Page 20 of A Wicked Duke's Redemption
Lydia’s mother had preferred London to the countryside, so before marrying Leo, Lydia had seldom ventured outside the city. Leo remembered her wide-eyed delight at seeing the rolling green hills of Essex and of the sheep and cows in the fields. He had never met anyone like her who found pleasure in such simple things.
“Maybe Violet will, too.”
Leo wondered if Violet would want to furnish the estate differently. He had not changed anything since Lydia’s death, and although the servants kept his house clean and the grounds maintained, they changed as little as possible.
Leo would need to discuss that with Violet if she agreed to marry him. He might be ambivalent about accepting another duchess into his life, but changing the furnishings of the house would feel too much like he was trying to forget Lydia.
“Do you intend to move her family into the estate?”
Leo hummed and crossed his arms. “I had not considered that. I suppose we shall have that discussion later. It depends on what Violet and her parents want. If her parents wish to remain living in their hunting lodge, I can see to their comfort there as well as I can here.”
“A dowry might be a good addition,” Mrs. Gunderson said.
“Indeed,” Leo replied. “If Violet agrees to the marriage, I also think it may be a good idea to write to Lady Priscilla. She can help Violet learn everything she needs to know about being the Duchess of Farnham. Even if I intend to remain away from London, I still want to ensure that my duchess is properly attired.”
“I agree.”
“She will also need to learn to manage a household, which Lady Priscilla can help her with,” Leo said. “And you, of course.”
“Of course.”
“If she ever vexes you, feel free to bring your concerns to me,” Leo said.
Mrs. Gunderson arched an eyebrow. “Do you anticipate that the young lady will vex me?”
“I have not the faintest notion,” Leo replied. “I meant only to reassure you. After all, you have managed this household for a very long time.”
Mrs. Gunderson’s lips twitched in amusement. “I am certain that your young bride and I will be quite amicable towards one another. You need not worry yourself overly about that.”
“I just wanted to reassure you.”
“The sentiment is appreciated, but there is no need for that. I did encourage you to seek out this young lady, after all,” Mrs. Gunderson said. “Do you want to invite the ton to your wedding?”
“No,” Leo replied. “I think it is best for us to have a small wedding in the village.”
Or perhaps they would simply wed with only a handful of witnesses. Having a wedding in the village seemed like a terrible idea. Already, they hated them, and Leo did not feel inclined to listen to their awful whispers about him while he was waiting for his bride to say her vows.
He hoped that Violet did not want a large wedding. Leo assumed that she would not, simply because she was unaccustomed to attending the ton’s functions. Besides, there was little need for them to make the wedding into a large affair, not when it was just a matter of convenience.
“I doubt that anyone would want to come anyway,” Leo said. “Most of the ton will be in London for the Season, and I doubt they would want to leave and come all the way to Essex for my wedding.”
He would not want them there, anyway.
“It sounds like a plan.”
Leo nodded. “Yes. Now, all I need to do is write to Mr. McCarthy and ask him to come to Essex.”
The thought filled him with the strangest mingling of anticipation and hesitation. If Violet agreed to be the Duchess of Farnham, it would change everything. Leo swallowed hard and thought of Lydia. She would want him to find happiness, and Violet might not quite be that. But she was probably as close as he would come.
Chapter 10
Violet blinked, surprised by the presence of a short, dark-haired man standing outside the hunting lodge. She did not recognize him, and his dress was far better than most of the people who lived in the village. “May I help you, Sir?”
The man pushed his spectacles up his nose and surveyed her carefully. His hazel eyes narrowed. “Are you Miss Violet Brewer?”
“I am,” she said.
The man smiled. “I am John McCarthy, a solicitor.”
