VIOLET DAWN

Chapter 18

"Did you really stand up to a man with a gun and call him pathetic?"

The question caught her off guard and Violet faltered. She had just returned to Angelica's side after dancing with a partner who was a little too forward for her tastes. That in itself hadn't shaken her, but the scent she had caught on her way back was playing havock with her balance. Of course he was here. Patrick and Angelica were close and they frequented the same circles; it was only natural but it didn't mean she was comfortable.

"Christopher, manners please," Angelica reprimanded.

"Oh, I'm sorry Lady Violin, I didn't mean to give offence. You see, my father told me about what happened at the Circus, well and I was wondering if it was true. Because I mean, if you get shot you can't heal or anything can you, I mean you would have died." Christopher spoke quickly, a trait shared by many children that Violet found quite adorable.

"Christopher!" Angelica reprimanded yet again, but Violet held out her hand.

"It is quite alright Angelica, he is just curious." Turning her head towards the boy she answered him simply: "Yes, I might have died, but if I had not stood up to him he would have shot someone else, someone innocent."

Christopher seemed to take that in for a moment before he said, "Yes, but you are innocent too, aren't you Lady Violet? I do not think you should have put yourself in harms way."

"Spoken like a true man!" Angelica laughed, but Violet only smiled faintly. She was not innocent, no. Her life was darker than the little boy could ever imagine and what she planned to do made her the very opposite of innocent. She knew Ismail deserved to die for what he had done to her father, to her, but killing the man would taint her with sin as well, she had no delusions about that. If there had been another way, if someone could have brought the man to justice, she would have been satisfied to see him rot in jail. But they couldn't bring him to justice. No human jail could hold a blood drinker.

"Oh, there is Patrick."

Violet could hear the happiness in Angelica's voice and frowned. If only someone would ask her to dance before he came over...

The air filled with the scent of heather and mountains and she knew it was too late.

"Good evening ladies." Patrick's voice felt like a caress. Oh God, she had to keep aloof. "May I present Lady Winslet?"

The overwhelming smell of sweet orange blossoms accompanied Lady Winslet as she stepped up beside Patrick.

"Lady Winslet, may I introduce Princess Angelica Kourakin."

"A pleasure," Angelica said warmly.

"The pleasure is all mine, Your highness," Lady Winslet gushed. Her eager to please tone rankled, and Violet decided she disliked the woman.

Patrick continued the introductions, "Lord Christopher Langdon."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Winslet."

"Yes. A pleasure." The lady's tone let on that she was among the members of the ton that believed children should not be allowed at gatherings. Another reason not to like her, Violet thought with annoyance.

"And this," Patrick turned his body towards her. She could feel his heat and wanted more than anything to step closer to him. Squashing the absurd impulse she concentrated on the introduction.

"...Lady Violin."

"It is a pleasure, Lady Winslet."

Lady Winslet said nothing for a moment before laughing, "Ah yes, now I remember. You must be that circus performer I heard about. How entertaining."