Page 78 of Untaming Lady Violet
William Gadley stood with an arm propped nonchalantly on the fireplace mantle. A sharpness glinted in his eyes for a moment, but then a sigh of bored elegance masked any irritation at Tristan’s intrusion.
Tristan’s mother, Lady Darby, was perched on the settee beside Violet, close enough that their skirts touched. She held the girl’s hand as though offering some manner of support, while his father, seated at the massive desk from which he ran his earldom, rubbed his forehead.
Tristan recognized the gesture as one of frustration.
“How fortuitous that you’ve finally arrived, Longleigh,” William said with a cold smile. “You are the additional witness required to put this matter to rest.”
“Witness?” Tristan’s eyebrow arched high. Glancing again at Violet, he was disturbed by the fact her stare did not soften even the slightest.
“Yes, witness,” Lord Everstone boomed. Directing his ire toward Violet, he swore, “Damnation, girl. Must we bring forth every person on this estate with evidence of your inappropriate behavior? There are surely more than the two we know of.”
His enraged blustering had no effect on his daughter. She simply refused to look at him, her gaze remaining locked on Tristan. Tristan’s mother, bottom lip caught between her teeth to stop its trembling, glared at Lord Everstone in disgust, then patted Violet’s hand as though it would soothe away the older man’s harshness.
“What a piece of baggage you are! My own daughter! I’ve raised you up a proper young lady, and just see the gratitude you show. That you are capable of such outrageous behavior with this man is a scandal we shall never live down.” Violet’s mother sobbed into her handkerchief.
Tristan froze in place.Have we been found out? Is that why they rush to marry her off to Gadley, so scandal may be avoided?
“You will marry Lord Gadley, or by God, I’ll disown you,” her father threatened.
Violet’s eyes shifted away from Tristan at that. She stared at her father as though she were sizing him up for battle, before shrugging her shoulders.
“What coin shall I bring to your empty pocket then, Father? Not a farthing, I’m afraid.”
William laughed. “You’re not without some value, my dear. There is the ungodly amount of funds already paid to Lord Everstone which grants me the pleasure of claiming you as my bride. Come now, Violet. Admit what we’ve done. There is no sense in fighting the inevitable.”
Violet’s stormy gaze settled on William. “I’ll not begin a marriage on a lie, my lord. We both know we’ve not shared intimacies in any form.”
“And how do you explain my possession of these very distinct hairpins, sweetling? You watched me pick them up in the conservatory.” With a grin, he reached into his coat pocket.
Two glittery hairpins decorated with paste-jeweled violets lay in his extended palm.
Tristan could not believe what he was hearing. Did they honestly believe Violet had slept with this man?
“Son? I hesitate asking this of you, knowing what the answer will likely be.” Lord Darby waved a hand at Tristan. “Can you collaborate Lady Fiona Blackerby’s account? Tell us what you saw in the conservatory last night.”
“Lady Fiona…” Tristan could not conceal his confusion. “What the devil does she have to do with any of this?”
Lady Darby’s frown was compiled of great disappointment and sadness. “She has personally witnessed Violet leaving Lord Gadley’s room late at night on several occasions since his arrival. He does have Violet’s hairpins, which her mother confirms as hers. And last night, Lady Fiona revealed you and she entered the conservatory together where you encountered Violet and Lord Gadley in a… compromising situation.”
Tristan glanced at the man, fists clenching tight to see his smirk of victory.
It was true Violet lost some of her hairpins inside the conservatory. Tristan scooped two of them up himself; they were in his studio along with the others.
Was it possible Fiona went searching for him last night? If she visited the conservatory, she would have seen Tristan and Violet in their impassioned embrace. Perhaps she found the hairpins after they departed and then involved Gadley in this scheme. It was a plan ensuring they would both get what they wanted.
Violet shot daggers at him with her eyes, and Tristan immediately knew her thoughts.
Finding Violet there instead of Fiona, he had simply used the most convenient female.
“Not a word of that drivel is the truth,” Tristan said slowly, watching Violet’s reaction. “Violet was not in the conservatory with Gadley. And I assure you shenevervisited his room for any purpose, at any time of the day or night.”
“I’ve a witness who says otherwise, and Violet’s personal items that prove it,” Gadley scoffed. “I’m surprised at you, Longleigh. Lady Fiona looks so much like the Duchess of Richeforte and you seem well-suited. Why would you contradict the woman you really want? After all, there is your secret engagement, although it’s certainly not a secret now. I do hope you’ll do the honorable thing and marry the lady as quickly as I intend to marry Violet.”
Tristan’s blood boiled. Clearly, Gadley and Fiona cooked up this plot together. It was perfect, really. Marriage to Gadley meant a quick disposal of Violet while a path into Tristan’s bed was efficiently cleared for Fiona.
And he would be tricked into standing at the altar.
The scheming little bitch...
