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it all came thundering back. London. A bedroom in Rule Dewar’s town house. Their conversation last night.
    She spotted Caroline standing at the foot of the bed and jerked her gaze to the clock on the wall. “Oh, my goodness. I hadn’t intended sleeping so late.”
    â€œYou were exhausted. The trip was long and so was the evening, waiting for your husband to arrive.”
    Violet made a sound of irritation in her throat. “I hate it when you call him that.”
    Caroline laughed. “Well, he is—at least for the moment. Up with you, now. Mary will be here any moment to help you dress—and you had better do it swiftly. There is an army of servants waiting downstairs to greet the new Lady Rule.”
    â€œLady Rule? You’re jesting. That is who I am?”
    â€œApparently so.”
    â€œThat sounds ridiculous.”
    Caroline grinned. “It does, rather. But still…”
    For the next half hour, Caroline and Mary helped Violet prepare to greet her husband and his staff. After that, she planned to deliver the news she had traveled so far to give him.
    She and Caroline left the bedroom arm in arm, heading for the stairs.
    â€œI have already seen him,” Caroline admitted. “I spoke to him this morning. I awakened earlier than you. I was hungry so I went downstairs. I passed him on the way to the breakfast room. I introduced myself and I think he actually remembered who I was.”
    â€œYou’re a woman. A man who looks like that must be used to having dozens of women fawning over him. He probably remembers every one.”
    â€œI was only a girl when we met. At any rate, he was very polite.”
    â€œHe would be. It was another of the things my father liked about him.”
    â€œYour father liked him a very good deal.”
    â€œYes, and look where that got me.”
    Caroline said no more and as they reached the bottom of the stairs, Rule walked out of the hallway. He smiled, perfectly groomed head to foot, even after his late-night carousing.
    â€œGood morning, ladies. I hope you slept well.”
    â€œWell enough,” Violet said.
    Servants began arriving, surrounding them where they stood at the bottom of the sweeping staircase. Awaiting Rule’s return last evening, Violet had acquainted herself a bit with the residence, noting that the interior was done with exquisite taste. Each of several drawing rooms and all of the guest rooms were elegantly furnished, as was thedining room. She’d had an odd sense that each piece had been personally selected to fit its surroundings.
    The number of servants swelled by two more and Rule turned to face them. “Now that all of you are here, I would like to introduce you to my wife. I hope you will serve her as well as you have always served me.”
    The servants all clapped and smiled. “Welcome, my lady,” said the housekeeper—Mrs. Digby, Violet recalled—speaking for the group. “Please let us know if there is anything you need.”
    â€œThank you, Mrs. Digby, I shall.”
    â€œThis is Miss Lockhart,” Rule said, “my wife’s cousin. Please make her comfortable during her visit.”
    â€œOf course, my lord.” The housekeeper smiled broadly, clearly pleased her employer had taken a wife.
    Violet ignored a twinge of guilt. She wished she could have avoided any pretense they were actually married, but after her arrival yesterday, there was simply no way around it.
    â€œI believe Miss Lockhart has already eaten,” Rule said to Violet. “Perhaps you would allow me to join you in the breakfast room.”
    She managed to smile. “Of course.”
    â€œI noticed you’ve quite a collection of books,” Caroline said. “If you wouldn’t mind, I would love to find myself something to read.”
    â€œPlease do. Books are meant to be enjoyed. Most of my collection is in the study. You’ll find other volumes scattered here