The Rebellious Rake (The Notorious Nightingales #4)

Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

F lora wandered with her cousins through a fair in the frigid night air, inhaling the wonderful sweet and spicy scents, and enjoyed the laughter and chatter of others.

She tried not to think about Ramsey, which she did, far more often than was comfortable, and how she wished he was here with them.

Gray had told her they had a few leads they were following now, but it was a process of elimination. She knew from talk in the Nightingale household that because they had not found who was behind the two attempts to abduct Ramsey, they had decided to lure them out. As such he was walking about London as bait, with two watching over him. The thought terrified her.

It was fair to say, according to Bramstone, that Ramsey was not coping with the entire process, and growing more and more frustrated. Flora could concur. She was frustrated too, and scared. She had openly admitted, if only to herself that she loved that man deeply, but nothing would come from that, or the fact that she was sure Ramsey cared for her too, until this was over.

“So many wonderful sights and scents,” Anna said from beside Flora drawing her from her thoughts. She had gripped Flora’s hand in excitement when they arrived, and there it had stayed.

“Hurry it up, you two,” Theo said, his tone annoyed as he shot Anna and Flora a disgruntled look. “We shall be late to hear the carol singers.”

Anna poked out her tongue, which had Theo’s eyes narrowing.

“Fudge?” Charles said, arriving with several small bags in his hands.

“Yes, please. We love fudge, don’t we, Anna?” Flora said. The little girl nodded eagerly.

They ate and wandered along with the others in the crowds that had come out to celebrate the festive season. Colored baubles hung from poles, and papers made into stars were strung along the edges of tents. Scents of meat cooking and sweet treats filled the air.

She missed Ramsey, but there was a warmth inside her at being here with her family. A contentment that often came with her gift. It had been missing lately with the turmoil of her father’s perfidy and this business with Ram.

However, she knew relief that at least for tonight, Ramsey was safe at home in Crabbett Close with the locals watching over him, much to his horror.

She watched a young boy run by with a little girl on his heels, both laughing.

Flora had learned early to distinguish between what she was feeling personally and what others were feeling, and the excitement bubbling around her was infectious.

She and Charlie had worked hard to control and harness what they could do. Worked hard to block out thoughts and feelings and let in only the ones they wanted to.

“I smell mince pies,” Flora said. “The sweet kind.”

“I love those,” Harriet said from behind them.

“Anna!” Matilda called from up ahead. “Come and look at these little glass domes.”

The girl scampered off to investigate.

They were all here this evening. Leo and his wife, Cyn, with her two children, and the rest of the large, noisy Nightingale family.

She’d seen Ramsey most days since rescuing Mavis’s niece, who was now on her way back to her home with her aunt and thoroughly chastened after what had nearly happened to her.

Walking across the small park to 11 Crabbett Close was allowed, according to Gray, so Ram spent a lot of time with the Nightingales. Yesterday, he’d tugged her into a room and kissed her, running his hands up and down her body. It had been only a matter of seconds, and then he’d walked away, leaving her hot, needy, and wanting more. Flora did not like that feeling at all, so she’d waited until the moment presented itself and sought her revenge—several times, in fact. She’d brushed up against him as they passed, enjoying the hiss of his breath. Once, she’d walked behind him and touched the back of his neck. He’d not come near her again.

Flora wanted that man in her life and knew Ramsey felt the same.

“I like being part of this,” Charles said. “I didn’t realize what we were missing out on being so far from our cousins.”

“Yes, we need to start searching in earnest for a home, as we can’t stay with our cousins forever.”

“I agree, and we shall get to that, but first I want to ask you something.”

He wore a thick woolen scarf that Mrs. Greedy had knitted him tucked into his coat. Like her, he was happier than he had been for some time.

“What lies between you and Ramsey Hellion, Sister?”

“Why would you ask me that?” She shot her brother a look, but he was looking around them at all the wonderful sights.

“Because you can’t keep your eyes off each other,” Charles said. “Because he is protective of you, as he was the night Louisa went missing. I have no problem with the man if he holds your affections, Flora, but?—”

“Until Ramsey has found who is after him, Brother, there is no need to carry on this conversation.”

“So you do care for him?”

“I am not discussing this now.”

“Flora,” Charles said in that way he had that conveyed his disappointment without actually using words.

“Oh very well. Yes, I care for him, but as I have explained, there is a great deal at stake for him at the moment, and we cannot….” Her words fell away because she wasn’t sure what to add.

“Declare your feelings for each other because of the conflict in his life?”

“Exactly that,” Flora said, relieved he’d gotten to the point himself.

“I like him,” Charles said. “He’s a trifle arrogant but, for all that, a good fellow. Our cousins like him, and that tells me everything about him.”

“Yes, he is a good man.”

“You never said that about Lockwood.”

“I was foolish and blinded by his flattery,” Flora said.

“Strange that, considering how intelligent you constantly tell me you are.”

“Yes, thank you, and we do not need to discuss the matter further. ”

“We will start looking in earnest for lodgings tomorrow, Flora, and I find that excites me.”

“As it does me. But I want to stay close to our cousins.”

“Agreed,” Charles said.

She did not add that she wanted to stay close to Ramsey too.

“Stop thinking and enjoy the evening, Sister, otherwise that line down your forehead will turn into a deep groove,” Charles said. “After all, you are nearly on the shelf, and I will never be rid of you if you do not take care of your face. Ramsey will see you for who you really are.”

The thing about siblings was that no one could annoy you more—and it took very little effort on their part.

“Dear Lord, is that a bat coming this way? Duck, Charlie!”

Flora put another piece of fudge in her mouth and sucked on the sugary treat as he dropped to a crouch and threw his hands over his head.

“What is your brother doing?” Simon asked.

“I’m unsure. Is everything all right, Charles?” She gave him her best innocent look when he removed the hands from over his head and looked up at her.

“You”—he got to his feet, still clutching his bag of fudge, she noted—“are a nasty woman.” He jabbed a finger at her.

“Clearly he is not himself today,” Flora said to Simon. “Perhaps I shall find a seat so he can rest his aging bones.”

“You’re teasing him, aren’t you?” Simon said. “The Nightingales do that a great deal, and you are their cousins, after all.” He gave her a look as if assessing what she was thinking.

“As if I would ever tease my wonderful brother, who is a great deal older and wiser than me,” Flora said.

“Shrew,” Charlie hissed, brushing the dirt from his great coat. “There were no bats. ”

“No, really? Imagine them not flying about freely with so many people and light? Aren’t they nocturnal?”

“Shrew,” he hissed again.

“It’s just so easy to best you,” she said. “Now if you will excuse me, I must purchase my gift.”

She found Fred, Matilda, and Anna looking at a stall. Cyn’s daughter, Meg, was also there.

“I could buy this for my secret gift,” Anna said.

“Don’t tell anyone who you have,” Meg said. “The word to remember in secret gift, Anna, is the secret part.”

Flora had woken this morning to a slip of paper on the floor. It had clearly been pushed under her door at some stage during the night. On it was a name. She’d thought seriously about asking someone to swap with her, but then they would ask why, and Flora did not need that. So instead, she would search for the best gift she could, starting now.

Studying the goods on display at the stall, Flora found different shapes and sizes of glass balls hanging from lengths of string. Lamplight bounced off them, creating wonderful patterns. Then she saw the one with the dog painted on it. A large green glass orb with a picture of Curiadh. She waved to lady, and quietly pointed to the item she wanted. It was paid for and tucked into her small bag before anyone had noted what she was about.

“Oooh, look!” Anna pointed to a sign two tents along, where small, knitted houses and other creations were being sold. “Tabitha and Mrs. Greedy are there with Mr. Alvin.”

“Don’t tell Mungo Tabitha is here,” Fred whispered. “He’ll disappear, and we’ll have to walk home.”

“Did the residents of Crabbett Close make these?” Flora asked Tabitha Varney. She was inspecting a small house that was in red and green wool. The windows were white, and the front door brown.

“They did. Have you seen Mr. Mungo, Miss Thomas? ”

“I believe he is there, with the others,” Fred said, waving a hand vaguely behind her before Flora could speak. “But you are interested in the wrong man, Miss Varney. It is really Mr. Hellion who is desperate for a wife, not Mungo, who has vowed only to wed a woman of Scottish blood.”

Flora could do nothing to stop the snuffle of laughter. She did not want any woman but her lusting after that man, but it could be fun to watch Tabitha chase him… which said what about her? That you are a very wicked person.

“Really?” Tabitha Varney wanted a husband. From what Flora could gather, she’d started with Leo, moved to Alex, then returned to Leo, and was now focusing on Mungo, who was not happy about that fact at all. “I had no idea he felt that way,” Tabitha said.

“Well, seeing he’s just purchased that house….” Anna let her words fall away.

“Well then,” Tabitha said. “Do you know if Mr. Hellion is here this evening?”

“I’m not sure he is coming. But you could check,” Fred said, her expression sweet and innocent.

“I will take my knitting for him to inspect,” Miss Varney said. “I’ll be back soon, Mr. Alvin, I’m just going have a quick walk about.”

“Ramsey is going to be furious,” Anna hissed. “Especially considering his feelings for you, Flora.”

“Pardon?”

Fred rolled her eyes. “We are not fools, Flora. All of us have seen how you look at each other but try not to. It is as obvious as the nose on your face that you care for Ramsey as he does you. We could not be happier,” she added.

“Really?” Flora was stunned.

“Really. But it will be fun watching Tabitha chase him while we are waiting for those horrible people to stop attacking him,” Fred added. “I think the chase is all part of the fun for Tabitha. I’m not even sure she wants to settle down.”

“I agree,” Anna said.

“Come along, everyone, we shall take tea now and come back for more excitement after!” Bramstone called.

“I will join you shortly,” Flora said. “I want to inspect that stall first.” Flora pointed to one farther along the row, which held shawls.

“We will save you some cakes,” Anna said. She then ran off with the others and soon disappeared into the crowd.

“Would you like your cards read, dear?” An old lady dressed from head to toe in black except for the large bright red stone of her necklace spoke to her from between two tents.

“No, thank you.” Flora smiled, but a gnarled hand grabbed her gloved fingers.

“But I can tell there is so much I have to share with you. My family, you see, they need food, and this is how I can feed them.” Her accent was thick but Flora could not detect where she came from. She took a step closer, feeling sorry for the lady.

“I can give you some money, but I have no wish for my fortune to be told.” She had enough to deal with being clairvoyant, and of course there were her cousins too. If she wanted to know anything, they could likely help her out.

The rush of greed slammed into Flora suddenly. She tried to step back, but the woman pulled her with a sharp tug into the tent.

“Let me go!”

A hand clapped around her mouth. It held a cloth with a sweet-smelling odor. She fought with everything she had but could not dislodge it. Flora clawed at the hand holding it, and the man hissed in pain, but he did not release her .

“Hurry, we have to get her away. He’ll come when we send word we have her.”

“I thought we were grabbing one of the younger girls,” a voice hissed.

“No. She’s the one. I saw her leaving his house one night.”

Flora felt lightheaded, and everything seemed to be slowing down. The battle she fought now was just staying conscious.

“Hurry, get her out the back and into the wagon. Bind her hands and feet!”

Her eyes were so heavy, and her head felt strange, and then there was only darkness.