Page 3

“ I t is not that I doubt your intentions, but I am simply afraid that we are running out of time…”

Violet sat alone in her room, talking to an imaginary Lord Kembert. Since he refused to do so in reality, this was the next best thing she had. Four days had passed since she had first arrived at Greymont Estate, and now, it was nearing the end of the House Party.

She knew that someone like Lord Kembert would take their time to open up to someone new. But how much more time could he need? Despite having several near interactions, they had never actually spoken.

He needs time. I must be patient. Good things take time.

A sharp knock on the door interrupted her thought process, and a moment later, her brother Jasper came barging in.

“Getting ready for the ball, sister of mine?” He took a seat behind her vanity, observing her from a distance.

Violet nodded, going back to looking at herself in the mirror.

“I am glad that you’re preparing well for it. I came to speak with you about it.”

Violet stole a glance at her brother in the mirror, and alarm bells started sounding off in her head. “Is there something that must be discussed?”

Jasper rubbed the back of his neck. Even though he was older than she was, he was still a sibling and preferred to keep their conversations light. It was awkward for both of them whenever they needed to discuss something serious.

“Well, I came to advise you if you will let me.”

“Advise me?” Violet turned to face him, a smile lighting up her face. “About attending a ball? Brother, I know I do not step out of the house much, but this is not my first ball. I am fully aware of how I should be conducting myself.”

He shook his head. “No—I am not here to discuss ballroom etiquette. Violet, I have received word that you taken interest in Lord Kembert, the Baron of Carnock. A peculiar choice, if I may add. And while that may itself be permissible, what makes it worse is that he seems to have no interest in you.”

Violet felt her cheeks heat up in indignation. “Who gave you this information?”

“Does it really matter who? If this is indeed true, then I should tell you that you must not waste your time pursuing someone who has little interest in you,” Jasper continued, now serious.

But Violet was still stuck on who was conveying her personal information to her brothers. She had made it a point to not let her brothers even catch a whiff of what her intentions were, acting coy whenever asked about her intentions for the house party. So then, who could have told them?

The realization came with a flush to her cheeks. “ Isadora. She told you, did she not?” Violet hissed.

“No, no. She would not do that to you,” Jasper defended, albeit feebly. “But I might have overheard your conversation earlier.”

“There is nothing to be concerned about.” Violet folded her arms in front of her chest.

“ Really? ” Jasper raised an eyebrow. “Because I do not think I have ever seen Lord Kembert speaking to a lady in all the years that I have seen him at events. Some even say he is not interested in them. He seems to be only interested in himself.”

Violet bit down on her lip, absorbing this new information. This was good. She wanted to know everything there was to know about him if she was to become his wife in the future.

“Violet,” Jasper chided, moving closer to put a hand on her shoulder now, “there are much better men out there than Lord Kembert for heavens sake. Take my advice, and forget him. You can find someone much more suitable and one who is actually interested in knowing you.”

“I believe I can make my own decisions,” Violet said, undeterred.

The more people tried to discourage, the more resolved she became.

And besides, they would see that she had been right when she finally made her match.

“Now, please, if you will excuse me, I need to finish getting ready for the ball, and the lady’s maid is waiting outside for me to let her in. ”

Jasper shook his head as though he knew better than to argue.

After all, Violet could be quite obstinate on occasion. Once she set her mind to something, it was rare that someone could talk her out of it.

“As you wish…” he sighed, walking out of the room. As he left, the lady’s maid walked in.

“Good. No more wasting time,” Violet said, turning back to face the mirror. She had to prove her brother—and her friends—wrong.

“Perhaps tonight is the night,” Isadora teased Violet as they made their way to the ballroom, arms interlocked. “Do you think he is finally going to ask you to dance?”

Violet nodded confidently, but it was nothing more than a facade. She had given both Daphne and Isadora the impression that things were going well with Lord Kembert and that he had been giving her subtle hints to indicate his interest.

Of course, he had not so much even looked in her way. But what they did not know wouldn’t hurt them.

“I think so. Do you like my dress?” Violet said, shifting the topic of conversation away to something other than Lord Kembert. The pressure was mounting on her, and discussing it only made her nervous.

“It is as lovely as you are,” Isadora grinned. “But it is not my approval you should be seeking.”

Violet straightened her back. “Yes, well…” she muttered, blushing already.

Daphne had outdone herself once again with the arrangements.

The ballroom with glittering with the fancy gowns of ladies and the polished suits of gentlemen.

It was a full house, and even at the start of the night, Violet could tell that there would be ample opportunities to mingle with a possible suitor.

But as the night stretched on, Violet mostly kept to herself.

She remained in the background, not venturing out to the front where she might be spotted by a gentleman.

In her mind, it was not only out of shyness that she chose to do this.

Yes, it had something to do with her shyness.

But also, because she was reserving her attention only for Lord Kembert.

It was a pity that they had not gotten a chance to converse.

Yet.

“Well, well, well…” Leopold caught up to her. She was standing by the refreshments table, arms crossed in front of her. “Still lurking at the edges, I see.”

Beside him stood Jasper, his expression equal parts amused and exasperated.

“I was merely enjoying a drink,” Violet defended herself, hiding her burning cheeks behind her glass. “Don’t the two of you have anything better to do?”

“Better?” Leopold grinned teasingly. “What could be better than watching you skirt around the edges of the room, throwing wallowing glances towards Lord Kembert while he pays you no heed?”

“I have been doing no such thing,” Violet humphed. “You are imagining things.”

“Are you sure we are the imaginative ones here, or is it you?” Jasper jumped in. “We’ve been watching him all evening, and the man hasn’t so much as glanced in your direction. Are you certain this… interest isn’t entirely one-sided?”

“It is not,” Violet said firmly, lifting her chin. “Lord Kembert and I understand each other in ways you wouldn’t begin to comprehend. He’s reserved, yes, but I know what it’s like to be shy. It takes time to open up.”

Leopold snorted, earning a sharp glare from Violet. “Are you utterly convinced that something will come out of this?”

“Yes, because I understand the art of subtlety,” Violet argued. “If the two of you were more perceptive, then you would have noticed that there were plenty of instances where the Baron signaled his interested towards me.”

Jasper and Leopold exchanged an amused glance, and the latter looked as though he was barely managing to suppress a laugh, his lips twitching with the effort.

“Pray tell. What are these signs ?”

“Well… for one thing, I caught his eye when he came to collect a glass of lemonade from the table. And then, we almost spoke at the dinner table last night.”

“Oh, Violet,” Jasper put a sympathetic hand on his sister’s shoulder. “I admire your dedication, if anything. I promise that once this house party ends, and we arrive back at Nightingale Manor, I shall find you a gentleman worthy of your affections.”

While Jasper’s intention had been good natured and brotherly, it had the opposite effect on Violet. “There shall be no such need, and I will prove it to you.”

She spotted Lord Kembert in the distance and waved off her brothers. He was by himself. He met her gaze, and Violet decided this was the perfect moment.

It was now or never.

Slowly, she marched up to him, giving a polite curtsy as she reached him. She could feel her brothers’ curious gaze burning at her back.

“My Lord.”

He gave her a once-over, his expression placid. She could not tell if he was happy to see her or if she was inconveniencing him.

“Lady…?” he trailed.

Oh, of course. How silly of me. I should have begun with my introduction. “Lady Violet Kingsman of Nightingale Manor.”

He nodded, swirling the wine in his glass. His expression remained unreadable, but she was certain there was something beneath Lord Kembert’s reserved exterior, something worth uncovering.

“Lady Violet,” he repeated in a dry tone and took another sip of his drink.

“I just wanted to say… I’ve noticed you prefer to keep to yourself at these sorts of events. Not that it is a bad thing… quite the opposite, really. In fact, I wanted to tell you that I understand. I am the same way,” Violet rambled, nervously.

He continued to stare at her with a blank expression.

“I suppose what I really wish to say is that…” Violet steeled herself, her heart feeling as though it would burst out of her chest at any moment. “… that I find you quite intriguing. Different from the others. I suspect that we would get along swimmingly.”

Her cheeks were burning, and she was out of breath by the time she got the last of the words out. Lord Kembert took a long sip from his glass.

“I appreciate your observation, Lady Violet, but it is not my intention to attract any attention.” His lips dipped downwards into a frown. “Nor am I here to make any acquaintances in case I have given you that idea.”

“I…” Violet felt the words dry up in her throat, leaving in their wake a flush of embarrassment that crept up her neck and settled hotly on her cheeks. “I was merely commenting what I had observed…”

He cut her off, his voice sharp. “Then I must say that your observation skills are lacking. If you truly paid attention, you would know that I dislike being approached, nor do I like to waste my time in idle conversation. Now, if you will excuse me.”

Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Violet standing alone, her cheeks burning with humiliation. She stared after him, stunned. Her brothers were correct—he had no interest in her.

The rejection felt like a slap to the face. How could I have been so delusional? All the signs that she had picked up as interest were nothing more than just a figment of her own imagination. Suddenly, the room felt as though it was closing in on her, and her feet began to act of their own accord.

I need to get out of here. Get a breath of fresh air.

The cold air slapped her face, but it was a welcome change as she stepped out of the mansion and out into the gardens.

It was not appropriate for a lady to be roaming out into the gardens without a chaperone, especially at night, but she needed to be alone right now.

She would rather have the earth open up and swallow her whole instead of facing her brothers, who had been just proven right.

“What am I going to tell Isadora and Daphne?” Violet rubbed a hand across her face. Violet had never read a situation this wrong before. Lord Kembert was the furthest thing from interested, and it seemed that everyone except for her could see it.

In her embarrassment, she ventured further and further into the garden. At least here no one would bother her. It was just her and her storms of emotions.

Or at least that’s what she thought.

Crunch.

Violet spun around, her heart leaping into her throat as she searched the shadows for the source of the sound.

Perhaps it is just an animal, she consoled herself.

But the crunch turned into steady footsteps until finally, a pair of arms held her steady at the waist and pulled her back.

A low voice whispered near her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

“ Found you, little rabbit.”