Page 15 of The Honorable Rogue (The Notorious Nightingales #5)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
S even days later and he was no closer on how to get the note into the hands of Miss Althorp. She’d not attended the knitting group, he knew, because Charles had and endured Tabitha’s flirting.
She’d also not attended any social engagements or the theatre, which he’d gone to last night with his family. Has something happened to her? Is she ill? The thought of Violet writhing in bed, in pain…. No. He pushed it aside. She was healthy and would stay that way.
Charles was not usually paranoid, but the more notorious the Russian Robbers were becoming around London, the more he believed that his note was connected to Pavlov’s fortune if indeed the Russian Robbers were stealing books to check for clues. He’d taken to pushing the note into his boot simply because he didn’t want to misplace it or, if he was mugged, have it stolen.
“Life can go from being uncomplicated to exceedingly complicated in a matter of days, Ram,” Charles said, patting the soft gray head of Curaidh, who was resting against his chair .
He’d woken needing a distraction and gone to visit Flora, only to find her gone and Ram eating a meal. Of course he had to join him.
“What is the problem, Charles?” Ram sat cradling his teacup, looking like a contented man. Finding Flora and buying this house had done that for him.
“No problem, just a few things on my mind,” Charles said, wishing he’d kept his mouth closed.
“Flora said you are ready to purchase a house. I believe there is one coming up for sale in Crabbett?—”
“Absolutely not,” Charles said. “I will not live in this street.”
Ram continued to sip his tea, contemplating Charles over the rim.
“It is not healthy to live so close to family,” he muttered. “Flora and I would kill each other.”
“Yet you lived in the same house for years,” Ram said.
“And I was lucky to survive.”
“Just look at it, and then your sister can stop hounding me to get you there.” Ram lowered his cup. “Now tell me what is really on your mind. You know I’m the soul of discretion.”
Charles studied his brother-in-law. “You will tell Flora immediately, so please don’t say otherwise.”
Ram smiled.
“Is it this business with Cam? Because I think that could be an excellent fit for you.”
“I believe so too.”
“If it’s the money?—”
“I want to be a shareholder and will give him an initial amount, and then the rest will be paid over a period of time, Ram.”
“Excellent. Do you have plans for today, Charles?”
He shook his head .
“I have another proposition for you. It need not be a huge outlay, but I think it could still be of interest. Come along, we shall head out now,” Ram said.
“Where?”
“You’ll see.”
“To what am I agreeing?” Charles asked.
“All will be revealed.”
There was a carriage pulling up outside as he stepped from the house. Mungo was on the driver’s seat.
“I suppose you’re taking him to see if he’s got an interest?” he said.
“In what?” Charles asked.
“Yes,” Ram said at the same time.
“Well, get in, then. I’ve not got all day,” Mungo snapped.
“Oh, Mr. Hellion, I’ve baked a double batch of pralines and have some for you and Mrs. Hellion.”
“Very kind of you, Mrs. Douglas,” Ram said, taking the parcel. “We shall enjoy them very much.”
The woman raised a hand and walked back to her house.
“Do you often get baking?” Charles asked.
“Yes,” Ram said, popping a praline into his mouth and crunching loudly.
Charles may need to revisit his earlier comments about moving into Crabbett Close.
“I saw your friend Captain Brownly last night.”
“I’m not sure we are friends, more acquaintances at this stage. Nice enough fellow, though,” Charles added.
“He’s actually involved in today’s plans. He asked if we were attending the garden party at Lady Danton’s this afternoon. I said no, and one thing led to another, and he said he’d be interested in investing as well. I told him to contact Mr. Beakey, who is the man behind the entire thing.”
“Which is what?”
“You shall see.” Ram tapped his nose .
“Hello, Mungo!”
All three men looked to the left and found Tabitha Varney hurrying toward them. Ram smiled; the other two men scowled.
“Get in,” Mungo snapped. “Hurry!”
“Can’t stop, Miss Varney,” Ram said. “But I’m sure Mungo will love to visit with you later.”
The Scotsman cursed as they climbed inside.
“I wonder if he was born like that?” Charles asked as they started moving.
“A grumpy, rude, grunting Scotsman?”
He nodded.
“Definitely. In fact, I’m sure his mother was tested from the minute he uttered his first grunt,” Ram said. He then opened the door above him and handed Mungo some pralines.
“How old is he, do you think?” Charles said when he’d retaken his seat.
“I asked him once, but he refused to tell me. Bram said he’s younger than him, but I don’t know by how much.”
“Surely I need to know something of where you are taking me?” Charles held out a hand for more pralines. They were exceptional.
“No. When Bram told me of the venture, your sister said I had to bring you along because apparently you were directionless. However, now you are not due to your involvement in the Tuba , so just come anyway and see what you think. You could be a silent partner, as the newspaper will take a lot of your time.”
“First, I am directionless, and now I am floundering?” Charles glared at his brother-in-law.
“Thankfully you’ve moved on,” Ram said with a smirk. “I was told you needed to be channeled.”
“What the hell does that mean? ”
“Your sister informed me a few weeks ago that you were turning into a gentleman in the same mold as me.”
Charles simply stared at him for long seconds, completely without words.
“I’m just the messenger, Charles.” Ram held up his hands. “Your sister can receive your wrath later, as I know she is more than capable of handling it. But as you have now found a purpose, there really is no need.”
“I was never floundering and had plenty to occupy my time.”
“I know that, but your sister worried about you, as is her way.”
Charles exhaled loudly. “Sisters,” he then muttered.
“Now, I have a question. What else are you keeping from the family?”
“Why do you think I’m keeping anything from the family?” Charles looked at his brother-in-law.
“You mentioned your writing, and there is that connection to the newspaper now.”
“I write things and always have,” Charles said.
“Flora told me you used to scribble away for hours when you were ill as a child, but that you never let anyone read your works.”
“I still write.” His eyes went to the window, and he noted they were leaving the built-up areas of London. “And I should really tell Flora this before you, as she is my sister, and there will be hell to pay.”
“Unlike my wife, I can keep secrets,” Ram said.
“Did you read The Adventures of Mr. Salvador today, Ram?”
Every time he opened the Trumpeter and saw his writing, the feeling of pride burned deep inside his chest. My writing, and people are reading it.
His brother-in-law nodded. “It’s a wonderful addition to the Trumpeter and should make Cam plenty of money, and the writer of course. I felt it was unfair of Cam to cut us off at the point where Mr. Salvador was about to enter that room in the dead of night.”
Charles barked out a laugh. Ram fell silent, staring at him. A smile then slowly spread over his brother-in-law’s face.
“You wrote that?”
Charles nodded. “That was actually what I was talking to Cam about when he brought up being a partner in the newspaper.”
“It’s brilliant. How long have you been writing Mr. Salvador?”
“Years, actually. Some of the older stuff needed tidying, but I have enough to keep it going until people are done reading it.”
“Which I doubt they will ever be. You need to tell your sister,” Ram added.
“I will after I give her a piece of my mind about the floundering I was apparently doing,” Charles said.
“I’ll look forward to watching that altercation,” Ram said.
Charles rolled his eyes.
“Now tell me what happens to Mr. Salvador. I feel like I should have the inside knowledge, seeing as we are related.”
“Absolutely not.”
“I knew you were going to say that. Congratulations, Charles, it is excellent writing, and clearly, Cam saw that.”
He felt a flush of heat over the words. “Thank you.”
“So, Miss Althorp?—”
“There is no Miss Althorp,” Charles lied. “In fact, I have not seen her in days and have no wish to discuss her with you.”
“You were quite chatty after Mr. Greedy dosed you with his herbs,” Ram said.
“Yes, and you have all talked about what I said constantly. Now be quiet. I’m taking a nap.” Charles closed his eyes to stop the conversation. Soon it was his brother-in-law who was snoring.
Pulling out his notepad, he then sketched the man with his mouth open for Flora before he began to write more of his story. He wrote until the carriage slowed and he heard Mungo roar, “Move that bloody cart!”
Charles opened the door and stepped out to see two carts beside each other in the middle of the road.
“What appears to be the problem?”
“The problem is that they need to move them so we can continue,” Mungo muttered.
Charles walked to the carts and found two men bent over a wheel.
“Can I help you, gentlemen?” As the words left his mouth, he heard someone say inside his head, Move now. He’s close .