Violet’s smile was genuine; her eyes shined with gratitude. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
Your Grace. Leo frowned. The address was far too formal for his liking, but he could not decide if he preferred for Violet to call himmy LordorLeo. Perhaps she would think he was being uncomfortably familiar with her. This was all so frustrating.
“Good afternoon!” The cheerful, bright voice drifted into the room moments before the lady herself appeared.
Lady Priscilla was a vision in her bright green gown, which complemented her wide brown eyes and her golden curls, pinned neatly beneath a straw bonnet laden with sprigs of green fern and red roses.
Leo stood, and Violet hurriedly climbed to her feet, also. “Good evening, my Lady.” Seeing the maid appear behind Lady Priscilla, Leo added, “fetch tea for the lady.”
The maid left at once.
“Apologies for arriving unexpectedly,” Lady Priscilla said. “I was astonished to hear of your wedding, and once I arrived in Essex, I found that I could no longer contain my excitement at meeting your bride.”
“Indeed,” Leo said, gesturing to Violet. “This is Violet, my duchess. Violet, this is Lady Priscilla.”
“A pleasure,” Lady Priscilla said, offering a small curtsey.
Violet returned the gesture. “Likewise. His Grace has told me so much about you that I feel as if I already know you.”
Lady Priscilla arched an eyebrow. “Has he? I fear he has said very little of you.” There was no hint of mockery in her voice, only a sly note of humor. “Why, that is very selfish of him, isn’t it? Keeping knowledge of you all to himself.”
“Join us,” Leo said, “please.”
Lady Priscilla took the chair beside Violet and smiled. “I am pleased to meet you. I have long thought that His Grace might benefit from some female companionship.”
“You say that as if I am a monk living in solitude in a monastery,” Leo said dryly.
Lady Priscilla hummed. “What proper lord leaves for the continent and does not even have the good grace to return with a scandal or two? I dare say I am correct.”
Leo thought about how his manhood pressed against his trousers so tightly that he ached. Lady Priscilla could not know how right her assertion was. Hewasliving like a monk, despite having such alluring female company.
“That is a rather inappropriate thread of conversation for a young lady,” Leo said.
Lady Priscilla lifted her chin, and her eyes sparkled with playful defiance. “Why, you were the one who first insinuated anything at all,” she said. “Why should the fairer sex be unallowed to speak of such subjects? That is hardly fair.”
“I have also thought so,” Violet said.
Leo’s head snapped towards her. What did she know of such matters? Violet was an innocent country girl without any scandals attached to her name. She had not even kissed a man, according to the people in Oxeburgh. That was, of course, aside from himself, but Leo did not think Violet realized that. Something of his surprise must have shown on his face, for color quickly rose to Violet’s cheeks.
“I care a great deal about women,” Violet explained. “There are too many things which the fairer sex is barred from, and that is an injustice.”
“Of the gravest kind!” Lady Priscilla agreed, clasping her hand over Violet’s. “Violet—if I may call you that? I know the loveliest group of bluestockings in London. I am certain they would be delighted to make your acquaintance. We frequently meet and discuss such topics and work to improve women’s lives throughout the whole of England.”
“You all sound so amazing,” Violet said.
Lady Priscilla smiled. “We have improved the lives of many women, but there are always more.”
“We were considering coming to London for the next Season,” Leo said.
“You must!” Lady Priscilla exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “I dare say it would be beneficial to the both of you.”
“Oh, how was your journey here?” Violet asked. “It occurs to me that the weather may have been rather treacherous.”
It was only early November, and snow had not yet arrived in Essex. However, the past week had been terribly dreary with endless storms, which had only quieted to a soft rain mere hours before. Lady Priscilla shrugged. “It was fine,” she said. “The weather was rather tempestuous, and we did have to halt once for the horses’ sake. However, it was mostly uneventful.”
“That is fortunate,” Leo said.
“Indeed,” Lady Priscilla replied. “I did think that I might arrive at Groveswood soaked to the bone, which would have been unpleasant. It seems that fortune favors me today, however.”
