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Wilde stormed along the hallway leading to Sheffield’s study. He shoved the door open, causing it to slam against the wall. The butler, Mason hurried after him, calling for him to stop. When he advanced on Sheffield, Wilde halted when he noticed his friend slouched in his armchair. He held a half-drunken bottle of whiskey to his lips, abusing the fine liquid in a quick swallow. This was a side of Sheffield he had never witnessed, even in their youth when they ran wild. Sheffield always held himself back with an arrogant air from the usual drunken debauchery. Wilde waved Mason away and waited for him to close the door before he approached Sheffield.
While he'd promised Sophia he wouldn't interfere, he owed it to her to defend her honor. She had nobody else. Her parents would demand a marriage contract, and Beckwith couldn't afford to make an enemy out of Sheffield. So, it lay upon him to warn Sheffield away. Marriage to Sheffield would be a miserable affair he wouldn't wish for Sophia to endure.
“What in the hell is wrong with you?”
“Ahh, my good friend Wilde. Back from the honeymoon already?” Sheffield slurred.
“You are drunk.”
“Very observant, my good friend. I said that already didn’t I? My good friend. Seems like I am repeating myself.”
“Because you are, you fool.”
“Fool? Am I a fool?”
“Good God, man. What has come over you?”
“Violet.”
“Violet?”
“Mmm, yes. She is my temptress, but she hasn’t answered my letters the past two days. When she finally did, it was to inform me that she doesn’t wish to see me again.”
“Who is this Violet?”
Sheffield laughed. “That I do not know. She is a mystery. Can I tell you a secret?”
Wilde sighed. Sheffield was more drunk than he'd first thought. He settled in a chair across from him, grabbing the bottle from Sheffield’s grasp. He didn’t need to drink any more. Before long he would have to pour coffee down his throat to sober him. The last rumor he heard was that Sheffield courted Lady Dallis MacPherson. Now he was into his cups about a chit named Violet.
“What is your secret?”
“Violet isn’t her real name. It is the name I bestowed upon her. She has the most amazing eyes the color of violet that changes shade as her moods alter.”
Wilde stilled as Sheffield described his Violet. He knew only one woman who held that eye color. It couldn’t be, but Wilde had the weirdest sense it was. Every sign pointed toward the truth of this puzzle. It was an odd shade for an eye color. It would explain Sophia’s mixed emotions. But how did Sheffield not realize who his Violet was? Hell, he kissed her twice.
“Where did you meet Violet?”
“Belle’s”
“When?”
“The day you had your secret tryst with my intended. While you were bedding Lady Sidney, I became acquainted with this beauty in Belle’s parlor.”
Now Wilde was more confused than ever—he knew Sophia had waited in the parlor. Why was Sheffield calling her Violet instead of Sophia?
“Her name is Violet?”
“That is what I keep saying, man. Are you not listening?”
“I am only trying to understand your story. Please carry on.”
“She is a beauty like no other.”
“Is she a new girl of Belle’s?”
“No, no, no. You married my fiancé, Violet is mine. Nobody will taste her treasures, but I.”
“If she is Belle’s, then many will sample her treasures.”
“No,” Sheffield roared as he tried to rise, but his unsteadiness caused him to fall back in a slump against the chair cushions.
“Explain who Violet is. I am confused.”
“You will not request her from Belle’s?”
“Sheffield, I am a married man and no other woman will ever hold my interest except for Sidney. Your Violet is safe from me.”
“Nobody else will touch her. She is mine and as soon as I can convince her, she will be forever.”
“You intend to make her your duchess?”
“No. Violet could never be my duchess with the scandal surrounding our relationship. No, I will keep her as my mistress. I plan to make Lady Dallis MacPherson my intended.”
If he was correct on the identity of the elusive Violet, then Sheffield would soon be disappointed.
“Will she agree?”
“With the right persuasion I am certain she will.”
Wilde took a drink from the bottle. He wanted more, but needed his senses about him to tackle this new dilemma. He was positive Sophia was Violet. After he left, he would make a stop at Belle’s for the full story. Then he would have to explain this mess to his wife without her inserting her way into the drama. He rose and went to the door, calling for the butler and ordering coffee for Sheffield. Returning to the chair he watched Sheffield, who had his eyes closed, muttering to himself.
When Mason delivered the coffee, he held a missive toward Sheffield. The letter was enclosed in a decorative envelope with purple flowers and a feminine script. He recognized the stationary, for Sidney had received many with the same design in the last week. Sophia had avoided Sidney since they met in the park, but written often. His suspicions were now confirmed.
Sheffield grabbed the letter and sat straighter in the chair. As his eyes devoured the words, he instantly sobered. She wanted to meet him this afternoon. Now, in fact. He needed to make himself presentable before he saw her again. The aroma of coffee drifted toward him. He should drink a few cups, but decided not to. Violet loved the flavor of whiskey when she kissed him.
“I must leave. You will see yourself out, won’t you?”
“Violet?”
“Yes, she requests my company.”
“Should you not drink your coffee before you meet her?”
Sheffield laughed. “No.”
“Well, then. I bid you goodbye and wish you the best of luck with your Violet.”
Already entranced with reading the letter again, Sheffield was unaware that Wilde left. He thought he'd lost her after their night together. When he awoke at Belle’s and she'd disappeared, he felt a sense of loss deep in his soul. Then, as she refused to meet him, he became desperate. His need for her consumed his life. Her missive this morning conveyed her regrets that she needed to break their arrangement. They would only have the one evening spent in each other’s arms. But as he read this letter, she expressed her fears to him and wanted to share what precious time they had remaining for the week.
Only it would be longer than that. He would not scare her away with his requests today. But by the end of their affair, she would be his for eternity. There would be no way she would refuse him.
~~~~~
BELLE GREETED HIM, “Wilde, my darling. You are a sight for sore eyes. How are you enjoying married life to the enchanting Sidney?”
“It is beyond my wildest dreams.”
“What do I owe this lovely visit to? I cannot imagine it is for the services of my girls.”
Wilde laughed. “No, you will send them my regrets. I believe you know why I am here. Did you not think I wouldn’t learn about the latest development brewing in your home?”
“You know?”
“Bits and pieces. I hoped you could fill in the rest. I need to hear the complete story before my wife gets wind of this mess.”
“Have a seat, Wilde, and let me pour you a drink. This may take a while.”
“My first question is, why, Belle?”
“She is the one for him, Wilde. They are soul mates and need a small push toward one another.”
“You are aware that if this scandal comes to light, your establishment will have to close.”
“If he finds happiness, it will be worth it.”
“He plans to ask her to be his mistress for life.”
“There is no way she can.”
“I realize that and so do you, but he is under the assumption he can change her mind.”
“She will never agree; the arrangement is only for this week.”
“Please start from the beginning.”
Belle explained to Wilde how Sophia became unattended on the day he spent with Sidney. During that time, Sheffield became enamored of Sophia and requested time spent alone with her. Belle told Wilde how she'd debated if the two should meet. But after a long talk with Sophia she decided they needed to explore the feelings they shared. She developed an arrangement that Sophia and Sheffield agreed upon. One stipulation was that Sophia would wear a mask to hide her identity. Sheffield agreed, and the rest was history.
“Sophia will get hurt.”
“I fear they both will. You should see him, Wilde, he is in love with her.”
“I just came from his house, Belle. Sheffield is obsessed with her. I doubt those emotions are the same as love.”
“Trust me, they are.”
“I hope for everyone’s sake, you are correct.”
Belle reflected on Wilde’s thoughts. She knew in her heart she was correct. But they needed to be honest with one another. Sheffield must see Sophia as his duchess. Maybe if they spent time as Sheffield and Sophia, they could discover the same magic.
“Perhaps, your wife could draw them together in a setting for Sheffield to experience Sophia’s charm.”
Wilde shook his head. There was no way Sidney would understand this. Her protective instincts would come alive and Sheffield would never be safe to set foot in London, let alone England, after Sidney was through with him.
Belle watched the doubt cross his face and dropped the subject. This would require the devious mind of Sidney Hartridge. No, Sidney Wildeburg to accomplish the result of happily ever after for Sheffield and Sophia. Belle would send an invitation for Sidney to join her for tea tomorrow. Then they could devise a plan for the couple to be together forever.
However, she said, “Yes, it would be best not to involve your lady. Give me time to think of a way to end their arrangement.”
“You have one week before I end this farce on my own terms. Her parents are out of town at their estate. Once they return, if this hasn’t finished on its own accord, then by the hand of her father—or should I say her mother—it will.”
“You have my promise.”
Wilde rose and brushed a kiss across Belle’s cheek. “I am going home to my bride.”
“Give Sidney my love.”
Belle watched as Wilde left before she called for Ned. Upon her instructions, he left to do her bidding. Belle knew the drama would soon unfold in her home and among the ton, but it couldn’t make her any happier. Before long she would have a cohort to help her guide two lost souls to happiness.