by Beth Byers
When the dinner was finally over, the tips of Bettina’s ears were red with irritation, and she’d gotten louder and louder as the evening went on. “Really, my love,” she said to Tomas. “You should consider new staff. Your man quite neglected my wine glass.”
“Did he?” Tomas asked blithely in a rather practiced way. “That doesn’t seem quite right. I’ll have to have a word with him.”
He grinned at her charmingly and then crossed to the drink cart to make up drinks with Victor. Violet followed after them and told them both, “You look a bit piqued, dear ones. Is it that you’ve been turned into lambs for the slaughtering?”
Both men shot her irritated glances, but she ignored them. With a wink, she abandoned them as Juliette and Bettina returned to the hunt. Violet took the G&T her brother had made her and a seat near the fire.
A moment later, Charles Stroud and Algernon joined her.
“Abandoned by the ladies, my good fellows?”
“Don’t be like that, cuz,” Algie moaned. “Those females are cats.”
“Mmm,” Violet said, enjoying the way he squirmed. “Better than the jackal you’ve been consorting with.”
Mr. Stroud glanced between them. “I think I shall have a cocktail myself.”
“Why aren’t you on my side, Vi?” Algie asked. “Theo is a friend. You are too hard on him.”
“Why aren’t you on mine, cousin?” Violet countered, sipping her cocktail. “You knew what Theo was when he connived to get you into debt to him. And you, dear cousin”—her address was wickedly sarcastic and she glanced him over without an ounce of understanding—“decided the easiest way out of your mess was to throw me to your wolf. If that wasn’t bad enough, when you were rescued, you didn’t shake him loose. Are you in debt to him again?”
“It wasn’t like that,” Algie whined. “Don’t be like that. Theo’s a good enough fellow. Maybe a bit—”
“Don’t dress up your wolf as a sheep to me, Algie. Don’t think we’ll be friends as long as he’s around. You, me, or Victor.”
“Or it seems,” Algie groaned, “Tomas. What is it that you do to make them worship you so? You’re pretty enough, and I suppose Victor has been saddled with you so long he couldn’t imagine anything else, but Tomas?”
“I’ve known Tomas almost as long as you, Algie. And I always liked him better than you. He was less of a worm.”
Algie shot her a wounded look. “You’re the cat. At least with Tina you know what you want.”
Violet waved her cousin away, only instead he leaned back quizzically. “So what about it? Shall we wed? Free your brother of your weight. I’ll take it on.”
Violet laughed in his face before realizing he was serious. “Is this how you propose? Insult someone and then act as though your hand were a favour? You have an eye on my money.”
“So? You never should have gotten it all.”
“Is that what your snake, Theo, has been whispering in your ear?”
“And if it is?”
Violet sipped her cocktail lazily. “You need better friends,” she suggested. “I will never, ever wed you.”
Algie’s laugh was a little nasty. “Do you think that your father will let you marry Wakefield?”
“I don’t have to marry anyone. It’s a new world, cousin. One where I don’t have to ask my father who to marry and one where I don’t have to marry at all. That means you, Tomas, Theo, even Jack. You’re looking at a freed bird, not a cat.”
Chapter 8
The sound of Bettina shrieking pulled Violet from her story the next morning. She cast a nasty look towards the room Bettina was using and then walked to the window. The weather was clear with the look of a crisp, cool day.
Violet chose a light beige dress with cream stitching that formed embroidered dragons along the sleeves and the drop waist. She straightened the lines of her silk stockings, placed dark brown t-strap shoes on her feet, and buckled them into place before putting her brown fur-trimmed coat over the top.
Bettina’s door was open when Violet passed and she could see Bettina shouting at Algie. A part of Violet was absolutely fine with leaving the idiot in the fangs of the viper, but he was an idiot. Violet could remember his grief at losing Aunt Agatha too. She could remember him as a duffer of a child who’d chased after her and Victor, always wanting to be a part of things. She could remember him offering her a blueberry tart with a grin and a wink.
“Algernon,” Violet said, “I need your assistance, please.”
“You! You get out of here,” Bettina hissed. “You get out of here. You wicked thing! You ruin everything! What have you done? You show up. Tomas doesn’t look at me the same anymore. Charles acts as though I’m venomous. It’s all you, no? The scarlet temptress.”
Violet hid, her grin at the new title of her next book. Thank you very much, Miss Marino, Violet thought. “I suspect,” Violet said idly, “it is the way that you throw yourself from the bird in hand to the next richest fellow available. Algernon would have successfully made a good husband. He’s affable, easily led, and he’ll end up with a good income since his father has repented and turned his business around. You won’t be part of that now, though, because Algie is aware of your fickle, avaricious heart.”
Victor stepped out of his room and watched Violet save Algernon with a bit of a smile about his lips.
Violet hid her sudden evil delight as she added, “I don’t know Mr. Stroud, but he seems like a man who isn’t so interested in the woman who threw him over. Tomas will never, ever succumb to a woman as loud as you. His mother might be Spanish, but Tomas is pure British in his feeling, and you, my dear, are simply too brazen. You must be stauncher. More…stolid to pull Tomas’s attention.”
Bettina gaped like a fish with Algernon staring on in shock.
“No doubt you’ll realize you’ve lost the men in the house and throw yourself at my brother. He’s rich enough for you though perhaps not as wealthy as Tomas, but Victor doesn’t mind loud women in the same way as Tomas.”
Victor choked on a cough and Violet turned toward her twin, smirking before facing the viper again. “You’re welcome, dear. Maybe you can weasel your way into another wealthy bosom. You can try for my brother. But I’d really suggest you start fresh. Algernon is the kind to whine about being thrown over and telling tales, and Victor won’t like that. Algie is a good one. You were stupid to give him up. A good man, with a good heart, easily led, easily wounded. Look at him now, daggers in his gaze.”
Violet turned to Victor, who was unamused. “Oh look, Victor has already heard of your ways.”
She tucked her arm through his and led him away. “Come now, brother dear. A little chasing is good for the wind. You know you need to run to stay fit. Get your blood racing. Bettina is a good huntress. She’ll keep you in excellent order.”
“The things I have done for you, and you just, just…”
“Save Tomas like that?”
Victor cleared his throat. “I should have known you’d claim to be helping him.”
“Tomas asked me for mischief,” Violet told her twin, laughing up into his face. “You should have been prepared.”
Victor glanced at Violet. “I should have. I know you too well, sister devil.”
There was another shriek from the stairs. Mr. Hull opened the door for the twins as they left the house, whispering as they passed him, “I am not sure that we shall survive, my lady.”
“Of course you will,” Violet said brightly. “Tell Beatrice to bring down one of my boxes of chocolates and some of Victor’s liqueurs. Whatever else you think you might enjoy, we will gladly foot the bill for. Perhaps some sort of entertainment for the staff here.”
Victor glanced at Violet and asked, with awe, “What have you done, pretty devil?”
She winked and said brightly, “They’re tormenting the Boutets and Miss Marino for me. The hangers-on will be much less comfortable in the coming days. I don’t expect the response to be positive.”
Gil
es had brought the auto to the front of Tomas’s house, and the twins left.
“Do you hear that?” Violet asked.
Victor glanced at her. “What’s that now?”
“Nothing. There’s nothing. No brash Italian voice. No furious shrieks. We must tip Tomas’s servants very well when we leave.”
Victor leaned back. “Beatrice gave me the new pages of the next book. I feel like you need to switch to a vampire story. Something with crypts and ghosts.”
Violet sniffed. “I’ve titled it already. You can thank Bettina when she throws herself at you and presses her bosoms into your arm. It will be called, Mr. Halicourt and the Scarlett Temptress. What we’re going to do is torment Isla and give her a happily ever after for this one.”
Victor snorted and Violet patted his shoulder. “I’ve had more thought than that, brother dear. I am abound with ideas including what I think Tomas needs.”
“What’s that?”
“He needs Isolde,” Violet said.
Victor choked, shaking his head in horror. “She’s too young.”
“Certainly. But she doesn’t want to go to college. She’s only saying she’ll do it because it’s what I want for her.”
“Yes—-” Victor coughed. “I have thought that for a while.”
“You aren’t the only matchmaker in this family, dear brother. Think about it. Tomas needs someone who anchors him, he has good memories with Isolde as well, and he can create more. He needs someone who will link him to us since we’re the only foundation he has left after losing his family to the war and the flu. Tomas needs us, we cannot abandon him, but I won’t marry him despite all that.”
“And Isolde?” Victor demanded.
“She wants to marry. She wants to be loved and protected and spoiled. Do you remember how many times she stopped to coo over a perambulator?”
Victor snorted, but he didn’t argue. They drove through the town and into the countryside, finding a river alongside the road and pulled over. They walked while the day passed and then headed towards the train. The twins discussed Tomas and Isolde, the people at Tomas’s house, how to free them of the hangers-on, and their story. Victor was easily persuaded to the Scarlett Temptress title since he was also easily amused by the ridiculous.
The train had arrived early when they expected it to be late, and Violet ran up to her friends Lila and Gwennie, sitting on their trunks.
“Darlings,” Violet called. “Darlings!” She threw herself into their arms and listened to them squeal.
“You’ll never guess,” Lila cut in after remarking on Vi’s dress.
“Guess what, dear one?”
“Who was on the train,” Lila said with an arch look. She glanced to the side and Violet turned to follow her gaze.
Victor was standing with Denny, John Davies, and Jack Wakefield. The sight of that man made Vi’s heart leap right into her throat. She was utterly unprepared for the sight of him. He was a tall man, huge really, built like a bear or an oak tree or something else equally solid. Dark hair, dark eyes that pierced and noticed far more than you’d expect from a British man with an upper-class demeanor.
“Why Mr. Wakefield,” Violet said cheerily, “we keep meeting on trains.”
He grinned at her and held out his hand. Violet placed her hand in his. The feel of those strong fingers closing about hers was far more momentous than the movement warranted, as if she’d suddenly come home and the world which had been askew righted itself. To her surprise, he didn’t let go but pulled her a little closer and tucked her hand through the crook in his elbow.
“What an interesting coincidence,” Violet said, glancing at her brother.
“My father lives here,” Jack said with a grin, but she felt his gaze move over her face with nearly as much weight as a touch.
“Jack agreed to come to Tomas’s party tomorrow night,” Victor said. “Isn’t this fun? Then we’ll all back to London. Violet, for one, has business. Denny has to play at business, so his father will keep up his allowance. Jack—well…” Victor cocked his head at Jack. “You probably have real business.”
“Indeed,” Jack said with a bit of a snort.
“Shall we get a coffee together before we separate?” Victor suggested. “That bakery has tables, divine raspberry tarts, and the most wonderful tea.”
“I can’t,” Jack said. “My father’s man is here to take me to the house. We have an appointment. I delayed only long enough to say hello when I realized you were coming.”
“Hullo,” Violet said cheerily, as though she weren’t disappointed. Her heart was racing as she stared at him and she found her wits had fled.
“May I have a moment?”
Violet nodded and he tugged her after him. “I wonder if I might convince you to go for a drive with me the morning after the party. I won’t be in Kent for long.”
“A drive does sound lovely,” Violet said merrily, trying to hide how she was overwhelmed by seeing him so unexpectedly. She glanced back at her brother, saw his twitching mouth, and knew for certain it wasn’t just their friends he’d called in.
She was both terribly sorry she’d told Bettina of his inheritance and terribly happy since he’d kept this secret from her.
“You’ll be coming back to London soon?”
At Violet’s nod, he said, “I’ll be glad to see you there. Do you have a date for your arrival?”
“I believe Victor told Tomas that we’d be staying for a few days. Our birthday is in about a fortnight, and we intend on throwing ourselves a party in London. I hope that you’ll come.”
“I’ll be there,” Jack said. “Did you enjoy Bruges?”
Violet paused before she admitted, “I enjoyed the canals. I enjoyed the chocolate. So much. Shopping was fun. Getting to know Isolde without her mother around was priceless, but I wanted to be home. I missed…things here.”
“You were missed,” he said calmly, but he squeezed her hand as he said it, and she felt a flash of hope. She realized in that moment that her fear that he’d meet someone else had not come to pass. He had traveled this way to see his father but was taking time to see them. She glanced around and had to be honest with herself—he had separated her out because he wasn’t there to see them. When it came right down to it, it was her.
Chapter 9
There was dinner to be had before the party with the guests who were staying with Tomas. The party itself wouldn’t be a large thing since they were in the country. Then, as soon as it was done, Violet and Victor needed to get rid of Tomas’s hangers-on.
Violet considered her dresses for a while. “Beatrice. The peacock dress.”
Her eyes lightened and she bounced on her toes a little. “I’ll have it ready.”
At its essence, it was a simple sleeveless black dress, but the beading on it imitated peacock feathers in silver and green. The dress ended just about her mid-thighs, but the green fringe on the dress went past her knees. Her headband had been made to go with the dress, with matching beads.
Violet decided to go with heavy eye makeup and bright red lips. It wouldn’t be all that bright in the rooms open to the party, and she knew her eyes were one of her best features. With a woman like Juliette Boutet in the mix, Violet wanted to be at her best for when Jack appeared. She finished her apparel with a silver choker and several matching silver and emerald bangles that went well with her dress.
“Oh, my lady,” Beatrice declared, “you look like a fanciful dream.”
There was time yet before Violet needed to appear for the dinner, so she asked, “Tell me how things are going with Miss Marino and the French duo.”
Beatrice’s gaze widened. “It’s been an uproar. Miss Marino requested a tray in her room, and they didn’t deliver it until she’d requested it three times, and then they sent it with a weak chamomile, stale biscuits, and only bread and butter. She…well…Mary was found weeping later.”
Violet sighed. “Give Mary some chocolate and a fiver from me.”
Bea
trice grinned and nodded. “I did tell Mary you’d make it better. Thank you, my lady.”
“Anything else?”
Beatrice nodded. “The Boutets have not made a complaint at all. But there has been quite a ruckus in Miss Boutet’s room between them. I asked, but no one heard what it is about.”
“What about Mr. Stroud or Algie?”
“Mr. Algernon left during the afternoon. His man said he went to the hotel to talk to Mr. Theodophilus.” Violet shuddered and Beatrice echoed it. She had refused to leave Violet when Theo had assaulted her, securing Vi’s unending loyalty.
“Mr. Stroud was seen leaving Miss Marino’s bedroom very early this morning.”
Vi’s brows rose and she stood. It was past time to meet the others for cocktails before dinner. They’d eat and then the rest of the guests would arrive. Violet walked down to her brother’s room, knocking on the door.
“Hullo, luvie,” he said. “You look simply smashing.”
Violet grinned at him. “You as well, darling. I rather like that suit.”
“Must be because you pressured me to buy it,” he said with a wink.
“I was so right too!”
They walked down the stairs and paused in shock to see that Mr. Stroud had Juliette Boutet in his arms. She struggled to free herself. That was bad enough, but just out of sight of the couple was François Boutet, watching his sister try and fail to free herself.
Violet’s gaze narrowed and she faked a sneeze. Mr. Stroud looked up as the twins walked down the stairs. He let go of Juliette, who backed away, breathing heavily.
Violet wound her arm through Juliette’s. “Don’t you look just lovely.” The twins pulled Juliette towards the dining room and Violet asked, “Did you need a moment?” She knew she could use one.
Juliette smiled with a shaky lip and shook her head. Violet nodded, determined to put on the same, brave front. When they entered the room where everyone else was waiting, Victor approached Tomas. “These ladies need a drink.”