by Beth Byers
Violet was certain both of those things were untrue, but she could see that all she was doing was distancing herself from her little sister.
“Isolde, I will say this but once and leave you be…” Vi waited until Isolde’s gaze turned to hers. “We were never close, but we can be. Victor and I are here for you. Any time, any day. Come to me, and I will help you.”
Isolde swallowed and nodded rapidly.
“Before you are married or after, I promise. There are many, many paths before you. All of them can lead to happiness if you’re brave enough to follow your heart and trust in your strength.”
Isolde nodded again and looked back out the window. Vi took her sister home, consigning her stepmother to all the circles of hell and then returned home to Victor with less hope than she’d had before.
* * * * *
Violet dropped her bags in the entrance hall with Hargreaves, leaving him with her coat and hat, then fluffed her hair on the way to the dining room. Jack and Victor were sitting at the table. There was a simple tray of sandwiches, what looked like a carafe of coffee and another of lemonade.
They both stood as she entered and she announced, “All is lost.”
“Lost, is it?”
Violet jumped and realized that her oldest brother had followed her into the dining room.
“Gerald!” Violet said with a gasp. “You startled whatever wits I have to the winds.”
He grinned at her and kissed her cheek before pulling out a chair. In his mid-thirties, their brother was a good ten years older than the twins. He managed the earl’s estates while spending a good amount of time in London. Like the twins, he had avoided being married thus far, but unlike the twins, Lady Eleanor had never harassed him about his state.
“All is lost?” Victor asked, pouring Violet a glass of lemonade. “How could it be, dear one? We’ve yet to enact our plan.”
“I went rogue,” she admitted. “I rang up Isolde and invited her shopping for her birthday. I think that might be the first time I’ve truly been around Isolde unaccompanied. I…forgive the dramatics, but Isolde is convinced that she has nothing to offer. She is convinced that despite the age difference and the lack of love, Danvers is the best she can attain.”
“The devil you say.” Victor swore and cleared his throat. “It’s Lady Eleanor.”
“Oh certainly,” Gerald said. “I’m delighted you two are trying to stick your oar in, but I don’t see it being successful. I’ve tried to convince Isolde otherwise several times yet. She’s…intransigent.”
“Lady Eleanor has been very clearly tearing Isolde to pieces in order get her to believe this nonsense.”
“It’s worse than that, Violet.” Jack cleared his throat and pulled out a small black notebook. “I sent my man over to the club this morning. The woman Mr. Danvers was with was Helen Mathers.”
“Mathers?” Gerald frowned and seated himself back at his plate. “Not Harry Mathers’ daughter? The flighty little blonde one?”
“Just so,” Jack stated. “It seems that there was talk for quite a while about them marrying.”
“Father can’t possibly know that,” Victor said.
“I have told Father time and again that this man is a snake in the grass,” Gerald stated. “The problem is that Eleanor’s brother says otherwise. Father thinks I’m startling at hares.”
Victor moaned. “I stopped by Fredericks again today. I had to sign a few more things about the house and while I was there, I asked about Danvers too. If he’d found out anything. It seems that no one who knows their business will deal with him.”
“So he isn’t even rich?”
“Fredericks feels certain that much of his stated wealth is unlikely. He thought I was considering joining one of Danvers’ investment schemes despite your objections. He felt that I might be sidestepping you, so Mr. Fredericks did, in fact…” Victor paused to scowl at Violet, “state I should follow your good advice.” Violet laughed at Victor, and he winked at her a moment later. “I was forced to assure Fredericks that I had every intention of letting you be in charge of all the details of my life.”
Gerald laughed uproariously at Victor’s scowl, but Jack leaned back eyeing Violet with interest.
“I am letting Fredericks have his head. It’s why he wants you to follow my advice. That is beside the point as far as Isolde is concerned.” Violet tapped her cheek as she considered their options. “I’m concerned that there is little we can do.”
“We will be left with the option to support her once she finally leaves him,” Victor said. “I’m sure Lady Eleanor will try to stick her oar in when that day arrives as well.”
“She chose far better for herself than for her daughter,” Violet said. She rose to pace the dining room, ignoring the sandwiches while the gentlemen watched her.
“You have rather the best chance with her,” Gerald told Violet. “She always has looked up to you, you know?”
Violet shook her head and admitted, “I didn’t know.”
“Our stepmother used to compare Isolde to the ladies around Kennington House since they spent so much time there. But then Isolde would chatter on about you. How lovely you were. Your style. The way you did well in school and out-performed even Victor. Peter and Lionel told Isolde before they went off to war to pay attention to you. That you would look after her when they could not.”
Violet had to bite her lip to hold back her tears. She hadn’t expected her dead brothers to have said any such things. To refer to her as anything other than a silly school girl. Hearing such things made their loss all the more real. Victor cleared his throat, as touched by the sentiment as Violet.
“Yes,” Violet said with a watery choking sound to her voice. “Well. Now I feel all the more that there must be some way to help Isolde. The poor thing.”
Violet listened as Jack recapped what he’d learned. The three men made a list of things to do about Danvers. As they did, Violet considered a course of action that was completely inappropriate. But when Jack and Gerald left, Jack confirming their next date, she escaped to her room. It would be better if no one knew what she was up to.
Violet wrote an anonymous letter to Harry Mathers and Helen Mathers. She then followed those letters up by a letter to Fredericks to do what he could to pull apart the house of cards. She authorized him to spend some of her money without bankrupting her and she told him to prod Danvers major investors.
She felt sick when she done writing the series of instructions and letters, but she would do what was necessary to protect her sister. The biggest problem, she realized as she journaled that evening, wasn’t even her actions of the day and the things she’d done but the fact that she’d allowed her relationship with Isolde to be determined by Vi’s stepmother.
What if she’d simply been a better sister? She was disappointed in herself to an extent that was difficult for her to formulate.
Repentance, Vi thought. Repentance and doing far, far better. She didn’t just owe it to herself or to Isolde. Vi owed it to the brothers who’d trusted her more than she’d realized. With a heavy heart, she turned to her story and things continued to worsen for the poor ingénue.
Chapter 8
“How can it be the day of the wedding?” Violet demanded. “How can we have failed?”
“I don’t know,” Victor admitted. “Divorce. Annulment. Something will give eventually, and we’ll be at the ready.”
“I feel like I have been begging Isolde and begging her and nothing gives. Did you know she was this stubborn?”
“I’m not surprised,” Victor told her as he handed her out of the Silver Ghost, leaving Giles with their bags. They’d stay at Kennington House that night since the wedding festivities would go deep into the evening. “You are stubborn and she aspires to be just like you.”
Violet scowled at her brother. “I feel as though it’s all my fault. She seems to look up to me, but why? I am such a failure.”
Victor kissed the side of her head and held out
his arm. They had done everything they could save kidnapping Isolde and escaping to Greece or America and now Violet felt as though they certainly needed to do just that. She’d have considered trying it if she thought she could get Isolde away from her mother. But Lady Eleanor seemed to be aware of just how close Violet had come to succeeding time and again.
There was a small church on the property. The wedding would be performed there with those who could be squeezed in. Afterwards there would be a wedding dinner and reception. They expected the festivities to go well into the evening.
“Stop me from diving too far into my cups,” Violet begged.
Victor said, “I thought that you should be the steward of my not getting sloppy drunk instead.”
“Perhaps we should just have a little party at the house tomorrow with Lila and Denny and Gwennie and…” She cut off at Jack’s name before she softly added, “Jack and allow ourselves the freedom to drown in those cups.”
Victor squeezed her arm and they turned to face Harry Mathers. Violet could hardly believe that he was attending, let alone bringing his daughter. Did he realize the nature of her relationship with his business partner? Violet’s letter to him had referred only to the concerns Fredericks had about the investment scheme. Helen’s face was pale, her eyes shadowed, and Violet kissed both of her cheeks before she smiled charmingly and stated, “You look just lovely. That shade of pink brings out the creaminess of your skin.”
“Oh.” Helen licked her trembling lips. “Thank you.”
“Do let me introduce you to my friend, John Lexington,” Violet told her. “I think you’ll find he’s quite appealing. I’ll find him and introduce you at the party”
They exchanged pleasantries after the introductions. .
“You hate John Lexington,” Victor accused.
“He’s boring but a good man. Helen needs someone who would cherish her after that idiot Danvers.”
The twins made their way through the crowd, and Violet kept her gaze peeled for their sister. She hadn’t yet made an appearance and must be decided wait until the end of the aisle. There was no question she’d look like an angel.
“I…think I’ll just check on Isolde. Last words of love and all that,” Violet murmured. Victor grabbed her arm and shook his head as they rounded the corner of the house.
They halted suddenly. Markus Kennington and Mr. Gulliver had Danvers cornered against the side of the house and the furious whispering between them was so clearly enraged that Violet wasn’t quite sure what to do.
“Victor?” She questioned quietly, then stumbled back when Markus Kennington shoved Danvers against the side of the house.
Victor demanded, “What’s all this then?”
“You should have let Markus have at Danvers,” Violet whispered. “Maybe if he gets the tar beat out of him, he won’t be able to marry Isolde.”
“Too late, love. And not in front of you.” Victor stepped forward, telling Violet to stay and was rounded on, not by Markus Kennington, but by Danvers.
“Go Violet,” Victor urged. Reluctant to leave her brother, still she hurried away. Once inside the house, she had to bully her way past the butler and had no doubt that he’d been set to turn her away. He tried politely, but she plowed right through, leaving him with the choice of bodily removing her or stepping aside.
The stairs up to the room that had been set aside for the bride were deserted and outside the door a maid stood with a panicked expression on her face. She held a tray and Violet took it from her, ignoring the sounds of shouting that were coming from inside of the room.
Warmed by the sound of an enraged stepmother, Violet did not knock, she simply swung the door open after shooing the maid away.
Lady Eleanor spun with fire in her gaze and when she saw Violet, she shrieked, “You! This is all your fault!”
Violet calmly set the tray down and faced the weeping Isolde.
“I cannot do it, Mama,” Isolde begged. “I cannot.”
“You think I’ll allow you to throw away all I’ve crafted for you? All of my hard work? For what? An idiotic fairytale? Isolde, absolutely not.”
Violet had to bite her lip to keep from standing up for Isolde. It was far past time that Isolde spoke for herself.
“I won’t marry him,” Isolde said.
“You will!”
“You cannot make me say the words,” Isolde said flatly. “This isn’t medieval times, Mama. No, I won’t.”
Lady Eleanor huffed. She was breathing so heavily, Violet thought her stepmother might faint.
“Then what will you do? If you think your father and I will support you in the madness, in this…travesty, you are wrong!”
“Vi said she’d pay for my school. I will go to school. Perhaps I shall work.” Isolde said. Her voice was quiet, but there was no give in it. Violet wanted to cheer.
Lady Eleanor’s gaze narrowed and she turned to Violet. Before she could speak, Isolde turned her mother back to face her.
“Enough, Mama. I told you I won’t do it, and I won’t. You can tell Papa or I shall, but this will not happen.”
“If you think that I will make your bed for you, you are very wrong.” Lady Eleanor spun on Violet. “I hope you’re prepared to support your sister for the entirety of her life because you can be assured that your father and I will not.”
Violet cleared her throat and said evenly, “I am assured that Father would do just that. However, Victor and I would welcome Isolde after she is done with school.”
“And you! I have heard of your shenanigans.”
“Excuse me?” Violet asked silkily.
“You are still seeing a…a…detective. Do you think your father will allow that?”
“After allowing Danvers? I think so.” Violet still hadn’t explained just who Jack Wakefield was or why he was so very eligible, and she did not intend on making those explanations.
Violet rang the bell. “I’ll send for Papa, shall? Try to put on a trifle more cheerful air, darling. I assure you that Father will support you going to school. He certainly did for me. It’s expected these days, you know. Only the most archaic of parents want to see their children married off before they’ve even caught their breath from the schoolroom.”
The next moment Lady Eleanor slammed the door on her way out, and Isolde burst into tears.
“Hallelujah, my sister!” Violet said. “I am so proud!”
Isolde tears turned to laughter. “I…”
“Don’t worry darling. You were living in a world of horror, avoiding specters that only exist in Lady Eleanor’s fantasy.”
The maid arrived and was sent after the earl while Violet helped Isolde take off the wedding gear. Vi tossed Isolde’s dress on the bed and proceeded to pack her trunk. A thought occurred to her and she rang the bell again sending another maid after Victor and a glass of scotch.
“What have I done?” Isolde moaned while Violet packed Isolde’s trunks for her.
“Just what you should have. I promise you, your mother will come around and the rest of us have been waiting for this moment. How brave you are to end it before you marry the fellow and have to go through the scandal of divorce. I assure you, you would have.”
Violet considered again and sent a third maid after Lila and Gwennie. Her sister needed cheering and Lila, combined enough alcohol, would get Isolde happy. Victor would ensure the trunks made their way to the Silver Ghost, and Violet would write a letter to Jack. They’d sweep Isolde to…anywhere else. He would understand, wouldn’t he?
Violet winced inside as she realized just how painful it would be to leave Jack. She might have been trying to keep her mind from leaping ahead, but she’d been failing. The idea of a relationship with him had burrowed into her heart.
Before Violet was half-done packing for Isolde, there was a knock on her door and Gwennie and Lila swept in. Lila took in the sight of Isolde in a regular dress, weeping into her scotch while Violet packed her bags and said, “Praise be. What do we need?”
<
br /> “Victor is going to need help with these trunks if we want to escape before most everyone realizes what is afoot. Perhaps Denny?”
“I left him smoking with John Davies.”
“Lovely, John will surely be on our side. Gwennie, would you?”
Gwen nodded and hurried out the bedroom door while Lila knelt in front of Isolde and told her all the reasons she was making the right decision.
Victor arrived next, saw what was happening in a glance, and said, “Brava, Isolde! Has anyone told Father yet?”
Violet shook her head. She was fighting her need for precision with the need to move quickly.
Lila understood when she caught Violet carefully folding a dress. “Darling,” Lila said, taking the dress from Violet. “You can afford a maid to press this dress now.” To Victor, Lila said, “I’ll help Vi and we’ll keep a hand on Isolde’s bravery. We need these bags to the car and the car capable of leaving quickly.”
“I’ll get the car outside of the house,” Victor said. “I’m proud of you, Isolde.”
“I should have done it sooner,” she said with tears. “Even last night would have been better. How did I get here?”
“We’re all weak in the face of our elders,” Gwennie told her. “This will be an exciting tale when you’re at college.”
“Better now, darling, than after,” Victor agreed, squeezing Isolde’s shoulder. “There is always worse timing. There is no question that Danvers is an out and out bounder. We have been trying to find proof since we realized who he was to pull apart his lies, but we simply didn’t have the time.”
“Get to it, Victor,” Violet said, pushing him gently towards the door. “I don’t trust Lady Eleanor or Danvers enough to not feel as though this isn’t a race.”
“On it, dear one,” he said.
Chapter 9
A good half hour had passed since Victor left and still no Father. Violet finally pulled Lila to the door and said, “I will find Father myself. You get her to the car the moment Victor returns. I’ll meet you there.”
