Rule's Bride (8 page)

A
fter her late evening at the ball and a restless night of battling her worries and guilt, Violet slept later than she intended.

By the time Mary had helped her into a lace-trimmed russet silk day dress and pulled her hair back into a simple chignon, she was fidgeting to get on with the day. When she reached the top of the staircase, she spotted Caroline pacing nervously in the foyer. As Violet reached the bottom of the stairs, her cousin hurried toward her.

“You didn't forget, did you? My grandmother is expecting us this afternoon for tea. I don't want to disappoint her.”

Inwardly, Violet groaned. She hadn't forgotten. Today she was accompanying Caroline to her grandmother's, staying for a brief visit, then leaving her cousin and the older woman to their long-awaited reunion.

“I didn't mean to sleep so long, but I am ready now. We can leave whenever you wish. Will you be staying or coming back here?”

“I want to be certain everything is set. If it is, I'll stay. Tomorrow, I'll send for my things.”

Violet glanced around the entry. The house seemed overly quiet, no sounds coming from the drawing room or the study down the hall. Rule wasn't there, she was sure, for she always seemed able to sense his presence.

“Where is his lordship this morning?” she asked Hatfield, his spindly old butler.

“Lord Rule has gone to his office at Griffin. That is where he usually spends most of his day.”

“I see.” And since she hadn't gotten up early enough to speak to him before he left, she would go directly from Mrs. Lockhart's to the factory.

“Do you wish to leave him a message?”

“Thank you, no. I'll speak to him later.” She turned to Caroline. “Let me fetch my shawl and we can be on our way.”

Dashing back upstairs, she returned with a warm cashmere wrapper. April in England was often still cold and today was no exception. Hatfield took the shawl from her hand and draped the soft fabric around her shoulders.

Caroline had already donned her cape. A few minutes later, they were on their way to the corner to hire themselves a hansom cab for the ride to Belgravia, where Caroline's grandmother lived.

The early-spring wind was brisk and Violet was glad she was wearing her shawl. Around them, the streets were a noisy throng of pedestrians, merchant vehicles and carriages. A horse-drawn omnibus painted in red and yellow rolled past, several men seated on top while others hung off the sides. Children played along the lanes and young boys sold coal or peddled newspapers.

Eventually they reached Grandmother Lockhart's house, a large brick structure, the exterior well maintained. The interior was neat, as well, if in need of a bit of modernization. Adelaide Lockhart, a kindly older woman with
wavy silver hair and Caroline's same blue eyes, seemed perfectly content with the way things were and not the least concerned that the carpets were beginning to fray and the decor was a bit out of fashion.

Money was not the problem. The late Mr. Lockhart, an extremely successful merchant, had done very well for his family, and Caroline's father had continued the tradition, making his own vast fortune in America. Adelaide Lockhart spotted them and her eyes misted at the sight of the granddaughter she hadn't seen in years.

“Oh, my dear, you are so lovely. The same blue eyes as your grandfather, God rest his soul.”

“It is wonderful to be here, Grandmother.”

Mrs. Lockhart greeted Violet with equal warmth, then they followed the older woman into the drawing room where tea and biscuits were served. Violet had resigned herself that coffee was a treat she would only get in the mornings and was beginning to actually enjoy an occasional cup of tea.

The conversation was lively and warm. There was only one uncomfortable moment, when Caroline's grandmother inquired of Violet's husband.

“I should like very much to meet him,” the older woman said. “I am not acquainted with any of the Dewars, but everyone has heard of the Duke of Bransford and his very successful ale-making business.” She smiled at Violet. “Perhaps you and your husband might join my granddaughter and me for supper one evening.”

Violet shot a nervous glance at Caroline.

“They are just settling in, Grandmother, now that Violet is here in London.”

Violet managed to curve her lips. She hated to lie but there was no help for it. “Caroline is right. Now would be
a difficult time, but a bit later on my husband and I would be delighted to accept your invitation.”

The older woman beamed, obviously pleased that the brother of a duke would be dining in her home. “That would be lovely.”

Violet kept her stiff smile in place, lifted her cup and took a sip of tea.

It was nearly three o'clock by the time several pots of the jasmine brew had been consumed and Violet was able to leave the Lockhart residence. Before she could escape, Adelaide Lockhart insisted on lending Violet her carriage for the ride to Griffin Manufacturing on the south side of the Thames.

“That isn't the best part of town, you know,” Mrs. Lockhart said. “Are you sure your husband would approve your traveling there unaccompanied?”

Violet swung her shawl around her shoulders. “Rule respects my independence.” Which of course was a load of rot. The man had all the earmarks of becoming a demanding, overbearing, overly protective husband.

Not that she intended to give him the chance.

The carriage ride was a long one, through areas that were indeed questionable, but eventually they arrived at a huge brick structure marked by an imposing tower and a sign that read Griffin Manufacturing. A symbol she recognized, the mythical griffin, rose formidably above the sign.

Violet felt a wave of nostalgia and her eyes misted. The symbol was the embodiment of her father, a man with the courage of a lion and the vision of an eagle. Dear God, she missed him. Rarely a day went by she didn't think of him.

With a calming breath, Violet collected herself and sent the memories away. The coachman helped her descend
the iron carriage stairs. Lifting her russet silk skirts, she headed for the door marked Office.

A bell rang as she walked into the reception area and a young blond man with a pale complexion and rosy cheeks hurried up to the counter to greet her.

“Good afternoon, madam. May I help you?”

“My name is Violet Dewar. I am here to see…my husband.”

The young man's eyes widened. “Of course, my lady.” He nervously cleared his throat. “Currently, your husband is in a meeting with his foreman. Please have a seat while I inform him you are here.”

“Thank you.” She sat down on a long mahogany bench that ran the length of one wall. Beneath her feet, the wooden floor was swept and polished. The office was neat and clean, efficient she would call it, with a desk behind the counter to serve the fresh-faced young secretary and a row of cabinets at the back for filing information.

Through the brick walls, she could hear the familiar pounding, hammering and tinkering that indicated the assembly of the manufactured weapons: pistols of assorted shapes and sizes, and several varieties and various types of muskets.

In Boston, she had enjoyed running the business side of the factory, pretending to be J. A. Haskell and managing sales and accounting. She enjoyed the challenge of working, but there were other types of businesses to run, ones that had nothing to do with Americans killing each other in the war that was sure to come.

The sound of a door opening ended her musings. She rose as Rule stepped out of his private office. For an instant, his tall, masculine beauty stole her breath. With his shirt-sleeves rolled up, revealing his muscular forearms, and his
hair a little mussed, he looked capable instead of elegant, a force to be reckoned with, a man in complete control.

She forced herself to breathe normally and smile, then noticed he was frowning. His expression continued to darken as he strode toward her.

“What the devil are you doing here?”

She didn't like his tone. She forced herself to ignore it. “I wanted to speak to you. I overslept and missed you this morning so I came here to see you.”

He took her arm, hauled her rather forcefully into his office, and firmly closed the door.

“This is a factory, Violet. Hardly the place for a lady. The building is only a few blocks from the wharf, which means there are ruffians and blacklegs about. How did you get here?”

Her chin went up. She didn't appreciate being questioned like some sort of criminal. “Caroline's grandmother, Adelaide Lockhart, loaned me her carriage. There weren't any problems. I arrived in perfect safety.”

“If you wanted to come down here, you should have asked me to give you escort.”

She clenched her teeth and told herself to stay calm. “Need I remind you that I have the same right to be here as you?” More so, actually, since they were not truly married and his half ownership could still be revoked.

Rule blew out a breath. He raked a hand through his wavy black hair. “I'm sorry. I just don't want you getting hurt.”

“That is kind of you, but as you can see I am fine.”

“You wanted to see the plant?”

“I know what a munitions factory looks like. I came to discuss the future of the company. I thought perhaps you might have some thoughts on the subject.”

The tension in his shoulders did not ease. Clearly, he didn't like the idea of a woman involving herself in the op
eration of the business. He escorted her to one of the leather chairs in front of his desk, waited till she took a seat, then sat down in his own chair.

The inner office, she noticed, was as Spartan and efficient as the outer, somewhat of a surprise since his tastes in most things ran to the stylish and expensive.

“So you wish to discuss the future of the company.”

“Actually, meeting Mr. Stanfield got me to thinking about it.” She tried to appear nonchalant. “He has shown an interest in buying the business and I thought that perhaps selling wouldn't be such a bad idea.”

“That is what you think? That selling is a good idea?”

“It's something to think about. There are lots of other business opportunities to explore. Textile manufacturing, railroads…steamship companies are making incredible profits. Why did you refuse Mr. Stanfield's offer?”

“Because I didn't believe your father would wish me to sell and because Burton Stanfield is completely unscrupulous and not the sort with whom I wish to do business.”

“I see.”

He rose from behind his desk. “I appreciate your taking an interest in this, Violet, but the fact is, when your father chose me as your husband, he entrusted me with the welfare of the company. Making decisions that are right for the business is what I have been doing for the past three years. Now, unless there is more you wish to discuss, why don't I take you home?”

Her mouth thinned. He was dismissing her out of hand, treating her like some prissy, harebrained female. Her father had never done that and she didn't believe he had intended for Rule Dewar to behave that way, either.

She bit back a sardonic smile. Once their marriage was ended, he would certainly be in for a surprise when she
informed him of her decision to sell—not that he would suffer for it. He had received some money from her father upon his death, had already earned a small fortune in salary and bonuses, and his severance pay would be equally large.

“If you have nothing more to tell me, then I suppose we might as well leave.” Rising from her chair, she allowed him to take her arm and guide her to the door.

Rule sent the Lockhart carriage back to Belgravia and helped her into his own.

“I'll see you have a carriage for your personal use as soon as possible,” he said. “I don't want you roaming the streets in search of a cab.”

Violet didn't argue. She could use a means of transportation for the remainder of the time she was in London.

Rule took a seat across from her, sinking back into the comfortable velvet squabs, studying her from beneath his black lashes. As the vehicle jerked into motion, she could feel his gaze on her and a little shiver of awareness went through her that Violet purposely ignored.

“So your cousin will be staying with her grandmother?” he asked, his tone casual, though his eyes dipped to the swell of her breasts.

She nodded. “I'm to have the rest of her things sent over in the morning.”

He stretched his long legs out in front of him as best he could in the confined space inside the carriage. “I've decided to take a few days off. You have never been to London. As your husband, it would be my pleasure to show you around the city. Would you like that?”

Of course she would! She had never really traveled until now. She would love to see such an exciting city.

Inwardly she sighed, knowing she shouldn't go with him. The less time she spent in his company, the better. On
the other hand, she might never be back in England and she would hate to miss the chance to see it.

She met his assessing gaze. “That would be very kind of you.”

For the first time Rule smiled. “We'll take a drive round town, perhaps enjoy luncheon in one of the quaint little restaurants in Bond Street. We'll visit the London Museum and, of course, you will have to see the Crystal Palace, perhaps take a ride in Mr. Croxwell's air balloon. Oh, and I shall take you to the opera.” He cast her a glance. “You do like opera.”

She smiled. “Of course.”

He seemed to ponder the notion. “On second thought, I think the theater might be more fun. There is a new play opening at the Royal Pantheon. I keep a box there. How does that sound?”

It sounded wonderful. She loved theater and also the opera. And yet, she hesitated.

Rule's raven brows drew slightly together. “You gave me your word, Violet. All I want is a chance for us to get to know each other.”

It didn't seem too much to ask and she
had
agreed.