Page 86 of The Duke of Ice
“No, it didn’t.”
“Come,Your Grace.” Lavery spat the honorific as if it were poison on his tongue.
Nick held up a hand. “Momentarily.”
Violet drew herself up and employed her haughtiest tone. “Do not speak to Lavery in that fashion. You’ll leave.Now.” She let her ire steal that last word, her tone elevating and her hands clenching at her sides.
Lavery, bless him, grabbed Nick’s arm and pulled him backward.
“I’m not getting married,” Nick blurted as he stepped back out of the room. “I wanted you to know. If there’s any way—”
Violet stalked forward and sneered at him. “I don’t know what you’re going to say, and I don’t want to. I have wasted too much of my life on you, and I refuse to give you another minute.Get out.”
Lavery gave him a surprisingly vicious tug, causing Nick to stumble. Violet flinched and nearly asked if he was all right. In the end, she held her tongue and watched as Nick turned and walked away, Lavery hard on his heels. She followed them, slowly, perversely enjoying this spectacle.
As soon as the door closed, Lavery spun toward her and tugged at the bottom of his coat to straighten himself. “I’m a bit disappointed I didn’t get to throw him out the door.”
Chalke hurried into the hall, her eyes wide. “Did I hear His Grace?”
“Yes. He came to inform me that he isn’t getting married.”
Lavery sniffed. “As if you would care.”
Violet stifled a smile. Her retainers knew far too much about her life, but that was her own fault. In the absence of a family, she’d forged relationships with them that were probably too familiar. But she didn’t care. She’d followed the rules and look where it had gotten her. Miserably married.
“Exactly right,” Chalke said with a definitive nod. She glanced at Violet. “I’m afraid I ran upstairs to see the commotion and left your toddy in the kitchen. I’ll just go and fetch it.”
Violet retreated to the morning room, where she enjoyed her toddy more than she’d anticipated. Having the opportunity not only to see Nick again but to react to his letter in person made her feel quite satisfied.
And yet her mind was already mulling the implications of what he’d said. He wasn’t getting married. He’d come here to tell her. Did that mean he wanted to reconcile? That seemed the logical conclusion, but she’d given up on logic where Nick was concerned. For a man made of ice, he was a slave to his emotions.
She sipped her drink and told herself again that none of it mattered. This changed nothing. She still needed to move on without him.
After she’d finished her toddy and felt sufficiently warm, she stood to find a book on the shelf. Lavery entered, his mouth curved into a half smirk. “He’s taken up a position across the street and is watching the house like a dog awaiting his dinner.”
Violet whirled about and looked out the window to the back garden. Snow was swirling in the air. It didn’t look to be sticking to the ground, but it was still very cold. She walked past Lavery and went to the front sitting room to see for herself.
There he was, his arms crossed and his hat pulled low over his forehead. Snow dusted his shoulders and the top of his hat. He had to be freezing.
Good.
And yet the longer she stood there, the less satisfied she felt. “He can’t stay out there indefinitely.”
“You don’t want to invite him back inside, do you?” Lavery sounded as if he’d battle her on that point.
“No, but neither do I want to watch him freeze to death.” She turned to the butler. “Would you go out and tell him to leave? Tell him he’s accomplishing nothing but perhaps ensuring he catches cold.”
“It would be my pleasure.” Lavery bundled himself up and went out into the darkening afternoon.
Violet watched at the window as the two men conversed. The interaction didn’t last long, and soon Lavery was back inside removing his greatcoat and hat.
She went into the hall to meet him. “What happened?”
“He refuses to leave until it’s dark. What’s more, he says he’ll return tomorrow and every day after that until you agree to see him.”
For the love of God. She was not going to let him make himself ill. “You told him there was no point to that?”
“I told him he could come every day until the end of time and you would still not admit him.” Lavery shook his head. “He actuallysmiledand said he’d take that chance, that he’d at least be able to see you coming and going and if that was all he could have, he’d take it.”
