?”

She hesitated before responding, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Not rare, precisely, but considering how I had to goad you to come to dinner the other night, yes, I would say that this is not entirely an oft occurring event either.”

He poured his coffee, his smirk faint but unmistakable. “Perhaps I’ve decided to change my habits.”

“How uncharacteristically spontaneous of you.”

“Uncharacteristic?” He let out a small laugh. “Oh Violet, it seems like you really do not know me at all, do you.”

Violet tilted her head slightly. “A man of intrigue.”

He took a slow sip of his coffee, his dark gaze steady on hers. “Wouldn’t that make things more interesting for you?”

Violet let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “I think I prefer to reserve judgment for now. After all, this is only the second time you’ve deigned to join me for a meal.”

Nicholas leaned back slightly in his chair, the hint of a challenge in his expression.

“And yet, you’ve already formed such strong opinions about me. What else have you decided about my character?”

She opened her mouth then closed it again, realizing too late that she had walked straight into his trap.

“I haven’t decided anything,” she said quickly though the warmth creeping into her cheeks betrayed her.

“Oh, I don’t believe that for a second,” Nicholas replied. “You’ve likely analyzed every word I’ve said, every gesture I’ve made. Am I right?”

She had. But she was not about to admit that out loud to him. Certainly not over the breakfast table.

“Not every word,” she shot back, her chin lifting slightly. “But you do have a habit of… making an impression.”

He leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on the table. “And what kind of impression have I made, Violet?”

Violet narrowed her eyes, refusing to let him see how flustered she felt. “For one one thing, it makes one wonder quite a bit what precisely you’re thinking when you smirk like that.”

Nicholas chuckled softly, like he had heard the statement many times before.

“You think I smirk too much?”

“Not too much,” Violet said though her tone betrayed her amusement. “Just enough to be infuriating.”

“Well, I’m glad to know I’ve perfected the balance. I’d hate to think I was falling short.”

Violet couldn’t help but laugh. God. He seemed to have perfected the balance between being infuriating and charming as well.

“Is that such a bad thing?”

“What?” He looked at her with curiosity. “Falling short you mean?”

“Yes, I mean, it is only human, don’t you think?”

For a second, his expression morphed into one that she had never seen before from him. When he spoke, there was a lingering seriousness in his tone.

“Not for me.”

Violet wondered what he meant by that, but he did not let the seriousness tinge the conversation for too long.

“But I scarcely think that applies here. At least I’ve managed to make breakfast entertaining.”

She glanced at him then, her smile lingering as she wondered once again what to make of him. There was something about Nicholas—he seemed to harbour a part of himself that rarely came out. His presence unsettled her in ways she didn’t entirely dislike.

“You’re right about one thing,” she said finally, her tone quieter now. “I don’t know you at all. You surprise me, Nicholas.”

Nicholas’ lips curved into a faint smile. “Good. I’d hate to think I’ve become predictable.”

As he rose from his seat, he glanced at her once more, his expression unreadable. “We’ll leave when you’re ready for your family’s house.”

“I am glad that you have decided to come along with me.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Nicholas replied, leaning forward slightly. “Did you think I’d send you alone?”

“No, of course not,” she said quickly though the truth was she wasn’t sure what to expect from him. He was a man of habits and contradictions, both of which she was struggling to figure out.

“Good,” he said.

With that, he turned and left the room, his departure as unhurried as his arrival. It was not lost on her that he had not touched his food the entire time he was here.

Had he come to just see her then?

Violet sat back in her chair, her thoughts swirling as her own plate of food lay untouched. Nicholas had a way of leaving her with more questions than answers.

Perhaps, she thought, they were both full of surprises.

The carriage rolled to a halt in front of the Kingsman family estate.

Nicholas stepped out first. Violet followed, her posture more rigid than usual. Nicholas noted the way her fingers fidgeted with the folds of her gown.

“Why do you seem nervous?” His question was blunt. It was something that he had noticed all the way over to her family home. She had scarcely uttered a single word. “We are only meeting your family. You have known them all your life.”

Violet shot him a glare, as if annoyed by his pointing out of the obvious.

“Yes, thank you. I am aware of that. This is my first visit as a married woman, however. It is only natural to feel some nerves.”

His lips quirked. It was an endearing sentiment.

“So, pray tell, what happens when you are married, then? Do you magically transform? Do you become a different person, entirely divorced from what your life was like before?”

“Can we please just make our way inside?”

Her two brothers awaited at the door to greet them. They both wore expressions that were polite, bordering on cool.

Nicholas’ instincts sharpened immediately. Ah, so this is how it’s going to be.

“Jasper, Leopold,” Violet greeted warmly, stepping forward to embrace her brothers.

Jasper returned the gesture with a faint smile while Leopold ruffled her hair affectionately.

“Violet,” Jasper said, his tone formal. His gaze shifted to Nicholas, assessing him with precision. “Your Grace, welcome to our home.”

Nicholas inclined his head slightly, his smile measured. “Thank you. It’s a pleasure to meet you again.”

Jasper’s lips twitched as though he were deciding whether or not to smile. “The pleasure is ours,” he said though his tone was more perfunctory than welcoming.

Leopold stepped forward, his smirk deepening as he extended a hand. “Leopold Kingsman. Welcome, Your Grace.”

Nicholas noted the subtle exchange of glances between the brothers and understood immediately: they weren’t entirely convinced by him.

Interesting, he thought. They’re protective. That’s good. It means they care about her.

Instead of being put off, Nicholas found himself relishing the prospect. Winning over the Kingsman brothers, it seemed, would be a challenge. And he did enjoy a challenge.

Later, Arabella sat at the head of the table with both her sons flanking her. Jasper’s sharp gaze flicked to Nicholas at every opportunity. It was calculating. Leopold was less subtle, his smirk carrying an edge of mischief that suggested he was waiting for Nicholas to slip up.

“So, Your Grace,” Arabella began, turning to Nicholas, “how was the journey here? I do hope the roads weren’t too disagreeable.”

“They were in good condition, thank you,” Nicholas replied smoothly, setting his glass down with an effortless poise. “Far better than I expected for this time of year.”

Polite but stiff conversation at first. It was to be expected.

“Ah, that’s a relief.”

For his part, Nicholas remained composed, answering questions with measured courtesy. He was well aware that he was being tested.

It wasn’t until the topic shifted to business matters that the dynamic began to change.

“You’ve taken on quite the task with Bernight,” Jasper remarked, skeptically. “I’ve heard it’s a rather… demanding estate to manage.”

Nicholas inclined his head slightly, recognizing the challenge in Jasper’s words. “Demanding, yes. But with demand comes opportunity.”

Jasper raised an eyebrow. “Opportunity?”

Nicholas leaned forward slightly. “The land has its challenges, but it also has untapped potential. We’ve recently begun exploring new crop rotations and investing in more efficient irrigation systems. It’s a long-term strategy but one that will yield results.”

Leopold, who had been half-heartedly picking at his food, looked up with genuine interest.

“That’s not something you hear every day. Forgive us for the surprise, but we were not expecting such innovation.”

“A title doesn’t exempt one from thinking practically,” Nicholas countered.

The brothers exchanged a glance, their skepticism softening into something closer to respect.

But Nicholas knew that this was only the beginning. He had taken it up as a challenge to himself, actually. By the end of the visit, he was convinced that the brothers would have nothing but nice things to say about him.

For the corner of his eye, he noticed Violet glancing in his direction. Perhaps she was curious to know how he was being perceived by her brothers.

But when he caught her eye, she looked away rather quickly.

Nicholas shifted his attention to Arabella, who had been quietly observing the conversation. He could tell she was just as protective of Violet as her sons were—if not more so.

So then, he thought, it would be wise to win favour with her. “I must commend you. You’ve raised a daughter who has been nothing short of remarkable in her new role.”

Arabella blinked, her gaze sharpening slightly as though trying to discern whether his words were sincere or merely flattery.

“That is kind of you to say, Your Grace,” she replied with a faint smile. “But I imagine Violet’s adjustment has been no small task.”

“No, she has taken to the role very well,” Nicholas affirmed. From the corner of his eye, Nicholas caught Violet’s startled glance. Her cheeks flushed faintly, and she quickly busied herself with her glass of water as though pretending she hadn’t heard.