Page 57 of An Orphan for the Broken Duke

Their marriage had started as a contractual obligation. It had then grown into a partnership. Now, it was turning into something else. and Violet, always independent, always sure that she would be happy alone, dared to dream for the first time what that something else might be.

Twenty

Violet stayed by Rhys’ side as the last of the guests left. They stood at the entrance to the ballroom, their arms linked, happy to smile and give their goodbyes for all to see.

It had been a successful evening, and Violet was thrilled about the fact. Just as she was glad that it was over. As much as she had enjoyed herself, it was a relief to see its end so that now she could finally relax.

Much overdue, in my opinion.

“And that is the last of them,” Rhys said with a deep groan as he let his shoulders slump. “I thought they would never leave.”

“Are my feet supposed to hurt like this?’ Violet joked. “I might have to spend all of tomorrow in bed with them propped up.”

Rhys looked at her with a smile. “You did so well tonight, Violet. Really, you have no idea how proud of you I am.”

Her heart swelled at his compliment, and she let him see it. “Not just me, Rhys. You helped… as loath as I am to admit it,” she added with laughter.

“Oh, it is not that bad,” he said. “Admit it. You rather liked having someone to help you.”

She shied away and then forced herself to look at him again. “Not someone, Rhys. You.”

They looked at one another for a moment. The meaning of her words was unmistakable. As was their effect on Rhys. She wondered if he knew just how significant it was for her to say something like that, but when she saw his shoulders straighten and his chest rise, she knew that he did.

“Say…” He hesitated, suddenly a little awkward. “I know that your feet are hurting, but I wonder if they might have a little strength left in them?”

“Oh? What do you mean?”

“It is a rather pleasant night,” he said. “And not so late. Will you join me for a walk through the garden?”

Violet had been feeling thoroughly worn out a mere second ago. Her mind had already been fixed firmly on her bed, and she could not wait to collapse in it so that she might sleep for days. But at Rhys’ suggestion, that tiredness vanished.

“I would love that,” she said.

He just smiled, kept his arm linked through her own, and led her from the hallway and towards the back garden.

The moon sat full in the night’s sky; its shine was radiant, washing across the garden so that the flowers and the trees and the grass were painted white. There was no breeze to speak of. Silence greeted them as they stepped onto the pathway. And Violet suddenly became aware of how loudly her heart thumped in her chest.

“I wish Lucy could have been there tonight,” Rhys began as they walked.

“Me too,” Violet admitted. “But her time will come. She is your daughter, remember. My feeling is that she will have her fair share of balls by the time she is through.”

“As will you,” Rhys noted. “Hopefully, the next one will not be so stressful.”

“It better not be,” she said with a deep sigh. “And the next time I suggest hosting a ball, I want you to remind me of how difficult this was. Talk some sense into me!”

He laughed. “Oh, you enjoyed it.”

“Maybe a little…” she grinned.

They walked along the garden path with their arms linked. They had nowhere to go. They were in no rush. It was just them, alone, in each other’s company, which was the only thing that mattered.

And as they walked, Violet felt that same sensation that had been steadily building these past few weeks—that same sensation that had exploded inside her earlier tonight.

It went beyond the feelings of safety found in Rhys’ company. And it was more than mere comfort and companionship. As much as she now enjoyed his company, such a claim felt far too simple and almost dismissive.

She wanted to be in his company. She wanted to be with him. Whatever this marriage was, whatever it might become, Violet knew then that she had made the right decision in agreeing to it. All that mattered now was what Rhys thought.

“Rhys, I —” Violet’s words caught in her throat. “I wanted to say that I… for a while now, I have been thinking…” A flush rose up her chest. “I wanted to thank you.”