Though thankfully not hers as well, Ianthe added silently. Sir Charles had taken that secret with him.
‘Besides—’ grey eyes smouldered into hers ‘—there are benefits to being a social outcast. Now that I’ve regained the thoroughly disreputable reputation I deserve, nobody bats an eyelid at how much time I spend with my wife. It’s quite liberating really.’ He trailed a hand suggestively down her back. ‘We might not be the most respectable couple in Whitby, but we’re certainly the most interesting. Now will you give me one kiss at least, or is that too scandalous for you?’
‘You know I don’t care about such things any more.’ She smiled gleefully. That was true. In the past few months, Robert had positively encouraged her to be scandalous. If she wasn’t careful she’d give in to him now and really shock poor Violet. Tenderly, she wrapped both arms around his neck, kissing him so deeply that she felt both their bodies start to respond.
‘There’s always my office.’ Robert’s voice was dangerously tempting. ‘If you’d care to stop by for a visit this afternoon? My desk is bigger, after all.’
‘Perhaps.’ She smiled against his mouth. ‘What exactly did you have in mind?’
A shocked squeak caught them both by surprise.
‘Oh, Violet!’ Ianthe dropped her arms and cleared her throat hastily. ‘We were just... That is...’
‘I was just saying goodbye.’ Robert made an ironic bow. ‘Though I ought to put that ladder away first. Excuse me, Miss Harper.’
‘I’m sorry, Violet.’ Ianthe covered her face with her hands, peeking through her fingers with embarrassment as the door closed behind him.
‘Next time I’ll remember to knock.’ Violet giggled. ‘I should have known better than to leave the two of you alone together.’
‘Oh, dear. Are we really so shocking?’
‘You’re perfectly incorrigible, but you seem very happy together. That’s what matters, isn’t it?’
‘You’re right. I never imagined I could feel this happy.’ She beamed. ‘Thank you for the books, by the way, but doesn’t your father mind you coming here to help with the school? I know he doesn’t approve of me any more.’
Violet flushed guiltily. ‘He doesn’t know. He’s bedridden most of the time now. I tell him I’m out making calls.’
‘What if he finds out?’
‘Then I suppose I’ll have to tell him the truth. It won’t matter for much longer anyway.’
‘Is he so very poorly?’
‘Yes, but it’s not that.’ Violet’s voice shook slightly. ‘He says he’s arranged a match for me.’
‘A marriage?’ Ianthe gasped in amazement. She wouldn’t have thought the old man would ever let Violet go. ‘Who to?’
‘That’s the worst part. He won’t tell me. He just expects me to agree.’
‘When?’
‘After the funeral.’
Ianthe blinked in confusion. ‘Whose funeral?’
‘His. He says it won’t be long and I think he’s right. He has everything planned out. I know he’s doing it out of love, because he wants to be sure I’m taken care of, but I just wish that he’d ask me what I want for once.’
Ianthe bit her lip. She had the strong suspicion that Mr Harper had never known what love was. Now it seemed he intended to keep on controlling his daughter even after he was gone. The thought sent shivers down her spine. No matter how overly romantic her own parents had been, at least they’d given her the freedom to choose her own path—even if she had made a faltering start on it. All of the bitterness she’d felt towards them was gone, replaced by a dawning suspicion that they might have been right all along...
‘Can’t you just refuse?’
Violet shook her head. ‘No one says no to my father. But I was thinking...’ Her words trailed away as Robert came back into the classroom.
‘What were you thinking?’ Ianthe prodded her.
‘It doesn’t matter.’ Violet’s face took on an oddly determined expression. ‘I ought to get back before he misses me. I’ll see you tomorrow. Good afternoon, Mr Felstone.’
‘Something I said?’ Robert lifted his eyebrows quizzically as Violet brushed past him. ‘She looked like she was about to cry.’