Page 75 of An Orphan for the Broken Duke

It was too much effort to feign anger at Rose. While Violet wanted Rhys to come to such decisions on his own accord, if he needed a push, would that be so bad?

To have simply expelled all thoughts of Rhys and the feelings that Violet had for the man would have been for the best, but things were not that simple. As said, Violet did not want to leave, and did she think that returning would make a difference, then she would do it.

But for that to be the case, Rhys must want it.

“And?” she pressed, doing her best to sound as if she did not care either way. “What did he say?”

Rose sighed and her shoulders dropped. “He insisted that his only concern was for Lucy. If you do return, it would not be for him, but for her.”

It was the answer that Violet expected, but that did not stop it from hurting.

“And how is Lucy?” Violet asked, needing to pivot from speaking about Rhys. “You saw her?”

“I did.” Rose brightened, and her eyes shone with love.

“And…”

“What do you think? She is upset—too young to understand what is going on; she thinks that it is her fault.”

Violet’s heart broke. This was always going to be hard, but to know that Lucy was hurting… maybe I was wrong? Am I being selfish?

“Did you tell her why?”

“Of course I did,” Rose said. “Or I told her what I could. In truth, I hardly understand it myself. But I made her see that this was not her fault, and I promised her that you would visit soon.” Rose raised an eyebrow at Violet. “You will visit her soon, won’t you?”

“I…” Violet winced. “Soon, yes. But not right away.”

“Violet…”

“It has to be this way,” Violet said, but without as much assurance as she would have liked. “If I visit too soon, it will only confuse things. Rhys and Lucy need to be given a chance to get to know one another without me there. That is the entire point of this. Only then might they stand a chance of developing a true bond.”

“But why must it be that way? Why can it not be all three of you?”

“It has to be this way.” Violet looked away, overtaken by shame. “It is hard now, but this is for the best. I know it is.”

Violet had felt awful when she woke up that morning; questions and doubt flooding her because she struggled to come to terms with what she had done, and if it was right. And now that she had spoken to Rose, she felt much the same. If anything, she felt even more unsure.

“Have you eaten yet?” she asked Rose, wanting to change the topic. “Of course you have not. Come on…” She took Rose by the hand and led her inside.

As had been part of the agreement when she married Rhys, he had paid off the loans for her family’s home, meaning that when she and Rose arrived last night, it sat there waiting for them. Empty, alien feeling, but it was the same building.

It should not have felt that way.

For so many years, Violet had worked to keep possession of their home, and always she would picture how she might feel when that day finally came. It would be vindication, pride, and relief at knowing that her and her sister’s lives were finally their own.

But the house felt wrong now. It felt unearned. Walking through its empty rooms and halls, Violet felt like a stranger and as if she did not belong. She did not know why that was, only that coming home brought with it a sense that she had missed something.

“As you were out all morning, I took the liberty of going shopping,” Violet explained as she led Rose into the kitchen. “But as we have no staff, I ask for patience.”

Rose laughed as she sat down at the kitchen table. “It is much like old times, is it not?”

Violet winced because such a comment could not have been further from the truth. “It is,” she lied.

As Violet got to work making their breakfast, little was said. But always, she felt Rose’s eyes on the back of her head, the judgment that her sister was feeling. Not anger, of course. Nor was it frustration. It was more that Rose did not understand, and she hated what it was doing to her sister.

“I do have a question,” Rose asked after some time. “Although you are not going to be happy about it.”

Violet stood over the countertop as she whipped a bowl of eggs, and she was sure not to look at Rose. “Ask away.”