Page 55 of An Orphan for the Broken Duke

It was only once she reached him, and after he took her by the arm, that Rose appeared at the top of the steps and made her way down. And she smiled coyly the whole time, clearly rather pleased with herself.

“What do we do now?” Violet asked, shoving down the butterflies that tried to escape from her stomach.

“The guests will be arriving soon,” he answered. “We shall greet them at the entrance to the ballroom. Shall we…”

“Yes, let us be about this.” She pretended to act as if it was a trial for her.

Rhys laughed. “Oh, do not pretend that you are not excited, Violet. You should be. You worked so hard for tonight, so nobody ought to enjoy it more than you.”

Again, Violet knew that she ought to have felt nervous. The importance of the night could not be understated, and one wrong thing done might ruin it completely. But with her arm linked in Rhys’, and with him by her side, such feelings of nervousness failed to materialize.

She felt perfectly safe beside him, knowing that he would protect and look after her. Not a feeling that she was used to, but one that she was coming to appreciate.

“I suppose I am looking forward to it a little,” she admitted coyly. “But no more than that.”

“That will have to do,” he laughed.

They made their way to the ballroom. They stood at the entrance together waiting for the guests. Rose faded into the background; she had not been asked to do so, but she clearly realized that her presence was not needed.

And then, after many weeks of hard work, the evening began.

The first hour was slow going. The guests arrived in pairs, as if they had all planned not to come at the same time. Most of them Violet did not recognize, but their names were familiar, as she had sent the invitations.

And while she worried that it would be a repeat of the supper at Lord and Lady Fairview’s home, she soon learned that she need not have been anxious. Perhaps she would never be fully accepted by the ton. Perhaps they would always suspect her. But with Rhys by her side, they at least pretended to honor her.

“Your Grace!” The first of the guests swept towards them. “And Your Grace. You two look ravishing.”

“Lord Cadwell,” Rhys greeted them with a short bow. “Lady Cadwell, thank you so much for joining us.”

“We would not miss it,” Lord Cadwell assured them. “Eager to meet your new wife, as well. Your Grace…” Lord Cadwell bowed deeply. “We are so pleased to meet you, truly. It is an honor.”

“Oh…” Violet blinked in surprise. “Thank you. That is very kind.”

“Please, come and speak to both later,” he continued as he took his wife by the arm. “We would love to learn more about you. Your humble origins… your rise! I am sure that is a tale!”

There was a hint of judgment there, but it was tempered, and Violet decided that was probably the best she could hope for.

“I would like that,” she said.

It continued on that way as the first of the guests arrived. They were all friendly. They were all polite. And they all clearly respected Rhys, or perhaps feared him, enough that they treated Violet as one of their own.

Even Lord Stokesworth seemed to have rethought his previous remarks, and when Violet saw him and his wife approach, she braced herself. Beside her, Rhys stiffened.

“Your Grace…” Lord Stokesworth bowed deeply. “It is an honor to see you again. And Your Grace…” He bowed again for Violet. “I fear I owe you an apology.”

“Oh?” Violet said as if she did not know what he meant.

“The last time we spoke I…” He grimaced with shame. “Words cannot describe how awful I feel, and while I do not expect you to forgive me, I ask that you give me the chance to make it up to you.”

Perhaps it was just words. Perhaps he was only saying what he knew he had to say. But that he held his tongue, and at least pretended at civility, was the most that Violet could have hoped for.

“Not at all,” she said with a forgiving smile. “As far as I am concerned, it did not happen. So, let us not worry about it.”

He blinked in surprise. “That is very kind of you.”

“One of my many positive attributes, I assure you.”

Beside her, she heard Rhys snicker.