Page 68 of A Wicked Duke's Redemption
Violet smiled encouragingly, and knowing his desire to move the conversation elsewhere, she turned to her father. “Speaking of news, I heard that you have decided to write a book. Tell us about it.”
***
As twilight gathered on the horizon, Leo and Violet returned home. She kept Frederick in her arms. The baby was fast asleep, and Leo found himself stealing glances at the child’s peaceful, sleeping face. Because of Lady Priscilla, he had nearly lost all of this. It was difficult not to face the news of her death with an immense swell of relief.
Nathanial Jones opened the door for them, as always. “Welcome home, Your Grace.”
Leo smiled. “Thank you, Jones.”
The butler smiled and took Leo’s coat. Leo held Frederick while Violet removed her cloak. The baby woke and mumbled happily into Leo’s shoulder. “You are becoming big,” Leo murmured.
Violet laughed. “He has not grown all that much, Leo.”
“He has,” Leo insisted.
“He was merely born an uncommonly large baby,” Violet replied.
Isabelle, the baby’s nursemaid, greeted them with a curtsey. “Shall I put the child to bed now?” she asked.
“Yes,” Violet replied. “It is well pastime.”
Isabelle took charge of the child, and Leo smiled at Violet. She winked. “It appears that it is only the two of us now.”
“So it does,” Leo replied. He offered his arm as usual, and Violet took it with a small, sly smile.
“How shall we spend the rest of the night?” Violet asked.
“You ask that,” Leo replied, “but I suspect I know precisely howyouwish to spend the night. You have that new novel of yours.”
Violet laughed. “I will happily read it to you, Leo.”
He had almost lost this wonderful woman because of Lady Priscilla, and now that his childhood friend was dead, Leo felt strangely free. It was as if he had been anticipating the worst might happen, as if he had been peering over his shoulder since that horrid night when Lady Priscilla entered their bedroom, and he had not even realized it. All his terrors and fears were gone and would never return.
Leo took a steadying breath. “I think I should like that. I do love the sound of your voice.”
They took the stairs slowly. Although months had passed since Lady Priscilla’s attempt on Violet’s life, Leo still suspected that Violet approached the steps with trepidation. They were all healing.
“If we have a daughter,” Violet said, “we should name her Lydia.”
“Oh, yes?” Leo asked. “Are you already anticipating another child?”
Violet offered a shrug, her shoulder brushing against his arm. “I think I should like to have more than one. Wouldn’t you?”
“I want as many children as you do,” Leo replied.
Violet smiled at him. “Hearing that gives me more pleasure than I can say. I imagine that my parents will also be pleased to hear it. I have never seen them look so happy as they do when we visit with Frederick.”
They entered Leo’s study. Aside from their bedroom, this was where they spent most of their evenings together. Leo would answer correspondence regarding the dukedom and read legislation, and Violet would curl up in a chair nearby, often burying herself into a novel. Sometimes, though, she listened to his speeches to parliament or gave her opinion on matters involving women or the poor in England.
Violet took her usual seat across from his desk while Leo settled behind it. He stretched and gazed outside. Leo could just barely see Lady Priscilla’s estate. No,Lord Preston’s estate. He swallowed hard.
“It will be some time before…” Violet trailed off. “You know—there is something which I have been thinking about for a long time. Since we found Lady Priscilla in our bedchamber that night.”
Leo reluctantly turned to her. Either Violet was very astute, or he was becoming predictable. She had correctly guessed the precise direction that his thoughts had gone.
“I was thinking that one way of understanding Lady Priscilla and our feelings about her might be to champion a cause,” Violet said. “We could try to fund an institution or a seminary to help women like Lady Priscilla. In her honor.”
Leo hummed, considering the idea. Although there were many such institutions in England, many of them did leave something to be desired. He had no doubt that Lord Preston had ensured Lady Priscilla’s placement in one of the best institutions in all of London, and yet their care had clearly been insufficient.
