Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

C yn heard the whispers as she headed to her destination and knew they were because Leo and his family were here. She'd seen them in the receiving line, and it had given her a jolt because she'd never thought he would appear in society again.

Nodding, smiling, and acknowledging people, Cyn headed for the wall to her right, where she could stand and observe, which she liked to do most evenings. Then she would decide who she wanted to speak with, or those in society she could tolerate usually found her.

These events were draining. That was the only word she could use to describe how she felt dressing up and going out alone, night after night. Putting on a fake smile to honor Kenneth's wishes that she keep up appearances for Simon and Meg's sake.

"How dare they," Lady Gulliver said with a loud sniff two feet in front of her.

Following her eyes, Cyn saw Leo and his family. He was walking slowly through the crowds, who in turn were watching him and his family. His chin was raised, and his expression was the perfect blend of haughty disinterest.

"Why, it's just not right," Lady Gulliver continued. "That man died owing money to many."

"Agreed," Mrs. Brantley said.

"Surely you ladies are not speaking of the Nightingale family?" Cyn said, attempting to remain calm. This was the second time she'd heard someone speaking about them like this.

"It is a family's shame, Lady Lowell," Mr. Brantley said. "As such, they should not be here."

"As one of the most powerful peers of the realm invited them, perhaps you could take it up with him, as clearly he does not believe the sins of their father should taint a child," Hyacinth snapped.

Muttering, the Brantleys walked away from her.

"Good riddance," Cyn said, looking at Leo again. Their eyes locked. She was the first to pull away. Heart thumping, she did not look his way again.

"My God, Cyn, what a crush!" Letitia said, joining her. "If I did not adore the Duke and Duchess of Raven and their odd family, I would have forgone the evening and taken a young man to my bed."

"No, you wouldn't, because Charles will be back in one week, and you love him to distraction and would never do such a thing," Cyn said, refusing to let her eyes drift back to Leo even though they desperately wished to do so.

"Oh, very well," Letitia said. "If you must be so… so logical about everything and not allow me to have fantasies, then I agree. You look quite stunning, by the way. That is a far better look on you than that hideous shade of beige you wore last time." She shuddered. "Why you allowed your seamstress to convince you it did anything but wash out your complexion, I do not know. "

"Are you quite done?" Cyn asked her friend.

"For now," Letitia said. "Now, who can we gossip about?" She turned to face the guests, and Cyn tensed, knowing she'd see Leo and his family. "Well, well, well. Your hero is here."

"He is not my hero… well, what he did was heroic, but that does not make him my hero," she added.

Letitia knew all the grisly details of the Nightingales' fall from grace and how Leo's sudden departure had broken her heart.

"He was handsome dripping wet. However, he is a great deal more so tonight dressed like that. The man is divine now he's grown up and his soft edges are hardened."

She was used to Letitia's ways. Her friend always said exactly what she felt and usually made Cyn laugh with her descriptions of those around them at these often-tedious events. However, not tonight, and not when it came to Leo.

She'd spent the days since she'd seen him yet again shoring up her defenses, as clearly the man still unsettled her. But she hadn't counted on seeing him this evening.

Did his appearance tonight mean he was to attend more society events? Or just this one, as the duke was a friend? Was the duke a friend? She'd believed they'd severed all ties with society. Was she wrong there?

"I'm sorry, this must be hard on you, my darling Cyn." Letitia's arm slipped through hers, and she was pulled close. "Forgive me for my frivolous tongue."

Cyn exhaled slowly. "I have seen them twice since the night I fell into the Thames."

"You never told me that."

"It was nothing. He came into the agency, actually, because his family is looking at taking the lease next door. Then I saw them when I took Simon and Meg out."

Leo was now talking to the Earl and Countess of Raine and Mr. and Mrs. Deville. She could find him because he was so tall. Tall and handsome; she couldn't deny that no matter how much she wished to.

"Was it hard seeing him again?" Letitia asked.

"I wish I'd been better prepared and maybe seen him coming." Cyn then went on to explain what had happened.

"Oh dear, but I'm sure Lewis was a pillar of strength," Letitia said.

"As you can imagine, he loved every moment, especially as he did not know the backstory between Leo and I."

"You can't avoid them all evening, you know," her friend said.

"I know, and actually, now we have seen each other again, I can deal with this. I was merely a child when I fell in love with him." She'd thought about this a lot. "I am no longer that and do not have those feelings. Exposure to him will make it become a common thing, and I will be able to forget the past completely if he continues to walk in society."

"If you say so, but I'll add he is a handsome man, and you are a beautiful woman?—"

"Do not finish that sentence," Cyn said. "Now tell me, how was your visit with your mother?"

"Most of the time she tittered about my lack of restraint and forthright speech, but for all that, we muddled along. Now, are you to hide on this wall all evening, or can you come with me and see what is being auctioned off?"

"I am not hiding, but I will stay here, if you don't mind, as I have already looked at the items being auctioned. I will secure us two glasses of champagne while you decide what to spend your money on," Cyn said.

"Oh, very well, but I see right through you, you know," Letitia said. "You will skulk in corners for the remainder of the evening. At least ensure you seek that champagne, and I shall return shortly."

She waved her friend off and walked around the wall in search of drinks. Weaving in and out of guests, she neared a waiter who held a tray of sparkling glass flutes.

"Cyn, how wonderful to see you this evening!"

"Somer, Dorrie," she said with a genuine smile. "The duke will be pleased there is a wonderful crowd this year," Cyn said.

The two lovely ladies before her were twins and born into the Sinclair family, of which there were many.

"Why are you walking around the walls of James and Eden's ballroom?" Dorrie asked.

"I'm not. It was just the quickest way to the champagne," Cyn said.

The twins had lovely soft pale skin, green eyes, and thick black hair. They were extremely beautiful women like their elder sisters.

"She's hiding, and I know why," Somer said.

"I'm not hiding," Cyn lied, because she was avoiding Leo and his family.

"Very well. If you wish to deny it, then we will also. Now, how is the Phoenix Agency going?" Dorset asked.

"Well, thank you. Busy. There are so many women in need of our support."

Somer made a noise in her throat that Cyn translated to disapproval. "There are many that are mistreated, and it's a disgrace. Should you need our detective work at any time, you have only to ask, and we will help."

And that was another odd thing about the Sinclair family. Not only were they wed to those that carried Raven blood, but the three youngest siblings ran a private detective agency. An unusual occupation for society members.

"Hello, Hyacinth."

She tried not to stiffen, but it happened. Ellen had arrived with her husband.

"Mrs. Fletcher," Cyn said, dropping into a curtsy .

"Hello, Ellen," the twins said as one.

"We are so very pleased to see you and Gray here this evening," Somer said.

Cyn then watched as the twins hugged Ellen and Gray. She remembered then they had once all been close friends.

"Lovely to meet you again, Lady Lowell," Mr. Fletcher said, bowing to Cyn.

"So, Gray, what are you working on?" Dorset asked him when the greetings were finished.

"I can't tell you that, Dorrie," he said.

The twins and the detective were soon chatting while they tried to get information out of him about the cases he was working on, which left her and Ellen facing each other.

"The thought of entering this room was terrifying," Ellen surprised her by saying. "But it was made easier being surrounded by those I love and knowing there were at least a few people in here that wanted to see us."

"And those that don't are fools, so you should just ignore them."

"I'm truly sorry for not telling you we were leaving London and why, Hyacinth. You deserved that from us," Ellen said softly.

Cyn sighed. "We have all moved on, and what you and your family went through had to be devastating. At the time, I thought only of myself, and I'm sorry for how you all suffered, Mrs. Fletcher."

"Ellen and thank you for that. It means a great deal to hear those words from you." Her smile was blinding, and she saw her old friend then. The young girl who she had shared confidences and dreams with.

"We have both changed a great deal," Ellen said, "as much has gone on in our lives, and perhaps one day soon we can take tea and talk about those changes, but for now, it would mean a lot if I can call you Hyacinth again. "

"She goes by the name Cyn now," Somer said, clearly listening to their conversation.

"Cyn," Ellen said softly. "I like it."

"Hello, sister, I wondered where you and your large husband had gone," Alexander said, arriving.

"Mr. Nightingale." Cyn curtsied as Ellen's brother arrived at her side.

"May I have a word?"

"Really, Alex? Here?" Ellen whispered loudly.

"It must be here, or I will be driven mad with the noise he is making."

"Oh, very well." Ellen rose to her toes. "You two take the wall, and I shall stand in front chatting with the twins and Gray."

"Why are we creating a wall?" Dorrie asked.

"My brother needs to speak with Cyn about something. So, stand here with me and regale me with riveting conversation."

"Every word that spills from my mouth his riveting," Somer said.

"You are very much like Cam," Cyn heard Ellen say.

"Oh yes, and you should hear them debating," Dorrie added.

"Lady Lowell, may I call you Hyacinth?" Alexander said. She nodded, uncertain what he wanted to talk to her about. "And I am Alex."

He was like Leo but softer. His smile was genuine, and it reached all the way to his eyes. Her heartbeat did not increase when faced with him, however.

"What I am about to tell you is not easy for me to say and will be hard for you to hear, and I understand if you think I am quite sparse in the attic, but the words need to be spoken, or your late husband will be my constant companion."

"I beg your pardon? "

"Bear with me. After we fled society, the Nightingale siblings leaned into something we'd avoided. We are clairvoyants, Hyacinth."

"We?" Cyn said weakly.

"Ellen and I embrace what we are, but not Leo, Hyacinth."

"She's called Cyn now," Ellen said over her shoulder.

"Is she really?" Alexander smiled. "I like that."

"Ah, thank you," Cyn said, wondering if in fact what happened all those years ago had been harder on this Nightingale than his siblings, and he had lost his grip on sanity.

"I am quite sane, I assure you," he said as if he'd read her thoughts, which he'd just told her he could do…hadn't he? "I speak to the dead, Cyn. Now, before you run screaming from the room, which would not be easy with this crowd, I assure you, hear me out."

She gulped a mouthful of the champagne she held in a fierce grip.

"Listen to him, Cyn, as he speaks the truth," Ellen said.

"Our gifts are all different. Ellen has visions, and Leo finds things, like cuff links," he added, holding her eyes. "I speak to the dead. Your husband has been hurling thoughts at me since we met you that day at your agency."

His eyes looked clear, but surely he was quite addled?

"Lord Lowell is showing me a triquetra, Cyn. Do you know what that is?"

She shook her head to show she didn't and possibly to clear it.

"It's a symbol with many meanings, but more importantly it is a mark the Baddon Boys gang wears. A tattoo," he clarified.

A shiver of dread slithered down her spine.

"He is concerned for you, Cyn, and wants me to tell you to have a care. Is there a reason you are in danger?" His eyes were no longer smiling, and in fact, the look in them was exactly like the one his older brother often wore.

"I, ah—I don't think so."

"You don't think so?"

She exhaled slowly. Was this really happening?

"I see a bird also. A bird of paradise."

That had her spilling champagne over her hand. Alex pulled out a handkerchief and mopped it up.

"Is he… is my husband… I'm not sure how to ask this question."

"Is he happy?" She nodded, not sure why she believed every word this man was telling her, but she did. "His spirit feels light," Alex said with a gentle smile. "But he is clearly concerned about you, as he is constantly inside my head. My darling wife had a friend who passed, and she was persistent too."

"I'm sure I should be more shocked than I am."

"Your reaction is mild compared to some. I have had people faint when I speak to them this way, and not all of them were women. Now, can you tell me why he is showing me the bird and the symbol?"

Dare she tell him?

"Come, Cyn, I promise I am a friend and want to help you."

"If I tell you, please keep it to yourself, sir."

"Of course."

"As you know, I run the Phoenix Agency. Those that come there want a new start. We help them with that," she said so only he could hear. "We help ladies of the night, Alex."

"And do some of those women come from the Bird of Paradise, which is owned by the Baddon Boys?"

Before she could answer, Ellen spoke, "A lady is approaching. I suggest you continue this conversation at another time. "

Alexander Nightingale squeezed Cyn's hand and said, "Be careful, as your husband has me believing trouble may be headed your way. Please call us if you find you need help."

"Thank you."

She watched him walk away with his family then. Kenneth's spirit had contacted him, and she wasn't sure what to do about that. But one thing she knew was that she needed to do something.