Page 68 of How to Start a Scandal

Violet shifted her gaze from her instructor and let it settle on a harp placed at the side of the room near a shuttered window. ‘What are you saying?’

Lottie’s warm hand folded over Violet’s. ‘Tell him the truth.’

Violet gasped and snapped her attention back towards Lottie.

The former courtesan’s eyes softened. ‘If he loves you, he’ll understand.’

Violet slid her gaze to the flowers on the solid marble surface of the table. Peonies this time, so fresh, the water in the vase was probably stained green with the juice dripping from the base of their thick stalks.

‘Like a certain friend you know?’ Violet ventured.

This time Lottie did not bother to mask the hurt puckering at her brow. ‘Yes.’ She reached out and ran the tip of a manicured nail over a fragile pink petal. ‘Some relationships are sadly beyond repair.’ She smiled, a despondent, tired smile that shadowed the smooth area beneath her eyes. ‘Do not allow yours to become irreparable. You have a chance at happiness.’ She shook her head and her face brightened. As if melancholy could be so easily released. ‘Take it.’

Violet sucked in a hard breath to gather in her strength.

‘It won’t be easy,’ Lottie said. ‘But it will be better than having a secret hanging over your life.’ She lowered her head, pointedly watching Violet. ‘If you truly love him, of course.’

If you truly love him.

The words hit Violet like a slap.

Did she love him?

She floundered with a response and finally gave an insipid nod.

Lottie got to her feet and smoothed her skirts. ‘I suppose this will be the last time I shall see you, Lady Violet.’

Violet rose as well and was surprised by a clench of sorrow in her chest. As if she were bidding farewell to a good friend for a final time.

Much to her surprise, Lottie wrapped her slender arms around Violet and pulled her into a warm embrace. The way a mother might do with a child.

‘Take care of yourself, Lady Violet.’ Lottie pulled away and met Violet’s eye. ‘Know that I am always here.’ A devilish glint flashed in her eye. ‘And I’ll never tell your family you were here. Now or later, should you need to see me again.’

Violet’s mouth fell open in preparation to ask how Lottie knew.

The courtesan simply winked and strode towards the door. ‘Most of my clients do not pay in actual coin when they get my bill,’ she called over her shoulder.

Violet had guarded the incoming correspondence like a hawk. A job not easily done with their butler eyeing her with suspicion. When Lottie’s bill came in, Violet had sent Susan with the payment post-haste in coin. Violet hadn’t paid like a peer. She should have known better.

Her thoughts shifted to Seth and apprehension curled into a tight ball in the pit of her stomach. Lottie was right. He needed to know.

Chapter Nineteen

For the second time that night, Violet waited with anticipation knotting her stomach. She wanted the hackney ride home to last a lifetime, so she could delay having to tell Seth that she was no longer a virgin.

Would he be horrified? Disappointed? Disgusted?

She clenched her eyes shut, unable to bear the anticipation of such a reaction from him. He was the only man to ever make her feel beautiful. Aside from Lord Fordson, though considering how quickly his compliments had fled once he had what he’d wanted, he no longer counted.

She clenched her hands in her lap as the carriage drew to a stop at the rear of Hollingston House. The duration of the trip had gone far too quickly. Her heart was beating like a frantic drum, her breath came too short and fast. Her thoughts spun in her mind, dancing headily.

The door snapped open and, just like that, she was out of time.

She stepped from the carriage. All too soon, the path underfoot went from firm brick to soft grass.

She walked slowly into the small garden behind her home and looked up at Dalton Place. A man’s shadow appeared in a second-floor window, backlit by the golden glow of candlelight.

Seth.