Wedding Violet (Fair Cyprians of London 4)

“I don’t know how to thank you, Max,” she managed, her voice breaking before she gasped in fear as the door was flung open, and Lord Bainbridge stood framed upon the threshold; the grey clouds behind throwing him into terrible relief. For what a large man he was.

And not known for his compassionate heart.

Violet hugged Emily even closer and tried to hide her fear. She’d brazen this out. She had to. Even if she no longer cared what became of herself, she had Emily to care for now, and she could only do that if she had the protection of a man.

“What’s going on here?” He took a few steps into the room and looked from Emily to Violet, then across at Max. A frown marred his handsome features, and his lips were pressed into a tight line. Violet could feel Emily’s fear though the girl remained silent.

“Well, I need no introduction, Bainbridge, but Violet, don’t you want to introduce your sister?”

Violet flashed Max an angry look. It was all very well for him to bombard Violet’s lover with the truth when he was blithely stepping out of their lives forever. But what if Violet had been busily hatching a more creative explanation that might work better on soothing Lord Bainbridge’s sensibilities?

“Your sister?” Lord Bainbridge said angrily. “You told me she was dead.”

Violet heard the suspicion in his tone, inferring that Violet had lied to him. No doubt he’d be wondering what else she might have lied about.

He turned to Max. “What are you doing in my house?”

The sick dismay in Violet’s gut worsened. What was Max doing? How could he display such blatant disregard for Violet’s welfare when they’d parted as friends? Had she offended him in some way?

She lowered her eyes, unable to bear the scene. She had nothing to contribute. Her fate was in both their hands right now, and she could only pray that Max would handle the situation in a manner that would not incite Lord Bainbridge’s ire.

“Reuniting a homeless child with a beloved relative when both had thought the other dead.” Max sounded very calm. As if it had been nothing. Or simply all in an afternoon’s work.

And yet Violet’s life had been turned upside down. She had been delivered the greatest joy she could ever imagine by discovering Emily was alive, but her fear in the immediate moment was how she was going to look after her sister.

And no doubt that was what Lord Bainbridge was wondering. He’d outlaid a great deal of money to acquire Violet’s loving services. He was hardly going to sanction Emily living in this house with her. Not that Violet would have considered that appropriate either. Emily’s future prospects would only be tainted by an association with Violet—a kept woman.

“I had hoped for a somewhat different reception, I must say.” Lord Bainbridge directed this at Violet; his tone laced with acid.

Suddenly, she was frightened. How might he react when Max was gone? Would he insist Violet despatch Emily immediately? But where could she send her? She had so many questions she couldn’t ask. Had Grandmother died? Or had she thrown Emily out and Emily had nowhere to go?

“And what do you plan to do with this child? Your sister?” He spoke as if Emily didn’t have ears. His nostrils flared, and Violet envisaged what the next few years might be like. She’d have to pander to this man she didn’t even like. A man with no compassion.

“Lord Belvedere asked if I was brave enough to shoot a lion. And I am.” Emily thrust out her flat chest and looked combative. “He’s going to Africa. I think Africa sounds like India. Exciting. Not like here—”

She’d burst out with such bravado, but Lord Bainbridge cut into her words, “Children should not be heard. Violet, this is untenable—”

Now it was Max, interrupting him to say in his previous, measured tone, “I think Emily would do very well in Africa. We’ve had a good conversation about it during the carriage ride here. Not a very comfortable carriage ride, I must admit, for after I found the child soaking wet and bleeding from an injury inflicted, apparently, by what I would consider a completely unsatisfactory guardian, I hired the only conveyance to be had in town, which was not quite up to standard, was it, Emily?”

“No, there was a rat living in it, and it smelled horrible.” The energy had returned to Emily’s tone.

“But needs must, and so I brought Emily to you and had hoped I might see you alone in order to invite you to Africa too, Violet.” He smiled. “Unfortunately, I must now offer the invitation in company.” He glanced at Emily. “I say, Emily, would you mind seeing if you could locate a servant to make some hot chocolate. Something soothing for this cold weather would be in order, don’t you think?”

With Emily gone, Max seemed to relax. As for Violet, she didn’t know what to say.

Go to Africa with him? In what capacity? Her heart raced with the excitement of various possibilities. He was offering her a lifeline. Had he found someone who needed a companion? A governess? By making it clear that Emily could go too, he’d obviously been very creative.

She saw the roiling anger in Lord Bainbridge’s eyes, and knew she’d take her chances and whatever Max was offering her, even if it meant swapping her silks and jewels for a lifetime of servitude. An escape to a frontier where her past did not hang like a millstone around her neck was the most tantalising offer she could ever have imagined.

“On my way here, I stopped by Madame Chambon’s.” Max lowered his voice and glanced at the door through which Emily had exited. “Don’t worry, Violet. I left Emily in the carriage while I had a private audience with Madame and quickly executed the transaction that would see both your employer and you, Lord Bainbridge, adequately recompensed.”

Violet swallowed. His generosity was considerable. The sum he must have handed over would have been significant. Yet, she felt like a slave being paid for.

“This is preposterous!” Lord Bainbridge burst out. He took a menacing step towards Max; his face mottled with indignation. “I secured this house for Violet only this week.” He made a sweeping gesture with his arm. It was, indeed, a handsome house; furnished without concern for expense. Lord Bainbridge had wanted a tiny palace to accommodate his latest prized possession.

His nostrils flared. “I paid Madame Chambon a king’s ransom. Violet belongs to me.”

Violet kept her expression neutral while she waited tensely, though she cringed inwardly at the crudeness of the situation. Max was about to make an offer. As long as it included Emily, she’d jump at it. And he surely knew Violet well enough to anticipate she’d take a lowlier position if it gave her an independence with the ability to look after her sister. Why else would he have brought Emily here? Why else would he have paid Madame Chambon and recompensed Lord Bainbridge for Violet’s services? Max was tenderhearted. When he’d stumbled upon Emily, the child’s plight must have tugged at his heartstrings. He’d not have been able to abandon an eleven-year-old under the circumstances.