Page 60 of A Wicked Duke's Redemption
“I believe you might be,” Mrs. Gunderson said.
Violet hummed. She slowly nodded, turning over the idea in her mind. “If you also think I might be pregnant, perhaps that means it is time for me to speak to Leo about my condition.”
“He will be delighted to hear the good news.”
“I am sure,” Violet replied. “It must be special, though. Can we prepare a very good meal, perhaps? We can include all the foods that he likes best.”
“I think he will like that very much,” Mrs. Gunderson said, her eyes shining with mischief.
***
Lady Priscilla blinked several times. Her lips were slightly parted, her face the very picture of surprise. Violet laughed. “Did you forget that I agreed to visit?” she asked.
They sat in Lady Priscilla’s parlor together with sunlight steaming through the windows. “No,” Lady Priscilla replied, laughing awkwardly. “I—I did not believe that you would be well enough to come.”
Violet’s jaw dropped. “How—how did you know?”
Lady Priscilla’s eyes widened. “How did I know?” she echoed.
“About the pregnancy,” Violet said clarified. “I—I feel as though everyone has known about it except for me.”
Lady Priscilla stared at her for a long moment. Then she unleashed a peal of laughter. Her face softened into a smile. “I am so delighted for you! Have you told Leo yet?”
Violet shook her head. “No. I have asked the kitchens to prepare a special dinner for him and to reveal the truth then.”
“That is wonderful! I am so delighted for you! Finally, we will have an heir to the dukedom!”
Violet nodded. Her face hurt so much from smiling. After speaking for a little longer with Lady Priscilla, Violet returned to Groveswood. She had the evening planned already. Violet would meet with Leo, so they could discuss his work on the estate. That had become their habit since returning from London. At present, Leo was trying to improve irrigation at some of the tenants’ nearby farms.
Then, they would have her specially prepared meal. Violet hummed, thinking. Perhaps she ought to change her gown for something a little nicer than what she usually wore. Violet climbed the stairs to her bedchamber. Once there, she dressed with Emma’s help. They parted ways, and Violet stepped into the corridor, just at the top of the stairs.
A shadow moved. Violet jumped, her eyes darting towards a dark corner. She drew in a sharp gasp, her mind slow to interpret what her mind could see. A hooded figure stood in the corner. Violet cried out in fear and took a startled step backwards. Belatedly, she realized that the stairs were behind her.
A second later, Violet realized that the figure was no stranger. Instead, it was Lady Priscilla who stood at the top of the stairs. Violet’s first instinctive thought was too great her friend, but something about the way Lady Priscilla gazed at her instead filled her with icy fear.
Violet took a step back, drawing a smile from Lady Priscilla. The cold, delighted expression awakened something in Violet. She drew in a sharp gasp. “You!” she exclaimed. “It was you all along! You killed Lydia and tried to hurt me!”
Lady Priscilla nodded. “It was. And you know—Lydia had that same expression on her face right before she fell to her death.”
Lady Priscilla surged forward, and although Violet saw her, she could not move quickly enough. As Lady Priscilla shoved her, Violet fell backwards. She screamed and tumbled down the stairs. Violet only caught the smallest glimpse of Lady Priscilla, as she turned around the corner and vanished down the servants’ staircase. Violet’s head snapped back and struck the floor.
Black spots dotted her vision, and she lay there, staring numbly above her. She thought there were people; shapes seemed to appear around her, but the more Violet tried to bring the images into focus, the more distant they seemed to be.
Shouts rang in Violet’s ears, and then she knew no more.
Chapter 30
When Leo entered the manor, chaos greeted him. The staff ran about, their voices and movements panicked. Leo stared as the maid Emma ran past, her arms filled with red-stained clothes. He drew in a sharp breath. Blood. Was it blood?
“What is wrong?” he asked.
“Leo!” Mrs. Gunderson exclaimed, hurrying down the stairs. “Oh, God! You’re here!”
“What is wrong? What has happened?” Leo asked.
Mrs. Gunderson’s face was tense. She looked on the verge of panicking. He had not seen her wear such a haggard expression since the terrible day when they both found Lydia’s broken body in the stairwell.
Leo froze. Time seemed to halt around him. A chill traced the path of his spine, and he realized that Violet was nowhere to be seen. “Where is Violet?” he asked.
