Lady Violet: The Tales of a Runaway Pirate Book 1

Chapter 2

The eyes of the man, of Dorian stayed in my mind as I went through my day. Just through the lessons that were forced upon me and through the now uneventful day. If only I knew that I would be able to see him again, to visit that pub during the night.

The excitement that I would usually feel while preparing for my sword fighting lessons seemed squandered under the feeling of loss of that connection. It was the first time that I was actually distracted for some reason other than wishing to leave this heavenly prison.

The path to our hidden training grounds very rarely were used for anything else. There was no set path to walk upon. It was only for my brother and I, this place once stumbled upon by accident. Once through the broken pathway, the trees started clearing and the grass very rarely hit past my shins. My brother was already standing in the clearing, two swords in hand. It was something that we had, a secret that no one could take from us. Something we shared for years.

"Mother seemed to keep you longer than usual for lessons again." Evin lifted a sword towards me, handle out. "I assume that you were daydreaming once again." A small, teasing smile pulled at his lips and eyes. When it was only us, his eyes would shine and every little thing would be shown to me.

"Of course. Mother spattles on about useless things. When would I ever need to know about Great Great Grandpappy's loyal hunting dog that drowned in the pond?" A laugh that was forced came from my throat as I took the sword. "Or about how we live on a land that was once the King of France's? Wouldn't all the land be owned by the King once? She wishes to impart more nonsense on me without teaching what I should know."

The sword felt heavy in my hand. Raising it to inspect the sword, I watched my brother. He was known to trick me when we were training and I was always struggling to keep up with him after his tricks on those days. "I wonder, how much longer will she continue to teach you personally? It's almost as if she's trying to keep you sheltered and hidden." Evin's voice was clear and steady as he thought of the possibility. It was just another suggestion to the already long list of reasons why. We had already known that she was disgraced by me. I couldn't live up to her expectations like Evin did.

"Mother just wants the best out of me. At least what she believes to be the best." I gave him a simple smile. "Now are you going to teach me this now? Small talk is utterly exhausting." It wasn't very long after that we started our lesson. The lesson consisted mainly of just a sparring match between the two of us. That was all that we really had any energy or joy in doing in these lessons any more.

"A little more practice with someone that doesn't know your moves could actually be a better lesson for you now, my dear little sister. Seeing as I know all of your skills as your current teacher." Beaming, Evin looked down at me, though he was just barely taller than I. He ruffled his hands through my long blonde hair as he looked over me. I could tell that he was proud. Now if it was of his teaching skills or if it was of me, I am not sure. I always hoped that I was the one he was proud of to have at least one person in this house proud of me.

His arm swung around my shoulders, breaking me of the thoughts that I was starting to dive deep into. "Let's get into the house now. Mother and Father could be preparing for dinner and you know how they are if we are not on time." My lips twitched slightly at the image of my father's disapproving smile when one of us would show up anywhere late.

It was a simple fact that there was a schedule for most days. The only days that were different were if there was a ball of some sort or gathering that we were to attend. To me, those days were the worst of any that I endured. The pretty dresses were always made to be better than the last, as well as more constricting. The small talk, the forced compliments and questions of marriages were the topics of the nights. I almost always struggled to not laugh when the young ladies my age started naming their dream men. The one that was almost always picked would have to be one of the princes, though they were very rarely seen anywhere.

I once even believed that I could marry a prince when I was younger, only to find out that most of the princes had already passed on. It wasn't something that I would tell the other girls. They were still able to have a dream while I gave up on my dreams of marrying someone I wished to.

Both our parents waited for us as we walked into the dining room, another man sitting beside my usual seat. Father was conversing with the man as mother looked at us and rose to meet us. "Evin, Violet, this man is someone that your father is planning a partnership with. Please be on your best behavior." She paused just enough to give me a pointed look, narrowing her eyes as she watched me. "Violet, you'll sit next to him tonight. Evin, you'll sit beside me." She sauntered back to her seat, motioning for us to move to our set places for the night.

"Ah, Evin. Meet Sir Broial. He and I hope to be able to come to terms for a partnership, one you'll take over someday." Father didn't look at me as I took my seat beside the man. Even that man ignored my presence. The only part of his face I could see was the starting of a brown beard that looked to have been styled in the recent days.

Evin nodded politely at the man. "I'm sure that you will find my father is capable. Both my sister, Violet, and I look up to his way of handling a partnership." He gestured at me, bringing the man's gaze to me. "There are times, I believe that she would handle partnerships more diplomatically than I."

I gave Evin a sharp look before smiling at Sir Broial. I was careful as I unfolded the napkin, laying it over my lap as I had been taught years before. "My brother over praises me." Sir Broial looked over at my father as I dismissed my brother's comment. The small look that I had gotten at Sir Broial, my focus went straight to his eyes. His gaze reminded me of the man I had met the night before.

I lowered my head as my father and Sir Broial returned to their conversation and dinner was presented to us. I let a small smile grace my lips as I ate dinner and thought about the dancing and laughter of the night before. As I was silent and on my best behavior, I wasn't once scolded during dinner. At least, not that I can recall. I heard little bits and pieces of the conversation that my father held with the man, barely registering anything.

We were almost through with the desert when I started to listen more actively into the conversation. What had originally caught my attention was my name being said in passing. It was only when I heard the words, "marriage with her" that my desert was ignored and the conversation was the focus within my mind.

"I can agree to your terms, Marquis Henri. With the marriage between us, and your generous agreement to the use of your mine, our partnership to forge the weapons used between our two houses will be fair. Shall I have one of my advisors write it up to be signed within the next few days?" Sir Brioal had already pushed his plate away and was turned fully towards my father.

I watched my father agree, my palms already slick with sweat from hearing about a marriage for a partnership. "That would be wonderful, Sir Broial. Shall we set the date of marriage now? What about just after Violet's birthday in April? As it is August now that should allow for enough time to prepare for the wedding." He was beaming as Sir Broial nodded.

I always knew that I would be married off one of these days, but I still held the dream of marrying a man I would bring to my parents. That I would have some choice in the matter. Now I could only stare at my betrothed as he was reintroduced to me.