Page 25 of An Orphan for the Broken Duke

“I am,” she snapped and scowled. “And if you dare try, you will regret it.”

“If you say so,” he laughed. “Whatever you must tell yourself.”

The remainder of the trip to Rhys’ home was completed under the cloud of Violet’s glare.

She held it on Rhys, needing him to know that she was not just angry with him, but that she wanted nothing to do with what he had suggested.

At least that was what she told herself.

Deep down, in those places that Violet dared not visit, there was a part of her that had wondered about that kiss… that had even yearned for it. That terrified her; more than the marriage, more than the trap she was sure she had walked into… more than anything.

I need to be alert. I need to be watchful. Most of all, I need to ensure that Rhys does not try anything like that.

Nine

Despite his best efforts, Rhys could not stop staring at his wife.

He had spent much of the carriage ride actively avoiding doing so, but now that they were pulling into his residence, he found his gaze locked onto her as she looked out of the window and gaped at her new home.

There she is… finally.

Until that moment, Violet had been so determined to resist Rhys and any effort he made to bridge the large gap that existed between them. She did not trust him. Damnation, she did not even seem to like him. And no matter what he did or what he said, she dug in her heels like a petulant child, refusing to even give him a chance to prove to her that he was worth trusting.

Funnily enough, Rhys enjoyed this about her.

She was real in ways that so many women of the ton were not. She did not care about expectation or what people thought of her. All she cared about was Lucy, helping those in need, and everything else was of little importance to her.

Although, it might be nice if she treated me with a little respect.

That would come one day, Rhys was sure. Eventually, he knew that she would realize that he was not her enemy. But how long would it take? And how might he quicken the process? He did not expect a loving marriage, or even a happy one. But for the sake of Lucy, at least, it might be companionable.

“What do you think?” he asked as Violet looked out the window, still gaping.

“It is… bigger than I expected,” she said, her eyes wide as she took in the grand townhouse. “You live here alone?”

“Not anymore,” he said with a smile.

She looked at him and rolled her eyes before going back to the window.

“There are the staff, of course,” he continued, “who you will meet once we are inside. Apart from them, yes, it is just me…” He winced at those final words, because they served as a reminder of why he was doing this in the first place.

She said nothing else, still watching the residence as the carriage came to a steady stop.

“Rose will be arriving on the morrow,” he continued, feeling a need to speak. It was slow going, but he was sure that the more he spoke to Violet, the more she would come to see that he was not what she thought. “I have her room already prepared, and your own. As you are a duchess, you will have your own wing.”

“What of Lucy?” she asked.

“She will have her own room too. As far as the law is concerned, she is my daughter, and she will be treated as such.”

“The law?” She scoffed and looked at him. “And what about you? How do you see her?”

He levelled a serious gaze at her. “She is my daughter, Violet. That is how I see her.”

Violet narrowed her eyes as if in rebuke but did not say anything.

Once the carriage came to a stop, the driver opened the door for them both. Rhys was the first to climb out, at which point he turned and offered Violet his hand. She promptly ignored it and climbed down without his help.

Rhys shook his head at the gesture.