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A rumor she did not concern herself with, for the Duke was at least honest with her about his intentions when they wed. And his honesty was the only thing that brought her hope.

A marriage of convenience…

Truth be told, when it was said and done, it would hardly be a marriage at all.

“If you need anything at all…” Daniel took her hand and squeezed it as he looked at her with sorrow. “All you need do is tell me. You know that, don’t you?”

“I do.” She smiled warmly, as she did not want him to think that she blamed him for any of this.

“And if he does anything at all to you—and I do mean anything—you tell me,” Daniel pressed, his tone hardening. “I will make sure that he knows better than to lay a hand on my sister.”

“Oh, stop being so dramatic,” their mother swatted him away. “The Duke is an honorable man, and he knows what is expected. Speaking of which…” She shuffled closer. “Shall we speak of tonight, dear?”

“Tonight?” Violet frowned.

Her mother looked pointedly at her. “Yes… tonight . It is your wedding night, after all. Do you know what is expected?”

“Mother…” Daniel groaned.

Violet felt her cheeks flush bright pink, and she could not bring herself to look at their mother. This, unfortunately, had her looking across the breakfast room and laying eyes on her husband once again, which made her cheeks flush deeper.

Although this marriage was one of convenience, Violet still expected it to be consummated. More than that, she needed it to be consummated.

While there would be no love in this union, she hoped and prayed that a child would at least be born of it. All she had ever wanted was a child of her own, and if she could not have love and happiness, she would have that.

They had not spoken about such things—they had barely spoken at all. However, Violet knew enough about these types of arrangements to know that even when the marriage was loveless, an heir was still expected. In her mind, that was the only thing the Duke would ever want from her.

Thus, she found herself watching her husband with a newfound curiosity. Studying him, taking in his physical appearance as she never had. She hardly knew the man, yet she could not deny how attractive he was. How strong. How powerful.

A life spent with him was not something she looked forward to, but a single night…

Perhaps that’s not the worst thing?

“It is not nearly as bad as you might imagine,” her mother was explaining.

“Mother…” Daniel groaned again.

She ignored him. “The Duke is not inexperienced, I am sure, and he knows about your…” She clicked her tongue. “Innocence. Let him take the lead, but do not shy away…”

Violet was not listening. Rather, she continued to watch her husband, her mind now flashing ahead.

This marriage was only set to last for a single night, as they had both agreed. But with it being their wedding night, she had no doubt what was set to happen. What she needed to happen, no less.

It was then that her husband frowned and turned his head, finding her staring. Their eyes met, and her pulse quickened, a sense that he disliked her as much as she did him… and something more.

She felt her heart fluttering, her body warming, her legs tingling.

Not the marriage I want, but if it is to last just one night, then I had better make it count.

The Duke came for her early in the evening, not long after the guests had left their home.

It’s not my home, for it will never be that.

Violet had been wondering if he would. With her mother’s words still fresh in her mind, she had decided that while she felt nothing for her husband, this at least was something that she needed to happen.

He will give me a child, someone for me to love.

The last of the guests had left an hour ago, while those staying in the house for the night had retired early to their rooms. As soon as they did, Violet made her way to her room, where she bathed and then dressed in a nightgown her mother had bought for her.

She was looking at herself in the mirror, deciding that her curves were surely something the Duke would like about her. And with how thin the material was, letting her nipples peak beneath, she doubted this night would go any way other than what was expected.

The door opened behind her, and she turned to see the Duke walking into the room.

“There you are.” He stopped halfway across the room, furrowing his brow when he saw what she was wearing. “I…” He hesitated as his eyes roamed over her body, and despite her inexperience, even Violet could see the desire in them. “I was looking for you.”

“You found me,” she said as she started across the room.

Her heart was racing, nerves threatening to break her. But she pushed through them, simply because she needed to.

“I wish to say that I will not be attending supper this evening.” He straightened and tore his eyes away from her body. “If you wish, the kitchen staff will fix you something.”

“There is no need,” she replied. “I find that my appetite is quite gone.”

“Good,” he said with a firm nod. Again, he could not stop himself from gazing at her, his eyes now fixed on her breasts. “Today went well, I think. As well as could have been expected.”

“I am glad you think so.”

“Tomorrow, once the last of the guests leave, we will discuss what is to be done. I have a few ideas concerning our living arrangements, but I would appreciate your input.”

“That is very kind.”

He scoffed, forcing himself to look her in the eyes. “It is not about being kind. It is about ensuring that word does not get out—that is most important.”

“I agree.”

Violet reached where he was standing, staying back only a few feet. He was still dressed as he had been at the wedding, although his shirt was unbuttoned down to his navel.

A thick, hairy chest, a muscular body that would make any woman quake. And yet she knew that she would never love him or feel much of anything for him.

He was a cold, dispassionate man who treated her and this marriage like an imposition.

They had spoken only a handful of times.

He had not once said or done anything to suggest that he cared about her or her feelings.

He was a stranger to her in that way, who she knew disliked her for reasons that felt personal, even though she had no idea what they might be.

“Good,” he said.

Again, his eyes flicked over her, and she waited patiently, for surely he would now do what he had come here to do.

“If that is all, I will see you on the morrow.”

With that, he turned to leave.

Violet gaped openly, shocked and a little disheartened to see her husband leaving her. A sight that should have brought her joy, but now felt like a slap across the face.

She thought to leave him. It was his job to take the lead… He was the one who was supposed to want this.

Only, if she did that, as hopeless as this marriage was already, it would somehow be that much worse.

“Wait,” she called after him. He stopped halfway across the room, turning and frowning at her. “You are leaving?”

“Yes,” he spoke carefully, seeming to understand what was going through her mind. “It has been a long day, and I am tired. As I am sure you are.”

“I thought…” She bit her lip. “Tonight is our wedding night.”

“I am aware.”

“Does that not mean…” She hesitated, hating that it had come to this.

Again, she reasoned that she had no choice.

Perhaps he is simply shy? Wanting me to make the first move?

“I was led to believe that certain things were expected of us?”

His frown deepened. “What are you…” he trailed off as he took her in, his eyes tracing her curves, noting the look on her face as it all came together. “Oh…”

“I know this marriage is not traditional…”

She went to him, and then, in an act of pure desperation, she reached out and took his hand. It was a strange thing, the reaction that caused in her body. While she did not like him one little bit, his touch sent a warmth through her such that she could feel her skin flush.

“But I thought?—”

He pulled his hand back. “You are mistaken.”

“I—”

“Was made aware of what was expected in this marriage,” he cut her off, his tone flat, almost bored. “An expectation that you agreed to. That you seemed rather pleased with if I remember correctly.”

“And I am!”

“And yet here you are,” he continued, looking her over, his gaze as dispassionate as his tone. “If I had expected to take you to bed, I would have said as much. And I thought you would understand this.”

Was it stupid that her husband’s cold dismissal hurt as much as it did? It should have been, all things considered.

When the Duke had asked for her hand in marriage, he had done so under one condition—a condition that she had eagerly agreed to, as she had no more desire to marry him than he did her.

While they would marry and become man and wife, the day after the wedding, she would leave his home and live free of him for the rest of her days. They would not spend any time together. They would not waste time trying to make their marriage work.

A blessing, she had agreed at the time, as she knew there would be no love to be found in this union.

And that was still the case. Nothing had changed. But in the weeks that followed, Violet had realized how lonely such a life would be, which brought about her desire to have a child. And since her husband was a duke, she had figured that he might want an heir.

Is that not the entire point?

“I… I do understand,” she assured him. “And I’m not seeking to change our arrangement. That is not my intent.”

“It is, from where I am standing.”

“I…” She bit her lip again, feeling unsure and exposed. “I am happy to live free from you; do not think differently. But if I am to do that, I thought it would be nice to…” She grimaced. “To have a child.”

“A child?”

It was the first time he showed emotion, his lip curling in disgust at the mere thought of such a thing.

“Is that such a bad thing?” she pushed. “Surely, you wish for an heir?”

“Is that what you think?”

“Do you not? As a duke, an heir is paramount to the survival of your family’s name and legacy. Is that not…” She could feel herself becoming erratic. “Is that not the entire point of marriage?”

The Duke sighed and then did something unexpected: he stepped into her. Her breath caught at the sudden movement, her heart leaping into her throat because she thought he was about to take her.

Indeed, his hand reached up, and she gasped, bracing herself for the feel of that hand on her face, where he would surely pull her into a kiss.

He did no such thing, of course. Rather, he reached for a strand of hair that had fallen over her brow, gently tucking it behind her ear. His fingers grazed her cheek, and she felt a shiver run through her at his touch.

That was as unexpected as it was … I do not know. His touch is nowhere near as awful as I thought it would be.

“I do not wish for an heir,” he said with perfect calm, stepping back from her. She released her breath, her heart racing and her body shaking from how close he had been to her. “I never did.”

“But—”

“Had I known you wanted one,” he spoke over her, still so calm, so unconcerned with how distressed she was becoming, “I would have made my intentions clearer, saving us the headache of this moment. Truly, I had assumed you would be of the same mind.”

“I am in everything but this,” she pressed desperately. “If I am to live alone, why not have a child to raise? Surely, you see the benefit?”

“I will remind you of how beneficial this arrangement is for you,” he said calmly. “I expect nothing of you. Once you leave here tomorrow, you will be free to do as you please. Go wherever you want. Befriend whoever you desire. Take a lover, if that is what this is really about?”

She winced and looked away with shame. “I… I do not want that.”

“And yet you may in time,” he continued. “And if you do your part as promised, I will have no notion of it. As far as I will be concerned, you won’t exist.”

His words were harsh but not unexpected.

Her husband was a cold, dispassionate man, and she did not think that would change anytime soon. But he was a man, she was a woman, and deep down, she had truly believed that at the very least he might want her.

I saw it in his eyes. I felt it in his touch—for that was what that meant! It had to be. I know he wants me. Why does he spurn me so?

She felt her anger rising. Disappointment too, as she knew the battle was lost. She wanted a child more than anything, but she was not about to beg him. That was a bridge too far, and she would not cross it.

“Fine,” she spat. “If that is the way it must be.”

He frowned at her sudden rancor, almost seeming amused. “Do not sulk. It is unbecoming.”

“Go!”

He stiffened, and the corner of his lip twitched, for no doubt he did not appreciate being spoken to like that. But she was done caring about what he wanted.

“Go!” she snarled again.

He sighed and shook his head. “I am surprised by you, Violet. Truly, I am. That you cannot see what I am doing for you. That you are not grateful.”

“Oh, I am grateful,” she hissed. “Grateful that I will never have to see you again.”

He shook his head, fixed her with a final dispassionate look, and then turned and strode out of the room, sure to slam the door shut behind him.

As for Violet? She was shaking with anger, which soon gave way to despair. Not because she would not see her husband again. Not because she would never find love. But because she now saw the true sorrow of the arrangement she had agreed to.

She would live and die alone, with no one to care for her, no one to care after—a lonely life that was far from the happy end she had once imagined.

Am I a fool? Was I so wrong to want this? Or is it simply that this right here is the best outcome I could ever hope for?

That thought made her situation all the more depressing, as if such a thing was possible.