Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

L eo had kept himself busy in the five days since saving Hyacinth in the Thames, but he'd not managed to put the entire incident out of his head, like he normally could. Usually, he locked it into the box deep in the recesses of his brain and never thought of it again, which could explain the anger that usually simmered inside him.

Leo was no fool. He knew that suppressing the past and the emotions connected with that time was not good for him, and that the darkness that came upon him suddenly was likely due to that. But it was the only way he knew how to deal with what happened to him and his family.

Hyacinth seemed to have slipped into his head and was intent on staying there. He could see her standing before him, wet, cold, and angry. He could see her beautiful topaz eyes glaring at him.

"Stop brooding, Leo, for pity's sake," Ellen snapped.

"I am not brooding. I am wondering why I am in this carriage with you two and not going to this appointment alone, as I'd first thought," Leo said to the two siblings seated across from him—his brother Alex and sister Ellen. "And I'll add a second point to that. Why are you both not home with your beloveds?"

They'd arrived at 11 Crabbett Close and told him they were accompanying him to inspect the property the Nightingales were looking at leasing. There had been no dissuading them.

"Because Gray is working, and Harriet is at the orphanage this morning," Ellen said. "And we were bored."

She had once been a darling of society along with Hyacinth. Blond haired and blue-eyed, even he, if pushed, could admit that she was beautiful. She was now very different from who she'd once been. Also like Hyacinth, he thought. Ellen had fallen in love with Grayson Fletcher, a detective from Scotland Yard, who had also turned his back on society, but it had been his choice alone to do so.

"All likely true, now tell me the real reason you are accompanying me when I am perfectly capable of inspecting the property alone," Leo said.

"If we are to run our businesses from the place, then I want to like it," Ellen said. She wouldn't look at him, which was a sure sign she was not being truthful. Elegant as always, she looked the same, no matter the time or day—unlike his younger sisters, who couldn't get through an hour without tearing a shoe ribbon or piece of clothing.

"You're not telling me the truth, are you, Ellen?" Leo asked.

"Oh, for pity's sake," Alex snapped, joining the conversation. "Of course she's not telling you the truth. Clearly we were called in to ferret out what is really going on with you, seeing as you are even more somber than you normally are."

Leo stared at his brother while he grappled with the fact his family thought he was not himself. He'd not realized his moods had been any different .

"Subtle as always, Alex," Ellen snapped.

Alexander Nightingale. The easygoing sibling, who was not as well-built as Leo but tall with dark hair and eyes. He was the brother who women in society had once swooned over. He could talk to anyone and often did. Recently he'd wed the love of his life, Harriet. He was also Leo's best friend.

"We are never subtle with each other," Alex said. "Leo, we are here as something of a family intervention. Apparently, since you threw yourself heroically into the Thames to save Hyacinth, you have been maudlin, but you will not talk about it. Uncle Bram thought a day out with your two favorite people would change that." Alex smirked. "I still can't believe Hyacinth blistered your ears about what occurred all those years ago. I mean?—"

"Yes, thank you, Alex. I know what happened, as I was there," Leo snapped. "Ram did not need to go into quite that much detail, and I do not want an intervention. There is nothing wrong with me."

"Oh, but Ram did need to go into detail, and yes, you need the sage and wise counsel of your two siblings," Alex said. "I wish I had been there for you, brother," he added, all laughter now gone.

"I'm all right, Alex."

"You know I am always there for you if you wish to go anywhere. You are not alone, Leo."

Ellen sniffed, then rummaged about in her reticule for a handkerchief. Sighing, Leo handed her his.

"Just because we are married does not mean we are not part of your life. It saddens me you think you cannot come to us?—"

"That is not the case," Leo interrupted Alex, even as he knew it was. He'd left his siblings alone to live their lives with their loved ones. It seemed he'd been wrong about that.

"We are worried for you," Ellen said .

"We are," Alex agreed soberly. "There is a darkness inside you, Leo. Both Ellen and I have seen it."

"No, there isn't," he denied. How had they seen… known what he was battling? "There is nothing wrong with me," he lied. In fact, he'd felt the darkness closing in on him lately. Love surrounded him, and yet he could find no joy in it or, for that matter, anything.

What do I want in my life that I don't already have? It was a question he'd struggled to find the answer to.

"You are not happy," Alex said. "You try to hide it, but those of us that know you well have seen it for a while now."

"I am not reentering society, if that is where you're leading. I told Ram this and our aunt and uncle."

"We would not expect that of you, and furthermore, when we do, it will be all together," Ellen said.

"When?"

She waved his words away.

"I am fine and have no wish to discuss this further," Leo said, looking out the window. "If you do not cease this line of conversation, I will leave the carriage and continue on foot alone."

"Is that a threat? Because if it is, I'm not sure why you think it would work, seeing as this family has absolutely no idea of personal boundaries," Ellen said.

"Amen," Alex agreed. "I'm sorry you saw Hyacinth and it brought back the pain?—"

"Alex," Leo growled out a warning.

"You hide your feelings from us, Leo. But we feel it," Alex said. "Both Ellen and I."

"How—"

"We believe it is linked to what we are… what all of us are," Ellen said, giving him a steady look.

"I'm well," Leo said again. "I promise. "

"No, you are not. You need a wife," Ellen said. "I spoke with Gray about this, and he agrees with me?—"

"I beg your pardon?" Leo cut her off.

"You heard. You need someone in your life to love, Leo, like Alex and me."

He looked at his siblings, who simply returned his glare with calm expressions.

"Just because you are married does not mean I have to be. Not everyone is cut from the same cloth and wishes to live their lives dictated to by their spouses."

"I won't tell Harriet you said that, as I know you are simply reacting like a cornered rodent," Alex said.

"Gray would simply laugh," Ellen added.

His siblings were never easy to insult.

"For now, we will discuss it no more, but only because we are to get out shortly and attempt to be civilized, and you look like that sour-faced Mr. Crockett," Alex said.

"Is he the man who sells those delicious macarons?"

Alex nodded to Ellen. "The only reason he has any patronage is because they are such tasty morsels. He told me yesterday that I had shortchanged him." Alex looked incredulous. "I demanded he recount what was in his palm and then get eyeglasses."

"What flavor did you have?" Ellen asked Alex, as if a minute ago they weren't making their eldest brother extremely uncomfortable with a personal dissection of his life.

"Cherry." Alex made a humming sound low in his throat, and Leo felt his mouth water. Even annoyed and unsettled and ready to toss both siblings from the carriage, he could still lust after one of Mr. Crockett's cherry macarons.

"But we digress," Alex said.

"As this conversation is over?—"

"One part of the conversation is over," Alex continued, ignoring Leo. "But I would like to read you an article from the Trumpeter ." He produced a newspaper from his inside pocket. It was folded into a rectangle. He then cleared his throat and began.

"Lord Seddon, with no thought to his own safety, plunged into the Thames to save Lady Lowell from certain death. Witnesses said it was an act of incredible heroism."

"Tell me you're making this up?" Leo demanded.

Alex smiled at him before continuing, "Lord Seddon is well respected along with his family by many, and it is wonderful to see him dipping his toe, both figuratively and metaphorically, back into the waters of society. The insult that followed from Baron Ellington was both unjust and unacceptable. It was dealt with by Mr. Ramsey Hellion, who beat Lord Seddon to the chase, and Ellington's nose was dealt a blow that will see him with a large, throbbing snout for many days to come. The Duchess of Yardly and Walter also did not stand for Ellington's behavior and was heard to comment on the baron's nature in a disparaging manner and then state loudly that his presence made her nauseous. Well said, Duchess! We applaud you. Walter barked loudly at Ellington."

Ellen started giggling, and Alex snorted as he stuffed the paper back into his pocket.

"It's a brilliant piece. Cam wrote it, of course," Alex added.

Cambridge Sinclair, one of the notorious Sinclairs, owned two newspapers in London, which was odd, as he walked in society. Yet like the rest of his family, he cared little what anyone thought of him, which was possibly why everyone put up with him.

Leo wasn't sure how he felt about the article. On one hand, he loathed being gossip fodder, but on the other, Cam had said he and his family were respected.

"It's a wonderful piece, Leo," Ellen said .

"I know it is, but I have no wish for any of our names to be gossiped about ever again."

"It is written in our favor. Stop being so serious," Alex said. "But enough for now. We will look at this property you wish for us to inspect."

Leo was happy to put the entire incident aside, although he wasn't sure the memory of Hyacinth would allow him to do that.

"We have the orphanage, the investments, and I have lately been looking into other avenues for us to expand our business ventures," Leo said. "We also need to employ someone to oversee all of this, and the office will be where they work from."

With help from friends, the Nightingales had become business savvy and started increasing their financial coffers with several interests. Leo had to say he enjoyed that side of things, and he found he had a knack for numbers. It was one way he kept himself busy, because too much time to think was never a good thing.

"We are here," Ellen said, interrupting his thoughts as Mungo pulled the carriage to a halt.

Leo got down first and then helped his sister. Alex followed. After their father's disgrace, it had been the three of them who had been hit the hardest by what happened, as they had walked in society. Because of that, they were a great deal closer than they had once been.

"I'll return in an hour," Mungo said.

"Most gracious." Alex looked up at him.

"Be off with you, gowk."

"Mungo just called you a simpleton, Alex."

"He's not far wrong." Leo smirked. Insulting his siblings was something he'd missed. Clearly, he needed to spend more time with them.