Page 21 of Most Sought-After Scoundrel in London
“Half past ten.”
Violet peered over at the window.Goodness, what was Cameron thinking, coming in the middle of the evening?Pulled to her feet, Violet let Lady Bertha lead her over to her vanity, where her mentor motioned for her to sit on the bench.Obediently, she sat and stared at herself in the mirror.The dark circles under her eyes had nearly disappeared, and there was a pinkish tint to her cheeks that had been missing for days.
“Why did you not send Lord Hurlington away and tell him to come at a decent hour?”Violet asked as she removed pins from her hair.
Lady Bertha, who had moved to stand in front of her dresser, opened a drawer and pulled out a clean shift, and then marched over to open up her wardrobe.“Having completed your training, you know I can’t do that.”
Violet whipped around so fast she nearly became unseated.“Are you a mem?—”
The rest of her sentence was smothered as Lady Bertha covered her mouth with one hand and handed Violet the clothing with the other.“Urgh.Obviously, Lord Hurlington was remiss in his training.You are to never ask another that question.”Grabbing the brush, Lady Bertha ran the bristles through Violet’s matted hair.“We must be quick about getting you presentable.The Council is eager to meet you.”
Her heart sank a little.Cameron hadn’t come of his own accord.He had been ordered to come to fetch her for her final test—gaining the approval of the Network elders.The ache that remained in her chest deepened.Shaking off the disappointment that had momentarily frozen her features, she forced the corners of her lips up to form a smile.“I’m anxious to meet with them.”
“You have naught to be worried over.I have every confidence in you, Violet.”
Lady Bertha had long been Violet’s supporter in every endeavor and adventure.She wouldn’t have survived those lonely, early months of widowhood if it hadn’t been for Lady Bertha and the other wicked widows.She couldn’t let them down.Violet reached up and twisted her now silky tresses into a simple yet elegant bun and secured it with a rope of pearls and pins.With Lady Bertha’s help, she quickly changed.
With one last glance at herself in the mirror, Violet plastered on a smile and then looped her arm through Lady Bertha’s.“I think I’m ready.Shall we?”
Thankful for Lady Bertha’s support but unable to vocalize it, Violet walked in silence next to her mentor until they reached the receiving room where Cameron stood in front of a blazing fire.The tension in her chest that had her breathing restricted eased as soon as the man was in sight.Blast him for having such an effect on her.She shouldn’t be elated at merely being in the same room as him once more.Blast her heart.Unable to deny her feelings for the man any longer, she relented and admitted to herself that she was in love.
The woman walking next to him was not the Violet that Cameron had encountered at the confectionery store weeks ago.She held herself with an air of confidence he hoped would never disappear.During his long journey back to London and under the watchful gaze of Lady Bronwyn, he had reflected upon the fact that he had been a fool to have not paid much attention to Violet previously.He should have noticed the beautiful woman, who preferred to skirt about the edges of a ballroom, hid in the shadows to avoid the attention of theton,or disappeared to her rooms for days to pen a verse or two to support herself.
He waved her forward to squeeze between two rows of crates.“Ladies first.”
Violet’s brow knitted, but only for a brief moment.Shoulders squared, she walked through the tight space soundlessly.In the beginning, Cameron had questioned why the Network had selected him to train Violet.As usual, in their ultimate wisdom, they had selected the woman who best suited him.Grateful for his position within the Network, he followed Violet with a bounce in his step.Old Cadby, Lady Bronwyn’s father, was rustling about the back room of the tobacco shop that hosted every Council meeting Cameron had been to.
“Ah, there ye are.”Old Cadby greeted him as he took a seat at the table.“Come on in, Lady Violet.I promise ye, I won’t bite.”
With a poise and grace that rivaled that of a Royal, Violet entered the room and nodded to every Council member that she passed as she made her way to the remaining vacant seat next to Old Cadby.He assumed his usual position, stationed at the door.
“Right, I’ll call the meeting to order,” Old Cadby announced.“We are here this evening to discuss the matter of Lady Violet.”The Network elders all turned their gazes toward Violet, who remained calm and collected.No fidgeting of the hands.She didn’t lower her gaze.In fact, she curved her lips slightly into a humble smile.He wanted to shout, “That’s it.Show them they can’t intimidate you” as encouragement, but instead gave her a wink that she decided not to acknowledge.
Ms.Lennox, the elder to Violet’s left, asked, “Dear, do you have any questions for us before we begin?”
Knowing Violet’s mind was more likely than not racing with a thousand questions, for the lady was extremely curious, Cameron crossed his arms over his chest, signaling for her not to make inquiries at this stage of the meeting.Could she see him in her peripheral vision?
Gaze trained on Ms.Lennox, Violet answered in a soft, even tone, “Not at this time.”
“Do any of you have questions for Lady Violet?”Ms.Lennox asked as she looked at each member at the table.
Old Cadby waved his hand.Of course, the geezer had to add to the proceedings.Cameron widened his stance.Why he was bracing himself as if he was the one in line of fire, he had no notion, and quickly straightened and relaxed his shoulders, but kept his arms crossed.
“Go ahead, Cadby,” Ms.Lennox said, clearly trying not to roll her eyes at the man.
“What ye think about yer trainin’?”Old Cadby, a tobacco merchant through and through, slid him a side glance and then focused on Violet.
Cameron’s entire body tensed.She had been silent the entire journey from Matron Manor to Old Cadby’s tobacco shop.He hadn’t the slightest idea of how to start the conversation he wished to have.Given the short duration, he had elected to wait until after Violet had been officially admitted into the Network.It had been a cowardly act, yet if he had read Violet’s body language correctly, the woman wasn’t ready to speak her mind either.He gave a slow breath of relief as Violet looked over at him and smiled.
“I believe Lord Hurlington successfully carried out his assignedduties,which resulted in us being able to complete thetaskwe were given.”
Violet’s slight emphasis on duties and tasks had Cameron worried.She made no mention of the strong rapport that they had managed to develop.They had been separated for two days, twelve hours, and sixteen minutes.He knew, for he had agonized every second he was not in her company.It was too short of a period for her affection for him to have changed, or had he been misunderstood?
“Hadfield informed us of your clever solution.We are most pleased.”Ms.Lennox resumed control over the proceedings.“Now, if there are no more questions, shall we vote?”
Cadby grumbled but nodded.As Ms.Lennox’s gaze moved from one elder to the next.They each voted in the affirmative until it was Cadby’s turn.He lowered his gaze to the table and said, “I’m sorry, lass, but I’m not convinced ye are ready.”
Cameron’s arms dropped to his side, and he was about to take a step forward when Violet stopped him with the barest shake of her head.
