Rule's Bride by Kat Martin

and, of course, you will have to see the Crystal Palace, perhaps take a ride in Mr. Croxwell’s air balloon. Oh, and I shall take you to the opera.” He cast her a glance. “You do like opera.”
    She smiled. “Of course.”
    He seemed to ponder the notion. “On second thought, I think the theater might be more fun. There is a new play opening at the Royal Pantheon. I keep a box there. How does that sound?”
    It sounded wonderful. She loved theater and also the opera. And yet, she hesitated.
    Rule’s raven brows drew slightly together. “You gave me your word, Violet. All I want is a chance for us to get to know each other.”
    It didn’t seem too much to ask and she had agreed.
    She gave up a defeated sigh. “All right. I should love to see London and I would particularly enjoy a night at the theater.”
    Dimples appeared in his cheeks and her stomach lifted alarmingly. She hated that he could do that to her so easily.
    â€œExcellent! I shall make the necessary arrangements. Starting tomorrow, I am going to show you London. Once you see what an extraordinary place it is, you will never wish to leave.”
    But already she wished to leave. She wanted to see Jeffrey. She wanted to hear his voice and bask in his warm,adoring smile. She wanted him to tell her how much he loved her, make her forget her absurd, unwanted attraction to a man to whom she meant nothing.
    Only a little while longer, she told herself. Surely she could manage a bit more time in company with her soon-to-be-former husband.
    Violet ignored the little voice that warned she was making another mistake.

Eight
    V iolet spent all the next day with Rule. As promised, he took her on a drive around the city, putting the top down on the fancy black landau he chose so that they might enjoy the sunshine. The carriage rolled past the elegant mansions in Mayfair and the expensive shops in Bond Street where, as promised, they luncheoned in a charming little French restaurant.
    Later in the day, he ordered the coachman to drive them through fashionable Hyde Park where the trees had begun to leaf out and the first spring flowers pushed up through the soil. There wasn’t time that day to visit the museum, which was holding an exhibition of Egyptian art, but Rule promised they would see it soon.
    The following day he took her to the amazing Crystal Palace.
    â€œGood heavens, I didn’t expect anything quite like this.”
    She had read about the fabulous exhibition hall, of course, but as the carriage rolled toward the vast complex on the hill, a structure three stories high made entirely of glass, she still wasn’t quite prepared.
    Rule just smiled. “After the Great Exhibition of ’51, the palace was moved here, piece by piece, and then reassembled. Since it reopened, millions of people have come to visit.”
    As the carriage drew near, Violet surveyed the massive glass domes with awe.
    â€œThe designers wanted to make it educational as well as entertaining,” Rule said. “The palace houses everything from live giant lizards to a stuffed rhinoceros.”
    Violet’s excitement grew. Whole trees grew inside the glass conservatory, she discovered as they strolled through the interior, and fountains and lakes sparkled everywhere.
    Rule played the gentleman as he had done each day, buying her ice cream and a hand-painted fan she had stopped to admire. Though she enjoyed his company more than she wished to admit, she would rather have shared the experience with Jeffrey. Jeffrey was the perfect suitor, always proper, never pressing her for more than she wished to give. Not like Rule, whose hungry gaze left little doubt of his intentions.
    They ended the afternoon early, returning to the house in time for Violet to nap then dress for an evening at the theater. She told herself she wasn’t excited, but as the hour of their departure drew near, anticipation raced through her