Page 14 of Most Sought-After Scoundrel in London (Wicked Widows League #31)
T he woman walking next to him was not the Violet that Cameron had encountered at the confectionery store weeks ago.
She held herself with an air of confidence he hoped would never disappear.
During his long journey back to London and under the watchful gaze of Lady Bronwyn, he had reflected upon the fact that he had been a fool to have not paid much attention to Violet previously.
He should have noticed the beautiful woman, who preferred to skirt about the edges of a ballroom, hid in the shadows to avoid the attention of the ton, or disappeared to her rooms for days to pen a verse or two to support herself.
He waved her forward to squeeze between two rows of crates. “Ladies first.”
Violet’s brow knitted, but only for a brief moment.
Shoulders squared, she walked through the tight space soundlessly.
In the beginning, Cameron had questioned why the Network had selected him to train Violet.
As usual, in their ultimate wisdom, they had selected the woman who best suited him.
Grateful for his position within the Network, he followed Violet with a bounce in his step.
Old Cadby, Lady Bronwyn’s father, was rustling about the back room of the tobacco shop that hosted every Council meeting Cameron had been to.
“Ah, there ye are.” Old Cadby greeted him as he took a seat at the table. “Come on in, Lady Violet. I promise ye, I won’t bite.”
With a poise and grace that rivaled that of a Royal, Violet entered the room and nodded to every Council member that she passed as she made her way to the remaining vacant seat next to Old Cadby. He assumed his usual position, stationed at the door.
“Right, I’ll call the meeting to order,” Old Cadby announced.
“We are here this evening to discuss the matter of Lady Violet.” The Network elders all turned their gazes toward Violet, who remained calm and collected.
No fidgeting of the hands. She didn’t lower her gaze.
In fact, she curved her lips slightly into a humble smile.
He wanted to shout, “ That’s it. Show them they can’t intimidate you ” as encouragement, but instead gave her a wink that she decided not to acknowledge.
Ms. Lennox, the elder to Violet’s left, asked, “Dear, do you have any questions for us before we begin?”
Knowing Violet’s mind was more likely than not racing with a thousand questions, for the lady was extremely curious, Cameron crossed his arms over his chest, signaling for her not to make inquiries at this stage of the meeting. Could she see him in her peripheral vision?
Gaze trained on Ms. Lennox, Violet answered in a soft, even tone, “Not at this time.”
“Do any of you have questions for Lady Violet?” Ms. Lennox asked as she looked at each member at the table.
Old Cadby waved his hand. Of course, the geezer had to add to the proceedings. Cameron widened his stance. Why he was bracing himself as if he was the one in line of fire, he had no notion, and quickly straightened and relaxed his shoulders, but kept his arms crossed.
“Go ahead, Cadby,” Ms. Lennox said, clearly trying not to roll her eyes at the man.
“What ye think about yer trainin’?” Old Cadby, a tobacco merchant through and through, slid him a side glance and then focused on Violet.
Cameron’s entire body tensed. She had been silent the entire journey from Matron Manor to Old Cadby’s tobacco shop.
He hadn’t the slightest idea of how to start the conversation he wished to have.
Given the short duration, he had elected to wait until after Violet had been officially admitted into the Network.
It had been a cowardly act, yet if he had read Violet’s body language correctly, the woman wasn’t ready to speak her mind either.
He gave a slow breath of relief as Violet looked over at him and smiled.
“I believe Lord Hurlington successfully carried out his assigned duties, which resulted in us being able to complete the task we were given.”
Violet’s slight emphasis on duties and tasks had Cameron worried.
She made no mention of the strong rapport that they had managed to develop.
They had been separated for two days, twelve hours, and sixteen minutes.
He knew, for he had agonized every second he was not in her company.
It was too short of a period for her affection for him to have changed, or had he been misunderstood?
“Hadfield informed us of your clever solution. We are most pleased.” Ms. Lennox resumed control over the proceedings. “Now, if there are no more questions, shall we vote?”
Cadby grumbled but nodded. As Ms. Lennox’s gaze moved from one elder to the next. They each voted in the affirmative until it was Cadby’s turn. He lowered his gaze to the table and said, “I’m sorry, lass, but I’m not convinced ye are ready.”
Cameron’s arms dropped to his side, and he was about to take a step forward when Violet stopped him with the barest shake of her head.
“In what area do you believe I’m lacking?” Violet challenged.
“We…” He waved his finger at each member in the room as he continued, “We are all bonded by kin. You would be the very first member to join not through marriage or birth. Without that alliance, how can I be assured you will uphold our secrets?”
As soon as Violet’s gaze fell upon him, Cameron realized he was doomed. Her deep frown clearly told him she was questioning his motives for asking for her hand in marriage. Damn Old Cadby and his concerns. How was he going to convince Violet his intentions were born out of love and not duty?
“What are you nattering on about, Cadby?” Ms. Lennox admonished. “Lady Violet has remained silent as to our existence for some time now prior to us confirming her suspicions, and I firmly believe she is a woman of her word. Once she gives us her oath, I'm confident she will not betray us.”
The Earl of Waterford, a man of few words, finally spoke.
“We tasked Hurlington and Lady Violet to establish a new form of communication because we all agreed it was time for us to change our ways. It was inevitable that we would one day need someone with talents not possessed by a current Network member. If there is to be a first, I see no reason why it should not be Lady Violet.”
Cameron’s jaw nearly fell open. Waterford’s extended speech was not only a resounding endorsement of Lady Violet but was entirely unprecedented, for the man rarely spoke at Council Meetings, preferring to either nod or remain silent.
Old Cadby cleared his throat. “Waterford, my boy, you have a point. Shall we vote once more?”
This time, Ms. Lennox did not rein in her reaction and rolled her eyes at Old Cadby as she began the process once more. “All in favor of us extending an invitation to Lady Violet to join the Network, please raise your hand.”
All six Council members raised their hands, and Ms. Lennox turned to Lady Violet. “Repeat after me…”
Cameron’s joy had his chest puffing out with pride.
He rehearsed his speech, hoping it would convince Violet to marry him, as he counted down the minutes until he could escort Violet home.
The familiar proceedings went on without incident, and when everyone stood, Cameron moved swiftly to Violet’s side.
But the cold look that the lady gave him as he joined her was not a good start.
As Violet accepted words of encouragement and congratulations from the Council members, she avoided standing too close to Cameron or making eye contact with the man.
She should be over the moon and bursting with excitement, but the words Old Cadby had shared at the meeting had reignited her concerns as to Cameron’s motivations for marriage.
When Cameron winged his arm for her to take, her body betrayed her, and she slipped her arm through his.
She couldn’t resist the temptation to touch the man who made her heart flip upon contact.
Air. She needed to escape outside. The overpowering scent of tobacco was acrid to her senses.
At least that was her excuse for increasing her pace as they weaved their way out to the awaiting hack.
She accepted Cameron’s assistance into the vehicle.
She decided to position herself in the middle of the bench, leaving the rear-facing seat the most logical option for Cameron to take once he entered.
Except the rogue squeezed himself next to her, his thigh brushing up against hers, igniting sparks of desire that she had believed to be extinguished.
What a fickle soul she was. Merely hours ago, she had decided to confess her love for the man, and now she was about to inform him that marriage was out of the question.
Not one to change her mind flippantly, Violet questioned what was wrong with her.
Cameron reached for her hand, and she savored the warmth that the man provided. She had to stay resolute.
He rubbed his thumb over the inside of her wrist. “Violet. Congratulations.”
Lulled by his touch, she met his gaze. “Thank you… Thank you for all you have taught me.”
“I simply shared my knowledge with you. It is I who should be thanking you, for you have taught me the most important lessons over the past fortnight.”
Violet pulled her hand away and clasped her hands tightly in her lap. Once again, she sat in silence as her frustration at the inability to find the words mounted.
Cameron shifted to the seat opposite her. “Why did you leave early without me?”
The pain that cracked his voice sliced at Violet’s heart. She looked up to meet his gaze directly. “I needed the time and space to consider your proposition.”
The hack continued over the cobblestone street, and her response hung in the air. When she didn’t elaborate, Cameron asked, “Will you marry me?”
With no declaration of love, Violet was hesitant. While she would normally trust her instincts and firmly believed actions spoke louder than words, in this instance, Violet went against her best judgment and replied, “I’m sorry. I can’t.”
“May I ask why?” The vulnerability in his voice had her thinking about retracting her rejection.
Finally, her mind clicked into gear, and she answered, “A marriage born out of duty and responsibility is not one I wish to enter.”
“That is not the type of marriage I envision for myself either.” Cameron’s dark scowl was in total opposition to his words.
“Do you not know how much I care for you?” His raw tone, edged in anger, was not something she had been privy to prior.
Rather than continuing to plead his case, Cameron sat back, crossed his arms over his chest, and stared at her with eyes that were welling with moisture.
Violet blinked back her own tears that threatened to roll down her cheeks.
As the hack rolled to a stop, she jumped out of the vehicle and ran up the path to the front door of Matron Manor.
She couldn’t face Cameron a moment longer, or she would relent and agree to marry the man like her heart wanted.