“Violet, dear.” Mum swept into the library. “Why won’t you take your brother to play with his friend?” In a show of checking for dust, she ran a finger along the carved marble mantelpiece, then down one of the two supporting columns carved to look like palm trees. Her voice took on the prying tone that mothers must practice behind closed doors. “Did something happen yesterday?”
“Oh, Mum, nothing happened.” She was getting tired of Mum grilling her every time she came home from Lakefield. What could possibly happen there that Mum would find noteworthy, anyhow?
“I would just like a day for myself,” Violet said. “Is that too much to ask?”
“Of course not, dear.” Mum focused on the letter still clutched in Violet’s hand. “What’s that?”
“A note from Jewel.” Violet tossed it onto the dark wood desk. Stark white in contrast, the paper looked entirely too conspicuous.
“How sweet. What did the girl have to say?”
She wouldn’t tell her mother that the viscount had something for her—news like that would escalate Mum’s maternal prying to record levels. An awkward silence stretched between them while Violet stared at the note, wishing it would disappear.
“Jewel was just asking me to bring Rowan,” she finally admitted. When she looked back up, a tilt of her mother’s head was all it took. “I guess I’ll go after all,” she said with a sigh.
“That’s my Violet,” Mum said.
And if her cheerful smile set Violet’s teeth on edge, she was determined not to show it.
FIFTEEN
JEWEL WAS WAITING on the steps when they arrived.
“Lady Violet!” she squealed, running down the long walk to meet the carriage outside the gate. “Just wait till you see what Uncle Ford has for you! He had to find rocks to make it.”
Rocks? Violet couldn’t imagine. What sort of gentleman made things from rocks and had a little girl write his letters?
A strange one—that much was certain.
“Perfect rocks,” Jewel clarified. “They had to be perfect.” She turned her attention to Rowan. “Tomorrow is my birthday,” she said, “and Uncle Ford promised he would take me to the village to spend my money. He said I could invite you and Violet.”
“What money?” Rowan asked.
“He pays me to be good. And not to cry. And other things.”
Rowan’s jaw dropped open. He turned to Violet.
“Don’t even think about it,” she said.
Jewel looked toward him sympathetically. “Will you come with us tomorrow? I have enough coins for us both.”
Violet wasn’t surprised. If Ford was willing to pay bribes, she had little doubt a girl as bright as Jewel could manipulate her way to a fortune.
“Rowan can bring his own money,” she said.
He tugged on her hand. “Does that mean we can go?”
“I suppose. Since it’s Jewel’s birthday.” She couldn’t imagine turning six years old and being away from home for her birthday. Birthdays were major events for a child. In the Ashcroft home, they were major events into adulthood. Her family was odd that way.
Well, not only in that way.
She wasn’t looking forward to her own imminent birthday.
“Oh, good!” Jewel’s face lit up. Violet was having second thoughts already, but who could deny that smile? She still wasn’t thrilled with this nursemaid arrangement, but at least it would be something different to do. She wouldn’t just be sitting here. And Ford wouldn’t be able to totally ignore her.
She hated being the center of attention, but a little attention would be nice.
“Come inside,” Jewel said, turning to head up the walk. She looped her arm through Rowan’s and leaned close. “I have an idea for a jest.”
Violet might have been half-blind, but there was nothing wrong with her ears. “I heard that,” she said.
Jewel started up the steps. “Heard what?”
“You’re planning a jest.”
Opening the door, the girl batted her long black lashes. “Who, me? You must have mis-mis—” She paused for a breath. “Mis-un-der-stood.”
Jewel’s tone was so innocent, Violet would have believed her had she not known her better. She bit back a smile. Faith, could it be she would miss the girl when she left? She knew Rowan would. Though Ford would only be relieved. She could tell he saw Jewel as little more than a bother—an unwanted distraction from whatever spectacular discoveries he expected to make in his laboratory.
But then the viscount came down the corridor and swept the girl into his arms…
And Violet knew she was wrong. His love for his niece was obvious. There for all to see, shining in his incredible blue eyes. “Have you found our friends after all, baby?”
“I knew they would come if I sent them a letter.”
“Did you think of that yourself?”
When Jewel nodded, Violet nearly failed to cover her gasp of surprise. Why, the little girl was even more resourceful than she’d imagined!
“That’s my clever Jewel.” Ford kissed her on the nose. “And I suppose you got Harry to deliver it?”
“He always does what I ask.”
“Doesn’t everyone?” With a wry grin, he turned to their guests. “Welcome,” he said, sounding like he meant it. “Please come in.”
“As you wish,” Violet murmured. Maybe she’d been too quick to judge him. Absorbed in noticing that he was even better looking than she’d remembered, she tripped over the threshold—and once again found herself in the viscount’s arms.
Curse her deficient eyes!
Not that she really minded her current position.
She couldn’t imagine how he’d managed to set Jewel on her feet before catching her, but he’d done so quite handily. He steadied her, then grinned. “This is getting to be quite a habit.”
“I’m sorry.” His hands felt warm on her shoulders. “I know I ought to be more careful.”
“Nonsense. I’m fond of catching you.”
That charming smile almost convinced her of his sincerity. But of course he didn’t enjoy catching her, or even being in her presence, for that matter—the fact that he’d ignored her four days running certainly proved that.
She not-so-subtly wrenched free of his hands. “Lady Jewel said you have something for me?”
“Did she?” He looked disappointed—as though he’d wanted to tell her himself. He turned
