Page 9 of The Honorable Rogue (The Notorious Nightingales #5)

CHAPTER NINE

H er mother made a pfft sound that had Violet wanting to maim her.

“Problem?”

Violet didn’t gnash her teeth, but it was a near thing as her brother appeared. Ambrose, Lord Talbot, was the oldest Althorp and their father’s heir, therefore he could do no wrong in their mother’s eyes.

“Hello, Rosie. Why are you here again? No food in your house?” Violet said to annoy him. His necktie wasn’t sitting straight, and she itched to rectify that but kept her hands clenched at her sides.

The Althorp siblings had come up with nicknames for one another, and as children, Ambrose had thought his hilarious. Now, as an adult who was to be an earl one day, he no longer liked it. Of course, that did not stop his sisters.

“Pixie,” he said with a smirk. “I missed you all so much. I called to visit with my family.”

Their mother smiled, telling Violet she’d bought that entire story.

“Really, how sweet,” Violet said with an insincere smile. “ Oh, I meant to tell you that Miss Staddler said last night she thinks you are the most eligible bachelor available this year. Perhaps you could take her driving? She would make a wonderful wife, don’t you think, Mother?”

Violet had found that with age, the need to get one better on a sibling had just made her sneakier. Her siblings were no different; it was a constant battle of one-upmanship.

“Really? Well now, that’s an interesting development. The Staddlers are titled, wealthy, and have impeccable manners,” their mother said.

Ambrose glared at Violet.

“Did Pixie tell you she danced with Mr. Hanley last night? I then saw the two of them chatting in a corner, Mother.”

“What?” She spun to glare at Violet. “He will never do for you, Daughter, but after what you just said, there is a more pressing matter that needs addressing.”

“What did she say now?”

“Mother—”

“Her exact words were—and this is after she told me she’d been gadding about London alone with only Miss Dabbers for company—‘What if I don’t want to marry anyone else?’ Ambrose, it is as if she has taken a knife and plunged it through my chest. I have struggled to find matches for your sisters, and now Violet…. It is too much to bear.”

Their mother had always been overly dramatic. Neither child rolled their eyes, as they knew the result would be a loud scolding.

“Come now, struggled? My sisters are beautiful, and?—”

“Struggled,” their mother reiterated, cutting Violet off. “Both have been out for some time, and it is only Clarissa who has found a match.”

“Back to Violet. I’m aghast she said those words to you, Mother,” Ambrose drawled, clearly nothing of the sort. “But considering what she has suffered, you must understand this is how she is feeling.”

And there was the big brother who had held Violet for hours while she’d wept, grief-stricken over losing her dear friend. The gentle man who had told her she would get through it with her family’s help.

“Tobias died years ago,” their mother said callously.

“There is no time limit on grief,” he said. “Now, as you say, Cissa is engaged to Halston, and Tavi seems to be taken with Mr. Blythe, so I’m sure something will happen there, Mother,” he said. “If Pixie wants to marry, she will, but give her time. After all, this is her second season, and as she is the most whey-faced of my sisters, I don’t think it’s going to be easy to foist her on some poor man.”

Her relationship with her brother was a complex thing, Violet thought, feeling the swell of love slide into annoyance. Sometimes he was a wonderful older brother, and others she wanted to slap him hard, like now after that whey-faced comment.

“Ambrose, don’t speak about your sister like that!” their mother said, shocked.

Violet never doubted she loved all her children and would come to their defense if needed, but she was determined to marry them off. Nothing short of royalty, however, would do for Ambrose.

Large, with golden brown hair and deep brown eyes like her, women fell all over themselves to get his attention. He smiled and flirted with ease and could speak to a chimney sweep or a duke. Of course, it also helped he had a title in his future. For all that, while he could be obnoxiously annoying, he was still one of the best men she knew.

“So where have you been, Violet?” Ambrose asked. “I’m sure your horrid friend was party to whatever it was. ”

“Out, and no, Tilly, my wonderful friend, was not with me.”

Her mother made a tsking sound. “Miss Wilson is in her third season, and her mother is extremely lenient on her. Mark my words, that girl will end up in trouble.”

“Out where?” Ambrose asked with his usual persistence

“Out out.”

“That is not a place,” he said. “And I have a feeling you’ve been up to something you shouldn’t have.”

“She is determined to ruin her reputation, Ambrose,” their mother said.

“Perhaps that is a good idea if it will stop you from forcing me to wed,” Violet snapped.

Their mother gasped once more. “Do not jest over such a thing!” As she was looking at Violet, Ambrose could roll his eyes. “And do not speak to me in that tone, young lady!”

“Yes, that was rude, Violet. Apologize at once.” Ambrose smirked.

“Sorry, Mother,” she said through her teeth.

“Now, how about you tell us where you have actually been?” Ambrose asked her.

“Do you know Mr. Thomas?” Violet asked instead of answering. Her brother knew everyone. They said women were gossips, but Ambrose was far worse.

“Charles Thomas?” He frowned.

She nodded.

“Cousin to those Nightingales, who, from memory, had something of a scandal in their past,” he added. “Nice enough, but hard to know what he’s really like, as the man has a social face.”

“Which means what?” their mother demanded. “Make sense, Ambrose, for pity’s sake. We all have a social face, but surely you know more about Mr. Thomas than just that? ”

“He’s been on the fringes of society, but it’s only the last two years he’s been a constant,” Ambrose continued. “He’s close with the Nightingales, and then there are those Sinclairs and Ravens, who are all very chummy when they are together.”

“Decidedly odd, that lot,” their mother agreed. “But with the wealth and power they have, no one would snub them.”

“Just because they are different is no reason to snub them, surely?” Violet said.

Her mother spun to impale her with a glare. “It does not do to raise one’s head above the parapet, Daughter. Perhaps it would pay you to remember that. Now,” she added, wiping her hands together as if they were covered in something, which they were not, as she rarely got them dirty, “I have no more time to bandy words with you two. Mr. Thomas is not a suitable husband for you, if that is what you are thinking, Violet. He is not on the list.”

“What list?” Violet stared at her mother in horror. “Do you have a list of prospective husbands for me?”

“Oh dear, must run. Things to do. Busy household, as you know,” her mother said, hurrying to the stairs.

“Do you have them for the others?” Violet fired after the rapidly disappearing back. No answer was forthcoming.

“Well, I think that confirms your thoughts, Pixie. Mother has a list for you alone, as the rest of us should find our future partners with ease, whereas you—ouch!”

Violet pinched Ambrose’s arm.

“Why do you want to know about Thomas?” he said, rubbing his sleeve.

“A friend asked about him the other night, and she has no brothers. I just thought you may have spent time with him,” Violet lied. No way was she about to tell him what happened today.

“What friend?” Ambrose asked. “Not Miss Wilson? No man should have to face that caustic-tongued shrew across the table while drinking his morning tea.”

“Do not speak about my friend that way. Tilly is wonderful,” she said. “And one of my favorite people.”

“She’s a mouthy vixen. Now back to where you’ve been,” Ambrose said.

“I went to the rookeries to give some food to those in need,” Violet said and had the delight of watching her brother’s face pale. “I took tea there and then chatted with a few people on the streets.”

“Tell me that’s a lie,” Ambrose rasped, going even paler.

It was a lie, she hadn’t been there today, but she had delivered food to those in need twice now. However, her family did not know that. “I’m not telling you my movements because I did nothing wrong, and Dabbers was with me.”

“Which is supposed to reassure us?” Ambrose scoffed. “That woman would topple over in a strong wind. There are plenty of siblings about the place to escort you, Pixie.”

“I don’t need you to escort me shopping, Ambrose. First, because you loathe it, and second, because I was only looking for another Russian book to aid me in learning the language. I think I am quite safe.”

He’d have conniptions if he knew what had actually happened to Violet today.

And just like that, her brother’s eyes softened.

“Tobias would be proud,” he said, taking one of her hands and giving it a gentle squeeze. “But you can’t live your life for him, you know. You need to live it for you, Pixie.”

“It’s on the list, Ambrose. Therefore, I will do it.” She refused to weep any more. Violet had cried enough tears to last a lifetime.

“Tobias would want you happy foremost, Sister. Please remember that. He would not wish you to live your life honoring his memory only. Surely you know that about him, as he was your friend.”

“I don’t want another man,” Violet whispered.

“I am not saying you have to wed. Keep his memory close, but live your life, Pixie. Do that for Tobias.”

She managed a nod and then said, “I am trying, but it is hard. I thought my life would follow a certain direction, and then everything changed. I was suddenly rudderless, Rosie. It takes time to move on from that.”

“I know, but I also know my little sister. You’re strong and intelligent and have so much more to give in life.”

“Stop.” Violet sniffed. “Say something annoying to me. I don’t want to weep any more.”

“Your ears are the largest in the family, and you must keep them covered.”

She snorted. “We both know Father has that title. Now, I love you, even if you are annoying, but I must go, as I’m weak with hunger. I need tea and cakes?—”

“Excellent, I’m hungry,” Ambrose said. “Lead on, as you’re the woman, and supposedly I should let you go first. We will sit and discuss this person who is stealing old Russian literature.”

“That’s very odd, don’t you think?”

“Excessively, but there is that business with the Pavlov fortune.”

“What business?” Violet was instantly intrigued.

“Oh dear, is there something I know and you don’t?”

“I’d be very happy if you told me,” Violet gritted out.

“Come along then. We shall drink tea, and I will tell you all of it, and you can bask in my magnificence while I do so.”

“There will be no basking,” Violet said, stomping off down the hallway.