Page 69 of Violet

“Yes, I do,” I whisper, “but?—”

She nods, as if my answer doesn’t surprise her at all.

“But—”

“Unfortunately, there have been too many scandalous moments from you two,” she says, raising her voice. “It’s almost as if you cannot stay away from each other, even though the courtship is a fake one.”

“Wait, no.” I let go of Stephan’s hand and press it to my chest, where my heart is beating rapidly. “I was trying to end it before…before…”

The Monarch moves to her high-backed chair and sits, one leg perched over the other. “Are you telling me youwantto end the courtship with my nephew, Miss Gardener?”

Her…what?

Nephew?

When I glance over at Stephan again, he’s glaring at her, eyes full of a long-running disdain.

Hisaunt? It makes sense now how he was able to get a meeting with her so easily at the first ball.

What other secrets is this man keeping?

Sophine goes on. “As I see it, you both have two options. I order Stephan back to Emporia, and you, Miss Gardener, will be left to suffer the consequences of these actions, more than likely losing any social standing you and your family now have.”

Ruin me, she means. It’ll ruin me and any chances I—or my sisters—have of finding a mate.

“Or…” Stephan prompts through clenched teeth.

“Or there’s a mark.”

“What?” Stephan’s fist clenches. “Those can’t be the only two fucking options!”

“Language, Stephan.” A small smile lifts one side of Sophine’s mouth. “I’m trying to help you here. If you don’t bite her, then word will get out. Violet’s only dodged scandal before because of a blurry picture and an unreliable eye witness. Do you think she’s going to be able to skate by a third time?”

“No one saw us tonight. We were in the dark. Alone,” Stephan argues.

“Can you guarantee that? Will you stake her reputation on it?”

At that, Stephan stops.

Even he doesn’t know what to do.

“That’s what I figured.” Sophine stands again, looking us both over. Then her piercing gaze falls to her nephew and the smile returns, this time stretching across her face. “You’re all in now, Stephan. There’s no running from it this time.”

Hivemind… Can I tell you the Hargrave House party was worth it? Because, brood, it was.

And not just for the views.

Well, maybe the views.

As you all know, this Season is getting hot, getting vibe-y, getting filled with spilled tea.

Before we get to the entrée (or is it the dessert?), I have a few things to tell you…

Miss Felicity Fine is singing songs and dirges about our dreamboat Asher St. James. Yes, Mr. Movie Star is a heartbreaker, as we expected.

Is that why he’s here? To escape an ex-lover?

Or are other scandals just waiting in the wings to appear on stage?

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