Page 58 of An Orphan for the Broken Duke

“We have been over this,” he chuckled. “I was glad to help.”

“No, not for tonight,” she said. “When you first met me, I was not very nice to you. In fact, I was downright rude and awful.”

He laughed. “I remember.”

“Worse than that, I was so sure that you were trying to trick me.” As they walked, she looked ahead, unable to bring herself to look at him. “I thought the worst of you and for no good reason, and I continued to think that way until you made it impossible for me to do so.”

“I know that, Violet,” he said. “But I do not blame you. I know how hard your life has been, and you were right to be cautious.”

“I was wrong,” she said. “About everything. You… this marriage. It was not what I expected, but I… I have realized…” She sighed and then laughed. “This is harder to say than it should be.”

Rhys came to a sudden stop. Violet stumbled forward a little, then turned to find him looking at her. He did not smile. He did not admire her. It was a simple look, one that willed her to be honest.

“You can say anything to me, Violet.” His voice was soft but not withdrawn. “I know how hard it is for you to trust, and I will not blame you if that trust is not yet there. But please know, you can trust me. Whatever you want to say, you need not worry.”

“I have realized how happy I am that I said yes,” she said, finding the words far easier to say than she imagined. “I did not know what to expect from this marriage, but it has proven that the risk I took was the right one.”

Rhys nodded. “Lucy is lucky to have you.”

“This is not about Lucy.” She was sure to smile, wanting him to see it in the moon’s white light. “This is about us, Rhys. It is about… what this marriage has become. And what it…” She hesitated, sudden doubt felt deep in her stomach. “And what it might one day be.”

The walls around her were crumbling. Slowly, Violet was giving herself over to those feelings that she had kept buried for so long. And while she was scared to do so, she felt that she owed it to herself. Having never felt this way before, to ignore these feelings would be wrong… and she deserved better than that.

But tearing down her walls was just the beginning. What mattered was Rhys and what he felt. More than that, if he would be willing to admit it.

She knew he had feelings for her. She had sensed them… seen them with her own eyes. But while she was stubborn, he was so much worse. Moreover, Violet wanted to be happy, whereas Rhys did not think he could be.

But you can be, Rhys. All you need to do is believe it…

“I…” Rhys withdrew, looking away. “I do not know what to say to that, Violet. Or what you want me to say.”

“Do you trust me?” she asked him.

“I do.” Still, he looked away. “You are the first person I have trusted in longer than I can remember. The first person I have wanted to trust.”

“I feel the same way,” she said. “So, if you trust me, then tell me the truth. This marriage… are you glad that you went through with it? Or do you regret it?”

His head snapped up. “Never, Violet. If you know anything, know that I do not regret it. Not for a second.”

“And not just because of Lucy…” she led him.

Again, he hesitated. But this time, he did not look away. He stared right at her, his brow furrowed, thoughts passing behind his eyes that she could not begin to imagine. Fear, maybe? Doubt? What would it take for him to finally admit what he wanted?

“No, not just because of Lucy,” he said slowly as if the words came to him in pieces. “Originally, I told myself as much. It was an easy excuse to give, that all I cared about was Lucy’s wellbeing. I still do, of course, but I find that she is not the only person who now concerns me.”

“Oh?”

“It is hard for me, Violet…” He took a step toward her; it looked difficult, as if an unseen force was pushing against him. “To… to care for another. I told you of my sister, my fear about what happens to those I care about.”

“I think I have shown that I can look after myself,” she said with gentle humor.

“But you do not have to,” he said as he took another step, closing the space between them. “I want to look after you, to protect you, to keep you safe. That is what this marriage now means to me, and not for a moment do I regret it.”

“And I want the same thing,” she said, her voice cracking. “We have both changed in that way, but I do not mind it. Where you are concerned, Rhys, I… I want you to be there for me. I want this marriage to mean something.”

She saw her words affect him. It was as if a fire was lit somewhere deep inside, setting him ablaze so the doubt and the confusion burned away. He stood tall. He stood proud. He stood as if he was announcing himself to her for the first time.

Slowly, he reached up with his right hand and cupped the side of her face. Violet caught her breath. His touch was not only warm, but it also felt right. It felt safe.