Page 83 of My Darling Mr. Darling
“Yes,” Grey said. “Mouse does have a way about her. And an unassailable business sense, if I say so myself. A woman after my own heart—she saw an untapped market and positioned herself accordingly. They’re going to be wildly successful.” He gave a nod at Alex, who had arrived beside them, two glasses of champagne clenched in his fists, which he downed in quick succession.
“Miss Mitchell is a chatterbox, if an amiable one,” Alex said. “Did you know she has a profound interest in mathematics? I swear I have learned more from her in the last five minutes than I ever did at school; geometry was never so interesting as Miss Mitchell has made it appear.” He passed off his empty glasses to a passing servant. “Am I to be released from my obligations as sacrificial lamb? I have danced once with every lady present—more than either of you, I might add.”
“My apologies,” Grey said, though it was clear from his tone that he was thoroughly unrepentant, “Mouse wouldn’t hear of me inflicting my dancing upon the poor, innocent toes of her ladies.”
“And your excuse?” Alex inquired of John.
“I’ll let you know the moment I think of one,” John replied with a grin.
Alex heaved a resigned sigh. “The things I do in the name of friendship,” he said, his eyes cast heavenward. “I do hope the both of you appreciate the trouble I’ve gone to—and the suffering I’ll no doubt endure, since Mother will undoubtedly redouble her efforts to marry me off.”
Grey gave a casual shrug, his smile half-hidden behind the rim of his glass. “Oh, I don’t know about that. I expect that in short order, she’ll be too busy fawning over Mouse instead.”
A suspicion began to form in John’s mind. “Grey,” he said, “Do you have something you’d like to share?”
∞∞∞
“You’re with child?” Violet repeated, in the wake of the duchess’ delighted exclamation over Serena’s news.
“I would have told you sooner,” Serena said, “but you had rather a lot to contend with.” Subtly her hand brushed over her stomach—which was, of course, entirely disguised by the high waist of her gown.
A chorus of whoops went up across the room, and Violet looked up to see Grey besieged by a rousing set of slaps on the back. Despite the grace with which he accepted the congratulations, she supposed he looked rather—staggered by it.
“I’m so happy for you,” Violet said. “And Grey—how has he taken the news?”
“He’s panicked,” Serena confided. “You’d never know it to look at him, but he’s utterly panicked. Asked me every day for a week whether I was certain.” She gave a fond, if exasperated smile. “He was unamused when I informed him that marriagedoestend to result in babies. He is coming round to the idea, however. He fears he won’t make a good father.”
“Of course he will,” Violet said. “You have only to look at him to know it. I’ll allow that perhaps he won’t be the mosttraditionalof fathers…”
“I shall be shocked if that baby is out of the cradle before he—or she—is fleecing the aristocracy at the card tables,” the duchess said dryly, offering Serena a maternal embrace. “I can’t imagine a child luckier than to be born to the two of you.”
Serena’s smile wobbled fractionally, her eyes glittering with tears. “I’m going to need so much help,” she said. “I haven’t a mother, or any sisters to whom to apply for advice—”
“Oh, my dear,” the duchess said, and she draped an arm around Violet’s shoulders, pulling her into the embrace she shared with Serena. “Ofcourseyou have.”
Serena made an awkward little sound deep in her throat as she returned the embrace. “Yes,” she said, her voice breaking on the word as she settled her head onto Violet’s shoulder. “Of course. I don’t know how I could ever have thought otherwise.”
“And you,” the duchess said, “dear, dear Violet. Welcome to the family.”
It could be just that easy, Violet realized, to open oneself up and accept the place that had been offered up to her. Family—whatever it looked it, in whatever shape it took—was simply like that.
Epilogue
“Anunqualified success,” Violet chirped cheerfully as she began plucking the pins from her hair. She and John had returned home—to Violet’s townhouse—together, after the conclusion of the evening, and they hadn’t even been sneaky about it. “The duchess was perhaps a bit more generous with her praise than we deserved,” she said, “but she did profess to be most impressedwith the results of our tutelage.” She hadn’t realized quite how much the approval would mean to her—but the pride in the duchess’ voice had left her feeling aglow with satisfaction.
“Of course she was impressed,” John said, tugging at the knot of his cravat. “You worked miracles.”
Violet gave a light laugh, feeling light as air, effervescent. “Well, not quitemiracles,” she said. “Truth to tell, I expect our classes going forward will only increase in difficulty. We’ll likely be quite busy.” Canting her head to the side, she added thoughtfully, “Perhaps we might hire an additional lady or two to fill out our ranks. Surely there is no dearth of women with the requisite knowledge—perhaps a lady who would otherwise be forced to take up a position as a governess or a companion.”
“I can see that Serena’s not the only one with a head for business,” John teased as he moved to stand behind her.
“You don’t mind?” Violet asked, pulling her hair over her shoulder to allow John access to the buttons marching down her back. “I realize it is not at all thedone thingfor a woman to be involved with a business of her own—”
“Vi,” he interjected, “so long as you are happy, I am happy.” He dropped a kiss on her shoulder as her gown gaped open at the back. “I admire you for your dedication, your ingenuity. I know what it takes to manage a business; I would never interfere with yours.” His hand drifted across her throat, pulled the tie of her chemise. “I’ll allow I’d be happier if you came home,” he said.
She would, too. It was long past time to step out of the darkness and into the light. “A week,” she said impulsively, turning to push his coat off of his shoulders. “Now that classes have concluded, I have time. So a week, then—to turn our house into ourhome.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I take it you’d like to redecorate the master suite?”