Page 79 of How to Start a Scandal

Even if William had taken advantage of Violet, Seth’s sin was far worse than hers, for he had turned his back on her.

He was right when he said she was better than he deserved and not just because he was a broken man. He was an idiot.

It was time to show her that he had truly changed from the foolish youth who had walked away all those years ago into a man who cared about her above all else. A man who might some day be deserving of her.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Violet could cry no more. Or so she thought. Every time she considered she might truly be emptied of all tears, a single thought of how Seth had looked at her reduced her to a watering pot once more.

Syphilis.

The gall of that man! To presume she might be diseased.

Clearly he didn’t believe it to be only one man who had ruined her. Might as well be all of London for how he perceived her. She wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of it, except that the question had made her feel vile. She’d said enough terrible things to herself throughout the years she’d chastised herself for her transgressions. But never, never, had she felt as low as she had when he asked if she’d exhibited signs of syphilis.

A knock came from Violet’s bedroom door. She cringed deeper into a vast mountain of pillows.

The rap sounded again.

‘Please go away,’ she muffled into a pillow.

‘It isn’t your mother, if that makes a difference,’ Lord Hollingston said.

Violet dragged herself into a sitting position. ‘It does.’

‘So I may enter?’

‘Yes,’ she replied in a small voice.

Lord Hollingston entered the room with tentative steps, his gaze slowly descending on his surroundings. He hadn’t been in her bedchamber since she was a girl just out of the nursery.

‘Your mother took Felicity to the park to take some air. The girl has been melancholy.’ His stare lingered on the silver-tissue gown on the dressmaker’s form. ‘Why the devil do you keep that?’

She didn’t bother to glance in the direction of the gown. Doing so only reminded her of Seth, of the night of her debut, and caused far too great an ache in her chest. ‘To remind myself I can do better.’

‘Rubbish.’ He stalked his way to the gown. ‘I’ve half a mind to burn the wretched thing.’

‘Please don’t.’

He hissed out a breath and glared at the gown. ‘Very well.’ He tucked his hands behind his back. ‘Tell me why you’re so upset, sweet girl.’

She shook her head. ‘It doesn’t matter. All you need to know is that my schedule has cleared and I am now available to Sophie to be at the beck and call of her children.’

‘Do you wonder if they all have cats?’ her father mused with an affectionate smile.

A tentative smile spread over Violet’s lips. ‘Is it wrong that I rather hope they do?’

‘The girl has turned out rather well.’ Her father stepped closer to where Violet sat up in bed. ‘Spirited as ever, of course, but she’s a good child. I have no doubt you would tame the others as well. But it isn’t necessary.’

‘Not necessary?’ Violet studied her father curiously.

He heaved a heavy sigh. ‘I had thought to have you find a man you could love. Not all marriages are happy ones, I understand that.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘Be assured, I understand better than most,’ he muttered. ‘But many are. Your cousin, Eleanor, has a fortunate marriage. I’d hoped you’d find a match like that, a man to make you light up the way you used to.’

‘The way I used to?’ she asked.

‘Before your debut. Before your mother harangued that joy out of you.’ Her father indicated the pink-silk chair near the table by Violet’s bed. ‘May I?’

Violet nodded and sat on the edge of the bed.