The Rebellious Rake (The Notorious Nightingales #4)

Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

R am looked around the interior of his parlor, happy with the color he’d put in places around the once-shabby room. His, he thought. A fire burned in the grate, and Curaidh lazed before it; it all felt right, as if finally, he’d come home. He’d like to keep it that way and would if he ever found who was attacking him.

“A dog and a home, what will become of me next?”

He’d thought about getting his own Christmas tree but decided to push that aside until next year.

“I will leave your meal ready, and I’ve baked a nice lemon cake and some cinnamon biscuits, Mr. Hellion. We’ll be back in the morning.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Bud.”

The woman bobbed her head, which she did a lot.

When he’d moved in here, the Nightingales’ housekeeper had appeared the following day, stating her mother needed employment and baked better than she did. Her brother came with her mother as an extra pair of hands. As it turned out, they’d been waiting in the park. He’d met them, and the rest was history, and he now had staff .

To everyone, including his, delight, it had worked out perfectly. He was now eating like a king and in imminent danger of needing his trousers increased.

Everything had moved swiftly after Alex had spoken to the man selling the property, and because it had been without a tenant and Ram had said he’d keep the furniture, he’d moved in as soon as he could.

Everyone had visited except Flora, but he knew that was coming. In fact, he was sure she had deliberately stayed away, annoyed he’d purchased the property she’d wanted to. There were also the matters of their kisses and thought her absence was due to them also.

A knock on the door an hour later had him taking the stairs down and opening it.

“Well now, it’s a good evening to you, Mr. Hellion.”

“Good evening, Miss Alvin. What can I do for you on this chilly evening?”

She wore a knitted cap pulled low to her gray brows and at least two shawls around her neck and shoulders.

“Here’s a list.” She held out a folded piece of paper that seemed to be excessively crumpled. “I’ll not stay for tea, as it’s games night, and we’ll not ask you to set up your trestle, as you’ve just moved in. But you’ll meet on the grass shortly.”

Ram took the paper.

“Goodbye, Curaidh and Mr. Hellion,” she said, and then he was standing on his doorstep alone.

He’d heard of the legendary Crabbett Close games, of course, but never participated, because Gray had told him they were a battle of survival against all odds and not for the fainthearted, and apparently he was that. Until today, he’d been happy to avoid them.

“Well, we did decide to live here, Curaidh,” Ram said, scratching behind a shaggy gray ear as the dog sat beside him. “It seems our initiation has begun. ”

He walked to the gate and looked around the close. There was a knot of people forming on the grass, and he noted Mr. Douglas and his nephew, who had introduced himself to Ram as Kevin when he’d come with his aunt and uncle to give Ram cinnamon-and-apple cake the day he’d arrived, dragging a large table into the street.

Ram had met most of the residents when they’d arrived at his home with baked goods, which he had been eating his way through, along with help from his dog. There had only been one unpleasant moment when Tabitha Varney had shown up and asked for a tour of his home. The scent wafting off her had made him sneeze. He’d managed to say he was going out, which he hadn’t been, but then had to in case she was watching.

Closing the door, he went to eat another biscuit and pull on several layers of clothing, and only then did he leave the house. Curaidh now wore the knitted coat that Nancy had made him and he’d trotted in the house wearing this morning.

Gray and bleak, with a hint of something in the air that he couldn’t identify, Ram walked to where a group had formed.

“Ram!” Anna ran toward him. “It’s your first Crabbett Close games.”

“I know, it’s very exciting.” He took the hand she held out and let her lead him back to where the Nightingales stood.

Chester and Curaidh galloped about, greeting everyone.

“Cousin,” Gray said. “Run and don’t look back.”

“I’m made of sterner stuff than that, Gray,” Ram said. “We were not all born with a weak constitution. Where is my niece?”

His eyes moved around the gathering, searching for Flora while pretending to look for Alice, but as yet, he had not found her, and the disappointment was almost a physical feeling.

“She is sleeping, and Bud is watching her, as she has no wish to fight off Plummy’s advances. The man will not be swayed. Apparently, he will love no other. Having said that, Alex saw him leaving the Varney household the other evening quite late.”

“He’s an enthusiastic man,” Ram said.

“Very much so. I did offer to sit with my daughter,” Gray added, “but Ellen would not hear of it. Seeing as I usually make a fool of myself, she said she needed a laugh.”

Ram snorted. “I love your wife.”

“Me too,” Gray said with a deep sense of certainty. “Your dog is wearing a pale blue coat.”

“Nancy made it for him, but I think Mrs. Varney put the binding around the edge in the fetching shade of red.”

“The real problem here is that it doesn’t surprise me,” Gray muttered.

His stoic cousin had changed since Ellen and the Nightingales entered his life. He laughed more and could even be termed relaxed upon occasion. But it was the happiness that seeped out of him that Ram was most jealous of.

“It’s frigid, and there are many elderly and children out here, so is this really the time for the Crabbett Close games?” Ram said so only Gray could hear. He had no wish to be run out of the street when he’d only just arrived.

“They don’t care if it’s snowing. If the games are called, they will be held,” Gray said.

“Did you get me one?”

These loud words came from Alex, who was glaring at Fred. She was sucking on something.

“Nancy makes sugarplums,” Gray said. “They are delicious, which of course means Alex wants one. ”

Fred let out an ear-piercing squeal and ran as Alex lunged at her.

“Hello, neighbor,” Bram said, arriving, seemingly unperturbed by the squeal and melee. “How are you settling in?”

“Since this morning when you came over to see how I was settling in, do you mean?” Ram asked.

“Yes, since then.”

Ram found he liked being close to this man. He was a father in every way to his nieces and nephews. A real father, who taught them things and cared. Ram was now considered part of his life, too, and the thought was humbling.

Family was something he’d never really had—only the servants had shared their lives with him—but he did now, and they lived on the same street.

“Are you ready for this?” Leo asked, joining his uncle. With him was Cyn’s son, Simon. He was a tall, gangly lad with a serious demeanor until you got to know him.

“As I will ever be,” Ram said, and then he saw her. Bram moved slightly to the left to speak with someone, and Flora came into view.

“Excellent. Don’t eat anything slimy, and have a care with the firewater they will make you drink, depending on the team they allocate you to,” Gray said.

She wore a thick black velvet coat, red scarf, and black bonnet. Ram waited for the tug of need to subside before he answered his cousin.

“I am the cousin with the strong constitution, Gray.” Ram tore his eyes from Flora, who had yet to see him and was laughing at something Alex said to her. It wasn’t a soft, gentle laugh but a full-bodied one. Her lips tilted up, and if he was closer, he’d see the sparkle in the depths of her eyes.

“We shall see about that,” Gray said. “I have more experience in these than you.”

“If I can have your attention, please! ”

All eyes went to Mr. Greedy, who now stood on a box, hands cupped so they could hear him.

“He has a voice that carries,” Leo said, “and he is always the spokesperson for Crabbett Close.”

“It is almost like this place is a city all on its own. The residents in this street are?—”

“Odd? Wonderful? Weird? Invasive?”

“All of those things and a few more,” Ram added.

“Do we have anyone new in attendance this evening,” Mr. Greedy asked, “other than our new resident, Mr. Hellion?”

“Miss Thomas and her brother, Mr. Thomas, plus Miss Louisa Johns, Mavis’s niece, is visiting,” Mungo said loudly.

“Ah, of course,” Mr. Greedy said. “I shall now read the teams.”

“If you told me about this over tea one day, I’d never believe it. In fact, I doubt anyone would,” Ram said out the side of his mouth to Leo.

“I still find it hard to believe.”

Names were read, and he waited to hear his. When it came, he was in a team with Flora, Theo, Mr. Oscar, who was the Nightingales’ Irish clerk, and young Miss Louisa Johns.

“Your clerk is here?” Ram looked at Leo.

“He came to discuss some things with us and decided to stay.” He said it like it was entirely natural he did so.

“Theo is not an easy taskmaster, Ram,” Gray said, clapping him on the back. “He will be moving you along, as he likes to win, as do we all.”

“Oh goody,” Ram said.

“Come along, Cousin. We will start.”

“Explain it all to me again, Gray, because I never thought I’d need to remember when last you told me.”

“It’s a relay, and you get to eat and drink or perform tasks. At each table you collect another member of your team.”

“It doesn’t sound onerous,” Ram said .

“Give it time.” Bram clapped him on the shoulder. “But for tonight, have fun, and don’t think about anything else. You are safe here with us.”

“Tonight, we put it aside,” Gray added.

Ram wasn’t sure he could do that, and the frustration of not finding the culprit of who was after him was rising, but he’d try.

He followed his friends to where a group of men and Mavis Johns stood.

“Why is Mavis here when no other women are?” Ram whispered to Leo.

“First to start has to be able to hold their liquor. Mavis excels at that, and really it is only Gray who can’t. It’s why the men normally start; we’re bigger and don’t fall over quite as easily as the women.”

“I notice you whispered that for fear your women would hear,” Ram said.

Leo grinned. “I am nobody’s fool, Hellion.”

“My life has changed beyond measure,” Ram said. “Just a few days ago, I lived away from this madness. Now I am part of it.”

“And happy to be so?” Leo said.

“Exceedingly,” Ram added, his eyes on the long trestle table ahead, where he saw Flora awaiting him. She was moving from foot to foot, presumably to keep warm, or she could be eager to get started, Ram was unsure from which.

“She is well, if a little preoccupied still.”

“Pardon?” He looked at Leo.

“Ellen told me what happened with Flora’s betrothed, and may I say, if the man appears in my vicinity, I will let him know what I think of his shabby actions toward my cousin.”

“I believe her brother already did that,” Ram said. Silence followed his words, and when he looked at Leo, he saw a knowing look on his face that made him suddenly extremely uncomfortable.

“And how is it you know that? She has only just told the women in the family when she went for a dress fitting with them. I don’t believe I spoke to you about it until now.”

“Ah.” Ram frowned, attempting to look vague. He was usually an excellent actor. “Charles, perhaps? I’m unsure.”

“That must be it, then,” Leo said, but Ram wasn’t fooled. Leo was an astute man; he was now curious as to how Ram had come by the knowledge about Flora, and certain it hadn’t come from her brother.

“Now, Ram, get ready to run. When you reach the next table, grab the drink, swallow, then collect Flora and run to the next,” Bramstone said.

Beside him Alex, Gray, Charles, Leo, Bram, Mavis Johns, Mungo, and a young man Ram did not know lined up.

“Mr. Alvin’s second cousin’s son on his mother’s side,” Gray said, noting where Ram was looking.

“It deeply concerns me you know all of this.”

“Ellen loves gossip, so I hear all of it whether I want to or not. Soon, it will be you giving me all these wonderful tidbits of knowledge I don’t need, as you are now a resident.”

“Take your marks!” Mr. Greedy called, and Ram felt the excitement climb. It cloaked the air with anticipation. “Go!”

He’d always acquitted himself well in anything physical, but Mavis Johns had a lead on him in seconds. Mungo and Gray were jostling each other, and Alex and Leo were about his pace. Reaching the table, he found the Alvins and Flora.

“Mavis, you will stop to drink before running on!” Bram roared. The woman just smirked.

“Hand Mr. Hellion a drink, Pixie,” Mr. Alvin said.

“Who is Pixie?” Ram asked Flora.

“Miss Alvin.”

“Really? I had not pictured that being her name. ”

Flora snuffled out a laugh, and Ram thought he was right in acting like nothing had happened between them.

“One of you has to eat, and the other drink,” Bram said, taking a mug from Mr. Alvin. “Hurry it up, or Mavis will win again.”

Both Alvins were barely visible. Miss Alvin, also known as Pixie, wore a sack over her bonnet that draped down her back and cloaked her shoulders.

“Apparently it’s very warm,” Leo said, noting Ram’s gaze.

“There are limits to what I will do for warmth,” Ram said.

“Because you are vain, whereas Miss Alvin is uncaring of how she looks and warm,” Flora said snootily.

“I don’t see you in a sack,” Ram muttered.

“Here we go, Mr. Hellion. This will warm you right up.” Miss Alvin held out a mug to him.

“Do I have to eat the whelk?” Flora demanded.

“Yes,” Ram said, taking his mug and throwing back its contents. Whatever syrupy substance was inside caught in the back of his throat, and he coughed after forcing it down.

“Gin, treacle, and the secret ingredient that holds it all together: mutton fat,” Gray said, looking a little peaky now after swallowing his.

Ram gagged.

Flora gagged beside him after swallowing whelk.

“Run!” Theo roared from ahead of them at the next stop. Ram grabbed Flora’s hand because others were doing that, and he wanted to touch her.

“How dare you buy that house without consulting me,” she said when they were moving and only he could hear. “You knew I wanted it.”

“Clearly I am a great deal more business savvy than you at doing things in a timely manner. We both knew it was for sale, but I was faster.” They reached the next table. This one was manned by the Varneys, so Flora couldn’t comment on what he’d said. But she wanted to; he could almost feel her vibrating with the need.

“For pity’s sake, Ram! I thought you’d be fleet of foot, but here I wait,” Theo said, scowling.

“It’s my first time,” Ram protested.

“I will not lose to any of my sisters again,” Theo added. He clearly had the competitive streak Ram knew ran through the entire Nightingale family. “Ram can drink the alcohol, Flora can eat the cake, and I’ll eat the smelly kipper, but hurry it up!”

“I thought you liked drinking the alcohol now you can, Theo?” Ellen said from beside Gray. She was eating cake.

“I’ve found I don’t like the taste,” Theo said.

“Can I not drink the alcohol, then?” Flora asked.

“Of course.” Tabitha held out a mug to her.

“Kipper or cake, Ram?” Theo demanded.

“Is that a trick question, because it’s always cake surely?” He watched Flora sniff the contents of the mug as he took the plate of fruitcake.

“You are looking vibrant this evening, Mr. Hellion,” Tabitha said, batting her lashes.

“Vibrant?” Flora’s face screwed up. “Why do you think that, Miss Varney?”

“Alive and handsome,” Miss Varney elaborated, looking at Ram as if he were the last apricotine left in London.

“Really? Well I guess there is no accounting for tastes,” Flora said.

“Throw it back, Flora, and make haste,” Theo said. “This is not a moment for chatting.” He then took a deep breath and swallowed the smelly kipper.

Flora also took a deep breath and swallowed, shuddering as it went down.

“Molasses whisky,” Alex said cheerfully.

“Doesn’t Mungo look handsome tonight?” Gray said .

“Very,” Bram said.

“None more handsome than our Mungo,” Leo said. “Don’t you think, Miss Varney?”

“I thought he had a certain glow to him in this light,” Charles added. Clearly he had learned quickly how things worked in the Nightingale household.

“I fear he puts us to shame with his handsomeness,” Ram added. He then stepped to the right and put Flora between him and the Scotsman.

Mungo growled and lunged at Leo, who dodged out of his reach. Soon they were all running with the large Scotsman on their heels.

Ram had Flora’s right hand, and Theo her left.

“It’s not possible that whisky has gone straight to my head,” she muttered. “My feet seem to be on the wrong way.”