Page 19 of The Honorable Rogue (The Notorious Nightingales #5)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

T onight’s musical was in the Chippington town house. Charles had arrived with Leo, as Cyn was not up to coming.

“It’s impressive and would be broken in a day if it were at 11 Crabbett Close,” Leo said, looking up at the huge chandelier hanging above them in the entranceway.

“There are no scuff marks,” Charles said, checking the blue walls the color of duck eggs and white wainscoting. Violet’s home was elaborate and the exact opposite of the one he lived in with his family.

“Good evening, Lord Seddon, Mr. Thomas. I hope you and Mr. Hellion have recovered fully from your ordeal?”

“We have. Thank you again for arriving when you did, Captain Brownly,” Charles said.

“Captain Brownly,” Leo acknowledged. “Do you like musicals?”

“I do and have heard that Lord Chippington’s children are accomplished.”

“They are, which makes a change as some we are forced to listen to, are not,” Leo added .

“Do they all play an instrument?” Charles asked. “I didn’t attend last year.”

Leo nodded. “Quite impressive, but they loathe this night. Talbot told me that they have tried everything to stop their mother from making them perform. He once offered to marry whomever she chose, and still she did not budge.”

Captain Brownly laughed at that. He then excused himself and headed into the ballroom. Leo and Charles followed.

“Good Lord,” Charles said when he got a good look at his surroundings. He’d been to enough society events to know this one would have many talking about it for days.

Huge draperies were fastened with masks that Charles often saw at masquerade balls. Flowers and foliage made up an entire corner of the room and reached at least six feet. Along the walls hung lanterns that created a soft ambient light along with the even bigger chandelier above them.

“I pity the poor souls who have to take this down,” Charles said.

On a raised platform stood a huge white piano and other instruments leaning in stands, awaiting someone to play them. The backdrop was a wall of gold silk framed with deep blue ribbon. Rows of seats sat awaiting the bottoms of polite society.

“Everywhere you look, there is more to see,” Leo said. He was spinning on his heel, taking it all in.

“I can understand why the siblings dislike performing, Leo,” Charles said, looking at the platform. “One misstep at such a grand occasion, and you are gossip fodder for days,” he added so only his cousin could hear.

Leo shuddered. “As our family has firsthand knowledge of that, we can sympathize.”

“There is that,” Charles agreed. “Did you hear the thief has struck again? ”

“Yes, apparently they entered the Marsden town house at the ball and stole two books from his library. Lady Marsden is extremely upset, as they were gifted to her family, and are old,” Leo said.

He needed to speak to Violet tonight and see what the note said.

“Do you think it’s a member of society, Leo?”

Charles loved mysteries. He’d spent hours reading them when he was a sickly child, and that hadn’t changed as he moved into adulthood. He liked to work out who was the villain. The Russian Robber had caught his interest, and he followed the case closely, especially now that he was in the business of reporting the news.

“Gray is annoyingly tight-lipped about it all, but I heard him say that whoever it is seems familiar with moving about inside society homes,” Leo said.

“He’s extra tight-lipped around me now,” Charles said.

“Ah, well, that had to happen, seeing as you are now one of the press.”

“Society may be fooled into accepting them, but I assure you, I am not.”

These words were spoken loud enough to carry to Leo and Charles. Turning, he locked eyes with Baron Ellington.

“I thought I smelled something off,” Charles said before Leo could speak. “And now I know why. Move it along, Ellington, there is no need to loiter.”

Leo snorted beside Charles.

“You’re all tainted. Even you, Thomas,” the baron snarled.

The man was not aging well. His face had an unhealthy color and looked bloated.

“That rhetoric is growing tired and old, Ellington. One wonders why you are still clinging to it,” Leo said. “And I’ll add to that, if you ever harm another member of my family again, it will not go well for you. ”

Ellington’s eyes went to Charles.

“What he said,” Charles growled. “It was a cowardly thing to do to me, Ellington, but I’ve always found cowards have little else to offer?—”

“How dare you!” Ellington blustered.

Before Leo could stop him, Charles moved to stand inches from Ellington. “Watch your back, sir, because if you come at me or mine again, I’ll make you pay, and I care nothing for my reputation.”

“Enough now, Charles.”

Pulling back, he and Leo turned away from the man as they were called to their seats.

“I don’t think he is dangerous, but you can never be too careful,” Leo said. “Be on your guard around him now, Charles. He has shown his hand many times.”

“That man does not scare me. Come, let’s get a seat, as they are filling up fast.”

Charles sat, wondering where Violet was and how she was feeling about the performance. Even more, though, he wondered about her conversation with Alex that day at the Hen and Rooster. Could she let Tobias go?

“You saved us seats, well done,” Ellen said, moving to sit next to Charles on his right. Next to her was Gray. In front were Alex, Bram, and Ivy.

“Do you know any of the Althorps, Ellen?”

“I met Miss Violet Althorp at knitting group yesterday. Lovely lady.”

He’d been busy, or Charles would have gone. It would have been easy for Violet to pass the note to him then. And you would have seen her again.

“But not the older sisters because being disgraced in the eyes of society meant people were not keen to get too close to us. ”

Ellen turned slightly, and she felt her eyes on the side of his face.

“Are you interested in the youngest Althorp, Cousin?”

“Of course he is,” Alex said.

“Absolutely not. I have no time for that, what with the newspaper and other things. My life is far too busy for wooing.” He’d meant to sound calm, and yet the words came out panicky.

“You answered that question way too quickly,” she said. “Now tell me the truth.”

“I would never lie to you, Ellen. I am an open book. Now please keep your voice down, as I have no wish for anyone to hear what you are saying.”

Her eyes narrowed. “No, you’re far from that, Charles. In fact, I think there is a great deal more to you than you let anyone see.”

After those cryptic words, she did not continue with that line of questioning thankfully. “I have had a few dances with the eldest Althorp. He is very much the older brother, like Leo. Arrogant, domineering?—”

“I can hear every word,” Leo drawled from the seat to the left of Charles.

“I really enjoyed the musical last year,” Alex said. “They are quite talented, unlike the Hitchcocks.”

The entire row, or at least those who overheard Alex’s words, shuddered at the memory of the Hitchcock musical. Not one of the four children could hold a note, and most were tone-deaf. The eldest, Walter, always sang, and dogs nearby howled.

“And yet we return each year and give them applause because they do what we cannot,” Ellen said. “Stay up there and think themselves wonderful when they clearly are not.”

“Exactly,” Alex said .

“I like her,” Ellen added. “Your Miss Althorp,” she said, in case he didn’t know who the “her” concerned was.

“Just because those around us are blissfully married, my love, in no way suggests Charles wishes to be so,” Gray said.

“Exactly. Couldn’t have worded it better myself,” Charles added, throwing Gray a grateful look. “And I’ll add to that I need no interference from anyone in this family when the time comes that I choose a wife.”

“Not sure why you’d be any different,” Leo muttered.

“Miss Althorp could be perfect, though,” Alex added. “Nice woman, and just a few nights ago, we had a spirited discussion on art, and of course there was the day I spoke to her about her friend who passed away. I may not like her choice of art, and yet I admire a woman with strong opinions.”

“Seeing as you are surrounded by strong and opinionated people?” Leo asked.

“Exactly.”

“Well, that settles it, then,” Ellen said.

“What does it settle?” Charles said, but he knew.

“Miss Althorp would be perfect for you.”

Leo snorted. “There is absolutely no way Lady Chippington will allow her youngest to marry our Charles.”

“Sorry we’re late. Move your legs, Leo. There are two seats next to you, and I want them,” Flora said.

Charles gave Ellen and the others a hard look, which told them this discussion was over because his sister had arrived. He had little hope they would heed his warning, however.

Charles watched his sister and Ram fall into their seats with loud sighs.

“What happened to you two?” Alex asked.

“Miss Alvin and Mr. Greedy knocked on the door just when we were about to leave. ”

Every Crabbett Close resident then nodded, understanding completely why they were late.

“Apparently there is a minor issue with the hedging down the side of our house that we need to fix with some expediency,” Ram drawled.

“Ah, it becomes clear,” Leo said. “Your neighbors cannot see what is going on clearly with the trees too high, and steps need to be taken immediately to change that.”

“Well done, Leo,” Ram said. “So what are you all doing tomorrow? I need help pruning.”

Charles laughed at that.

“If I could have your attention, please.”

All eyes went to the stage. Lady Chippington was standing there. She wore a small diamond tiara in her gray hair and was draped in a deep red gown. Beside her stood Lord Chippington in black with an ivory waistcoat.

“They’re an impressive couple,” Leo whispered.

“As you can imagine, we have a wonderful program for you tonight of music and readings.”

“Readings?” Charles whispered to Ellen. “I thought it was just music.”

“One never knows what one will encounter at these events,” she whispered.

He wasn’t a fan of long-winded prose, and there were only a few poets he could tolerate. The night was going to be a long one, he feared. But at least he would get to see Violet.

“We shall begin with a reading by Mr. Huffleford, which he, ah, wrote himself.” Lady Chippington looked a little nervous after making that statement.

A smattering of applause followed as they left the stage and went to sit in the front row with their family. Charles rose slightly in his seat and saw the row of Althorps. He found Violet between her brother and the sister he met at knitting group that day, Clarissa. Her curls were pinned in place with small white bows at the back of her head.

“Sit, Cousin, you can talk to her after,” Leo said with a smirk.

“Shut up,” Charles hissed back.

He did need to talk to Violet because he needed to know what that note said. And you’re lying to yourself if you believe that is the only reason.