CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Viola sat to her father’s right as he ate his supper of cold quail and cheese. Her father and Lady Darlingiver had refused to make eye contact with her since the meal began, opting for benign conversation regarding the weather and the dowager’s son, who had recently purchased an estate not far away. The praise the current Lord Darlingiver received made him sound the epitome of London’s haut ton.
Vi continued to push the food around on her plate and awaited the opportunity to excuse herself. Why she worried about her manners now, she could not say.
The clink of Lady Darlingiver’s fork brought Vi’s head up. “What are we to do now?” she asked. “Lippy, she cannot hide away here in the country any longer.”
“I agree, my love.” Her father also set down his fork.
Her opportunity to slip from the room disappeared. Vi couldn’t help but wonder if the dowager was indeed worried about her, or of her own reputation.
“I plan to remain here and continue as I have.”
“That is not possible, Viola,” Lord Liperton said. “It is time you confront your past head on. If you have changed, society will see that—”
“What do you mean, ‘if I have changed’?” Did he have so little faith in her? It was as if he hadn’t seen her since her debut and subsequent disgrace from society. Had he not witnessed, firsthand, her transformation?
Her father continued without even a pause. “I am selling Foldger’s Foals, and you will attend me in London. I do not believe a match is out of the question, but you must be seen to garner an offer.”
“But, Father—”
Her father raised his hand to silence her protests. “My mind is made up, and I fear there is little you can say or do to change my plans.” He retrieved his fork and stabbed a piece of meat on his plate. “And if you fight me on this matter, I will be forced to remove Miss Ruby as your companion and you will be alone.”
“Going to London is out of the question—and marriage? You know I have no plans to marry. I will stay on here with Ruby. We will find things to occupy our time.” Vi was certain she would go stark raving mad within a fortnight of inactivity, but that was not something she’d share with either her father or his companion.
“Now is not the time to disagree with your father. He knows what is best for you and this family,” Lady Darlingiver chastised her.
The woman always managed to make Vi feel like a child—and in this case, a spoiled child. “May I be excused?” Social graces be damned. If she didn’t depart the room soon she was likely to show the woman just how childish she could act.
“Certainly. Please ready yourself and Miss Ruby for our departure to London.” The finality of his word caused dread to course through her.
Her years of running from her past were at an end. Her chair glided out from beneath her as she stood and made her way to the door.
“Viola?” her father called.
“Yes,” she answered without looking back, fighting tears.
“Things always appear much worse than they actually are.”
The words, meant to soothe her nerves, only added to her fear of what was to come. “They also say that things tend to worsen before they improve.” With her head held high and her back straight, Vi quit the room.
Vi needed fresh air—the wind against her face. And she knew exactly where to go.
Shunned No More Page 29
