Page 62 of The Duke of Ice
Andy gave her a shrewd smile. “Well, he seems to have taken a liking to you. I remember thinking he liked you then too. Or am I misremembering?” She tapped her finger against her lip briefly before dropping it to her lap. “No, I’m quite certain, but then I am most observant.”
Cassie rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes. We know.”
Violet preferred to change the subject. She didn’t want to draw attention to herself or to Nick. Or worse, to both of them. Together.
Why?
Because what if nothing happened? What if they decided they didn’t suit?
Yesterday’s conversation at the Pump Room had been revelatory, and even though he’d quite aroused her desire with his declaration that he’d come to Bath forher—she shivered again just thinking of the look he’d given her—she didn’t hold any illusions that things were perfect. There was still a great deal to resolve. But she’d been encouraged by what he’d said, that she hadn’t deserved her unhappy marriage. Perhaps they could find their way back to each other. She was almost afraid to hope.
As if conjured by her thoughts, Nick entered the tearoom. He scanned the room, his gaze moving from table to table until he saw Violet. Upon finding her, he wove his way in her direction.
Violet didn’t want him to come here. It would only increase the sisters’ speculation. On the other hand, it wasn’t as if they were gossips. Contrarily, they were rather private and kept to themselves.
In any case, it was too late, because Nick was already at the table.
“Good evening, ladies,” he said.
“Good evening, Your Grace,” Cassie said before sipping from her glass of ratafia. “We were just talking about you.”
“Were you?” His gaze drifted to Violet, and she detected a bit of humor.
“We were trying to place you,” Andy said. “I remembered you from when you used to live here. Before you were a duke. Kilve isn’t that far—do you come back often?”
“No, actually. But I may rectify that. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy Bath.” He slid a look at Violet, a smile teasing his lips. She stared at him, trying to silently communicate that he should refrain from saying such things. Honestly, it wasn’t what he was saying but how he was saying them. He was flirting. In front of people. She wasn’t ready for that. And frankly, she was surprised he was.
Cassie abruptly stood. “I need to visit the retiring room. Please excuse me.”
Andy’s mouth twitched in the barest grimace at her sister’s indelicate comment—Cassie was not the most socially astute—and hastened to join her. “I’ll go with you.” She smiled at both Violet and Nick. “Lovely to see you both. You should come round for tea, Violet.”
“I’ll do that, thank you.” While she wasn’t close friends with the sisters, she would count them above acquaintances. They were quite intelligent, if a bit eccentric.
After they left, Violet sagged against the back of her chair.
“Is something the matter?” Nick sat down beside her.
“They remembered that we’d been acquainted eight years ago.”
“So?”
“So they also noticed that we danced tonight.” She glanced around, wondering if anyone was looking in their direction. “Do we want to draw attention to ourselves?”
He was quiet a moment. “I hadn’t considered that. I suppose we must—consider it, I mean.”
“It seems prudent not to appear as if we are courting.”
“The rules are a bit different once you’re widowed, aren’t they?” He gave her a rueful smile. “I admit I don’t really know.”
She laughed softly. “I don’t either. I just know that we need to be careful. And with that, I think I’ll go home.”
“Did you walk? I could escort you.”
“I didn’t—my house isn’t quite close enough, particularly given tonight’s abysmal weather.” They’d arrived amid a cold, persistent rain.
“I know where your house is. Mine is at the near end of Royal Crescent.”
She stared at him. “That’s not far from mine at all. You planned that.”
