Page 42 of These Violet Delights
“Yes, you’ve captured something here,” said Cristabel, holding them at arm’s length. She looked at Violet more intently. “A tender world of intimate domesticity, the trust between sisters, the love implicit in comfortable silences.” She smiled, finally, and lowered the studies. “Were the paper less irregular and cockled, I might even be able to sell them.”
“Don’t be silly, it was just something to keep my mindoccupied.” Violet had drifted toward the door. Would they think her unforgivably rude if she left?
“Come to your senses, girl. I’m telling you these are your finest work, and all you can do is burble at me like a frog?” Cristabel stormed over to her, but Emilia tumbled over her own feet to reach Violet first. She stared imploringly with her big brown eyes.
“Violet…is…merely…distressed, of course? Of course! Naturally!” Emilia said very, very slowly, gesturing with her head on each word as if to lead Violet toward the right words.
“Yes! Distressed! Naturally!” Violet perked up, forcing herself to be in one body and one mind again. “The Florizel. I simply cannot stop thinking about everyone there. I’ve been meaning to call on Mr. Lavin now that my hand is almost completely healed. He must be devastated.”
Ann joined them, poking her finger straight up into the air. “We should all call on him together! A walk would do me a world of good. And I can have Bloom see what’s available in the kitchen; a parcel of sweets and a few friendly faces will be a balm for the soul.”
Ann decreed it, and so it was done. Even Cristabel put on her shabby gray coat and dowdy bonnet and came along. Emilia carried the basket of gifts for Mr. Lavin. Arm in arm with her, Ann seemed determined to suck down all the fresh air there was to be had in Warwickshire as they ambled down the lane.
“I have not been myself,” she cried. “Cooped up in that house! Befuddled with worry! When my calling has always been to bring light and joy to the lives of others? No, it cannot continue! The Ladies’ Society for the Lonely, Abandoned, and Infirm was to be an outlet for my greatest works of charity, and so it will be. And so it will be.”
“What are you concocting in that clever mind of yours?” asked Violet, watching her.
“You will see quite soon, Violet, I can promise you that.”
Everyone’s imagination was churning in a different direction, apparently, for Cristabel snugged up to Violet’s side and inhaled in a way that told Violet to brace. What kernel of wisdom or shattering critique would she offer this time?
“Most artists I’ve taught fell on their knees and wept the first time I told them their work was actually worth good English money,” said the painter.
“I’m obviously happy about it.” It came out all in a single, rushed breath.
“Oh yes, you sound thrilled.” Cristabel laughed and, staring down at her, tapped the tip of her own nose. “Don’t forget, my little dauber, that I am a great observer of people.”
Violet fell silent, fixing her eyes on the road.Indeed? I doubt you will observe in me the truth: that Emilia has tasked me with answering a terrible question.An image imposed itself on her, a glimpse of Mr. Kerr’s horror-struck face as he learned the truth about his brother. He would blame her, no doubt, when—if—it all came to light.And why should that bother me? I did not make his rotten brother douse the Florizel in oil and set a candle to it!
Why should it bother her at all?
I declared it myself not half an hour ago—no man of sense or great fortune will marry me.
“Iamhappy,” Violet said through gritted teeth.
Cristabel swung toward her. They were nearing the edge of civilization, coming the tree-lined and sheltered back way down the narrow dirt road that ran from the Pressmore gardens to the western edge of Cray Arches, where the Gull and Knave postal inn presided over the first turn into the village.
“More believably spirited that time, Violet, but not exactlyhappy.”
“We haven’t been able to afford beef at the cottage for a month,” Violet murmured. “It would be nice to sell something, achieve something, and maybe have beef again.”
Cristabel nodded, solemn, then touched her gently on the wrist above the bandage on her hand. “I choose to believe you will have more than beef for all your effort, in the end.”
“Beef is a start.”
It was not difficult to locate Mr. Lavin, for he was standing outside the charred remains of the Florizel near a wagon, deep in conversation with a tall gentleman. As they came closer, Violet felt her hands grow cold at the sight of Mr. Kerr; of all the people she’d expected to see in the village that day, he was not among them. Before Emilia or Violet could say a word, Ann had loped right up to the two men and greeted them.
“Mrs. Richmond!” Mr. Lavin exclaimed, his bushy eyebrows bobbing with excitement. “It is good to see your face in the square again, it’s been too long.”
“I’ve had the exact same thought,” said Ann, gracious. Violet could hide at the back of the group for only so long. Eventually, propriety dictated that she make herself known and curtsy politely to Mr. Kerr. When she stepped out from around Emilia’s right side, she watched the gold flecks in his eyes dazzle, his posture suddenly rigid as his lips parted.
“Miss Arden,” he said, nearly breathless. It felt like she would be burned all over again by the intensity of his gaze as it roamed over her. God, she had actuallymissedhim. She could doubt how reasonable it was to admire him, but there was no mistaking the effect his presence had on her. It felt like the sun was shining on just the two of them as their gazes locked. “Your hand. How is it?”
“Completely healed now, thank you.” Anxious flames licked up the sides of her neck, her bonnet immediately too tight. He was just a man, practically a stranger; why did he have this power over her? Violet held her head high, trying not to collapse under the surge of heat trickling down from her head. “You…are here.”
Behind her, Cristabel snorted. “Artfully perceived.”
“Yes!” boomed Mr. Kerr, too loud. He scrunched his brow and adjusted his spectacles, looking at each of the ladies in turn, though his attention came to rest finally on Violet and stayed. “I have returned from London just this morning.”
