Rivals and Roses (The Vaughns Book 1) by M.A. Nichols

Author:M.A. Nichols [Nichols, M.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nichols Publishing, LLC
Published: 2024-08-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Wandering to the far side of the room, Violet stood before a painting, pretending to study the canvas; the subject was not particularly inspiring, as it was like any number she’d seen of men sitting astride a horse, but being turned away from the gathering allowed her a moment’s peace.

Her family and friends meant well, but the key to Violet’s happiness was sloughing off fantasies; one could not be happy if one constantly clung to dreams that would never be fulfilled. Reaching that dreaded age of thirty without a single prospect had nearly broken her heart in two, and venturing into society with the ever-present hope that perhaps—just perhaps—today’s foray would prove victorious had only served to crush those remnants into powder.

No, better to embrace truth rather than kindly-meant poppycock.

How many hours had she spent crying over her dashed hopes? Violet was certain that the total likely equaled months if not years of her life. A husband and a family. A home to call her own. She had dreamt of such things from a young age, and despite all the evidence to the contrary, she hadn’t been able to stop herself from believing that somehow a man would see past her surface flaws and long to take her as his own. To spend their lives together. To cleave unto one another.

But then, many of the gentlemen in her past had known her beyond the Mr. Templeton façade, spending weeks and months in her company, and still, they’d chosen others for their brides. So, it wasn’t merely a matter of surface attractions. Oh, no. Her personality was severely lacking as well.

Despite having spent many an hour contemplating what it was that others found so repellant, Violet was no closer to an answer. Many laughed at her behind her back (or directly in her face), but she was capable of forming friendships. However fleeting they were. People flitted in and out of her life, rarely caring to linger for more than a year or two before moving on to those they deemed more deserving of their affection.

Diana and Miss Quinn’s conversation settled in her thoughts, and Violet wondered what it would be like to go to an entirely new place where her reputation wasn’t dictated by the unchangeable past. To have a clean slate. A fresh start. Could things be different? Or was it some immutable characteristic inside her that made her friendship so easy to dismiss?

Drawing in a sharp breath, Violet frowned at the painting. This was why it was better not to think of beaus and romance. It was impossible not to grow maudlin when faced with heartbreaking and unanswerable questions. Silly lady that she was.

Turning to face the gathering, Violet gazed out at the people. Despite being far larger than before with the partitions drawn back and the furniture swept away, the room was quite full. To the far side sat the makeshift stage with a piano and several large floral arrangements stood sentinel beside it while rows upon rows of chairs stretched out in the opposite direction.

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