Page 15 of How to Start a Scandal

‘I do,’ Violet replied.

‘She’s come to visit. For you to become better acquainted with her prior to removing yourself to the country this summer.’

‘Oh, yes.’ Violet kept her face from showing any of her emotions. ‘I saw her. As well as Hedgehog.’

Lord Hollingston’s composure rumpled in a furrow of his bushy white brows. ‘Good God, she brought a hedgehog?’

‘It’s a cat.’

He held his hands wide, opened his mouth, shook his head, and continued. ‘Your mother and I would like for you to spend some time cultivating a relationship with your niece while she is in town.’

Violet pressed her lips together to still her protest, then thought better of it.

If she had only weeks of freedom left, she would not spend them beleaguered with a condescending child and a cat adorned in frippery.

‘I had hoped to spend the remainder of the Season enjoying my time in London.’ She widened her eyes in the way that always worked on her father. ‘After all, it will be my last opportunity to do so.’

Her father stared at her for a long moment. ‘Violet, you have a choice to make. Whatever the devil you choose, I’d like you to know it well before you settle on your decision.’

A smile nearly erupted on Violet’s face at his word selection. She tried to squelch it and instead sent the chair crying out in displeasure.

His forehead crinkled in question.

Violet swallowed her laugh. Or at least attempted to. ‘Did you just call your granddaughter a devil?’

Lord Hollingston sat back in realisation and his lips quirked as a snort of a chuckle escaped him. ‘Well, it would appear I did. But you well know that is not what I meant.’

‘I know, Papa.’ Violet grinned at him.

‘Go on, you imp.’ He waved at the air playfully in dismissal. ‘And know I’ll not change my mind on this.’ His final words were laden with seriousness that left no room for argument.

Violet closed the door and suppressed a sigh. There would be no escape from this task. An unhappy beast hissed from somewhere in the house and Violet steeled herself for the task at hand. After all, how awful could a seven-year-old girl and a bad-tempered, ill-named cat be?

Chapter Five

Violet discovered exactly how awful a seven-year-old girl and a bad-tempered, ill-named cat could be.

There had been a game of hopscotch that had gone horribly awry when Violet tripped over Hedgehog and went sprawling into the perennials. Inside the home was no better when a game of dressing dolls had changed focus and poor Hedgehog became the object of Felicity’s styling. Following all that had been the upset tea table in the creature’s haste to run off, leaving his dignity behind. Violet couldn’t fault the beast.

And it was best not to even think about Felicity’s attempt to bring the cat to the dinner table. Lord Hollingston, fortunately, was far more firm in his orders and Felicity had been forced to sullenly deposit her hapless feline in another room before a fine roast could be spoiled by a dusting of cat hair.

By the end of the day, Violet was heartily exhausted. If she didn’t have plans, she would have collapsed in her bed and not roused until well after noon the following day. She did, however, have plans. Or at least one very grand one.

Her parents retired earlier than usual, not long after Felicity, coincidentally, which gave Violet plenty of time for Susan to help her into the domino and summon a discreet hackney to the back of the house.

Violet slipped into the carriage and noted a similarly discreet coach at the house beside hers, taking off in the opposite direction. She craned her neck to see the passenger. The chiselled profile confirmed her suspicions. Lord Dalton. And whatever he was doing apparently required that he leave through the back of his home in secret.

A changed man, indeed.

Perhaps it was for the best Violet had no interest in marriage. Surely there was nothing guaranteed but heartbreak. And she had already been well acquainted with that pain.

She drew the curtain closed over the window to ensure there was no possible way for her to be seen. Especially when Violet’s parents were unaware of her intention.

Violet remained thus in her seat for the duration of the journey, stock still, heart pounding, until at last the hackney rolled to a stop. The door opened and the driver held out his hand before leading her down.

‘Busy address, this is.’ He gave a grin that bordered on a grimace and showed splotches of rot in his teeth. ‘’Specially when it’s at the back o’ the ’ouse.’ His threat was thinly veiled and his intent apparent.

Violet took one of the precious coins from her reticule and deposited it into the driver’s grimy palm without touching him. He winked at her and let her pass.