“And how is your head, Gray?” Alex asked solicitously. The wicked look in his eyes, however, was another story.
“Head?” Ramsey asked.
“This is a murder investigation. I cannot have all this interference,” Gray said. “You need to leave.”
“What is wrong with his head?” Ramsey asked Alex.
“If you tell him, I will arrest you on trumped-up charges that will be believed because I never do such things,” Gray growled as he glared at Alex.
“We live not far from here. Our street is odd, and we have events. Your cousin participated in one. It did not go well for him, as it never does for a first timer,” Alex said, ignoring the threat of arrest. “He over imbibed, shall we say.” Alex then mimicked a gesture with his hand of someone falling over.
“I’m respected at Scotland Yard. Even feared,” Gray said wistfully.
“Right. Someone do a brief overview of what’s happening with the case of George Nicholson’s murder and why you’re here,” Alex said.
“I will tell you later,” Ellen said quickly. She had no wish for Alex to know about her confrontation with the Baddon Boys.
“No indeed, I’m happy to explain all the details about what you did today to your brother, Ellen,” Gray said, reading her mind.
“What did you do this time?”
“I did nothing.” She glared at Gray.
And so, the story was told. Alex was furious and vowed to tell Leo. Gray looked smug and had her wanting to smack the expression from his handsome face.
“Come, you are going home and can tell the others what you have done. They will not be pleased.”
Gray frowned at Alex’s harsh tone. “There is no need, she was—”
“I’ll sort this, Gray, say no more, and I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with Ellen. Good day to you both.”
Alex took her arm and led Ellen from the room.
“You will spend the day in your room thinking about what you’ve done, sister!”
She looked at her brother, and he crossed his eyes.
“Alex, I won’t have you yelling at her!” Gray called.
“Don’t give her another thought, Gray,” Alex called back. “I’ll lock her in her room. She’ll only be allowed broth!” He then opened the door and towed her outside.
“Right. That will appease him. Now what do you want from Appleblossoms?”
Ellen giggled.
“I wish you had not confronted that thug, Ellen, but after coming face to face with Lady Mary and Gray’s snobbish elder brother, I think you deserve a treat.”
“Can I have an apricotine? Ramsey had one, and it smelled divine.”
“Do you know I don’t think I’ve tried one of those, but it’s time to rectify that.”
Brothers could cause many emotions inside Ellen. But love was the strongest of all.
CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
“Miss Nightingale is lovely, Gray. I’m going to call on her,” Ramsey said as they rode through London on a cool morning.
The surge of rage was swift, but he tamped it down. His cousin had always known how to annoy him and had clearly overheard some of his conversation about kissing with Ellen in the Nicholson book shop.
