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CHAPTER FIVE

Violet’s pulse raced as she entered the ballroom on Alistair’s arm.

The ornate chandeliers twinkled above, illuminating the guests who swirled across the dance floor.

The atmosphere was joyful, festive. Their official engagement party, no detail had been spared.

Violet couldn’t help but feel a little guilty that it was all a ruse, and wondered how it would feel if it was actually genuine.

All around her guests were happy, smiling and calling out their congratulations to the happy couple.

Despite the merriment surrounding them, there was a knot of tension coiled inside Violet, a danger loomed ever closer.

The letter that had been delivered to Alistair’s home this morning was short and to the point.

The letter writer would be here tonight, would announce the truth and end this ruse once and for all.

Violet stepped inside the library, followed closely by Alistair.

She was glad to be away from the liveliness of the party, if only for a few minutes.

She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep pretending that everything was fine.

Her cheeks ached from smiling and her nerves were frayed.

A few minutes of solitude, Alistair suggested, before rejoining the party for supper.

The fire was crackling in the hearth, filling the room with warmth, making everything seem cozy.

Violet turned to Alistair, a smile on her face, and froze.

Standing against the back wall of the room near the bookshelves was Robert Wallace, his eyes cold and burning with an anger she had never seen in him before.

Robert had been a part of her past; he had courted her two years prior.

In truth, he had proposed marriage, and she had turned him down.

He had thought her rejection was due to his lack of title, despite her explanation, that she was infatuated with another.

He had never really believed her, and she had thought he had returned to the country.

"Violet," Robert’s voice mocked. “How nice to see you again.”

“Wallace, this is not the place for a confrontation.” Alistair spoke calmly, a subtle hint of tension in his shoulders.

“Oh, I think this is the perfect place,” Robert’s lips twisted into a sneer, lifting his arm to reveal a gun clutched tightly in his hand.

“I’ve come to claim what is mine.” He moved the gun until it was pointing at Alistair’s head.

“You thought me nothing without a title. You turned me down, for what? For him? The man who didn’t even care enough to look at you twice. ”

“Robert, please,” Violet’s voice shook with fear.

“Enough! I’ve waited long enough, Violet. You will marry me tonight, or I will shoot him.”

“Robert, please, don’t do this,” Violet implored, her voice breaking. She was flooded with panic and desperately tried to stop the room from spinning so she could think.

“I do have to!” He snapped.

“Robert, don’t.” Violet’s stomach churned.

She could not let this happen; she could not lose him.

Her heart was clear, it belonged to Alistair.

“He’s innocent in this, punish me if you must, but if you hurt him, you will never have me.

Never.” Violet’s heart pounded in her chest, drowning out everything else.

The sound of the library door crashing against the wall made her jump as two police constables and her brother charged into the room.

Robert, resigned to his fate, raised his arms in surrender. The police constables quickly restrained him and led him away, leaving Violet alone with her brother and Alistair. Sebastian turned toward her, enveloping her in a tight embrace.

“I’m fine, Sebastian, honestly.” Violet murmured, despite her body still trembling.

“When I saw you and Alistair head to the library, I couldn’t think. After the letter this morning, I didn’t like the idea of you out of my sight. Alistair will see you home safely, I’m going to follow the constables and make sure all the facts are recorded accurately.”

Once it was just the two of them again, Alistair guided Violet to the settee and settled down beside her.

“Tell me, Violet,” he said, his eyes never leaving her face, “when you turned Wallace down, was it because of me? Was what he said true?” Violet’s face flushed at the directness of the question. Dare she be honest now; dare she confess her feelings?

“Yes,” Violet lowered her gaze, unable to look into Alistair’s eyes lest she see pity there. “I turned him down because I was infatuated with you.”

“You were infatuated with me?” Violet could hear the smile in his voice.

“Yes, I was infatuated with you, Alistair. Please don’t mock me.”

“Violet, darling, I assure you there was no mocking, only confirmation.” Alistair reached across and covered her clasped hands with his own.

“Violet,” he said softly, “look at me.” Violet raised her eyes slowly, shocked by what she saw reflected in his eyes.

There was no mocking, teasing glint as she would have expected.

Instead, there was warmth, sincerity, and something much deeper.

“Violet, I love you. I have loved you for some time. For longer than you know.” Violet gasped at his confession, sitting there, staring at him, unable to form words to reply.

“I know I have given you no indication of this, how could I? You are the sister of my dearest friend, if I had spoken up and you had not returned my feelings…Well, it doesn’t bare thinking about.

Instead, I kept my distance from you, always ensuring there was someone else in our company if we were seen together, lest anyone see the glances I stole in your direction.

It has been torture, darling Violet, pretending to be engaged to you, all the while wondering if there was any possibility of courting you. ”

The honesty in his words moved Violet to tears, how she wished she had known his feelings before now. They had wasted so much time apart, each too scared, too proud to admit their feelings to each other. What fools they had been!

“Violet,” Alistair picked up her hands in his own, bringing them to his chest and holding them there over his heart. “I must ask you; will you marry me? For real this time? Not for convenience or protection, but for love?”

“Yes, Alistair, I will,” Violet’s voice was overflowing with joy, with love.

Alistair’s head bowed down, his lips meeting hers in a kiss that was sweet and full of promise. In that moment, Violet knew her heart was home.

THE END