“Reynaud? What is this?”
“You do not think I contrived to blacken my own eye, do you madame?” Arthur asked, then took his leave as the siblings glared at each other. Her heard their voices rise in argument when he was in the foyer, but he did not care. He claimed his hat and gloves, his walking stick, then nodded a farewell to Stevens. The butler’s expression was as impassive as ever, but there was a glint in his eyes that hinted at understanding.
Arthur smiled at the conviction that Stevens was likely the only one who had not been surprised by the revelation.
“I would speak to Miss Beckham before I leave,” he said and the butler inclined his head. Arthur hurried up the stairs to Amelia’s chamber on the third floor. Adjacent to her room was the nursery where she took her lessons. He tapped on the door and entered, finding her at work. The governess excused herself, a hint that all in the household knew at least part of what happened this morning.
“Is it true?” Amelia demanded, casting herself into his embrace. “Are you leaving?”
“I am, but I will send word to you of my circumstance.” He kissed the top of her head. “I could not abandon my only sister.”
“But they said…”
He lifted her chin with a fingertip. “And I say that you are my sister in deed if not in blood and that you always will be.”
She hugged him tightly in her relief, then studied him. “You look awful.”
“I thank you for that.”
“Does it hurt?”
“Less than it should for such a spectacular display.”
“I want to see it when it turns yellow and green.”
Arthur shook his head, then his gaze fell upon a book Amelia had been reading. He was certain it was the third volume of the novel that Patience had been reading, the one that he had borrowed and read himself. “Does that book belong to Patience?” he asked and Amelia nodded agreement.
“I had the first volume from Carruthers & Carruthers, then she loaned me the second one from her own collection on Saturday. I had to finish the story, though she was out yesterday, so I went into her room to exchange the second volume for the third one.”
Arthur looked down at her as he had a sudden notion. “Did you take anything else?”
Amelia smiled. “The lark sings at dawn,” she said quietly.
“The crow calls at sunset,” he replied in an undertone, looking around the nursery with apparent suspicion.
“The sparrow chirps at noon,” Amelia confided.
“And the owl hoots at midnight,” he concluded and she swatted him.
“You would make a terrible spy,” she said. “For you do not know the first thing about hiding anything of import.”
“You took it,” Arthur whispered, optimism rising hot within him.
“Of course, I took it! Even I know that anyone could find it there, and Patience would never have a book without a legible title on the spine.” She went into her chamber and lifted a doll from her cradle. He watched as she opened the end of the doll’s bedding, and removed a fistful of banknotes. “Anyone might expect you to have hidden funds, and thus they might believe Patience had some. In contrast, everyone knows that I have no money at all.” She smiled and handed the clutch of banknotes to him. “I checked your tally, but your sums are always right.”
“Amelia!” Arthur caught her up and swung her around, kissing her cheeks in turn. “You are an angel.”
“Not often,” she ceded with a frown. “Notliterally.”
“But I am beholden to you all the same. Thank you!” He kissed her again, then secured the funds in the inner pocket of his jacket. Patience would be able to publish her book after all. He was unaccountably relieved that he would be able to keep his pledge to her, and he would do it, regardless of her choice for their future.
“I cannot see them at all,” Amelia said, then indicated his empty buttonhole. “My brother would not consider himself to be properly dressed thus.”
Arthur grinned. “I will remedy the situation before the greater world can take note of my error.”
“You will write me?” she entreated and he hugged her again.
“Before tomorrow. I promise.”
