“Is this completely necessary?” Monty demanded, and they ignored him. After they reached the tavern, he was escorted inside.
The interior was dark, and he hoped the food was good, as there was little to no ambience. Monty was nudged into a booth beside Zach and Mary, who had yet to speak to him. Forrest sat beside him. Opposite were the other Deville brothers.
“Hello, Hetty,” Zach said with a smile that had once lured many a young lady to his side. His wife would castrate him were he to try that now.
“Well now, look at all these fine men in my tavern.” She smiled, and Monty noticed one of her front teeth was missing. “And you’ve brought a friend.”
“Yes, this is Mr. Cyril Plumbottom. He is visiting from the country,” Zach added.
Everyone kept a straight face, and Monty thought he was going to kill Zach when they got out of here.
“We want ale and pies please, Hetty,” the youngest Deville added. “A variety for us. We don’t mind what.”
“I mind what. I want peas and kidney,” Michael said.
“I’ll bring you food and drink shortly.” Hetty winked at Zach before leaving.
“She responds to the most handsome among us, which just happens to be me,” Zach said. Mary rolled her eyes.
“Now, I think we need to explain a few things to you, Cyril,” Gabe said.
“Very amusing, and I’m sorry,” he said quickly.
Mary punched Monty hard in the arm.
“Ouch! What was that for?”
“You have been avoiding us. You send that letter stating you’d inform us on what transpires tomorrow. We woke up to that, and then when we call at your town house, you will not speak to us!”
“He can hear you, my sweet, as he’s only a matter of inches from you. No need to shriek,” Zach said, placing a kiss on his wife’s cheek.
“I am not one to share my every move with others,” Monty defended himself.
“We are not others,” Mary hissed. “We are your friends. You and I—”
“I’m sorry,” Monty said again, quickly. “I…” How did he tell them why? That he’d made love to Iris, and it had unsettled him. That, and all the other things relating to his parents’ deaths. He was falling apart, and he couldn’t put himself back together, as the pieces no longer seemed to fit.
“I have dealt with everything since the age of thirteen alone. I don’t have strong emotions in my life and have avoided them.”
“You should live my life for a day or two. That would cure you of an aversion to strong emotions,” Nathan said.
“I visited Iris to see if she was all right—”
“You saw her?” Monty cut Mary off. “Is she all right?”
“Zach and I did. You would not speak with us, and we wanted to make sure she and Henry were well. We of course did not mention why we were visiting. She was as you are. Cool and closed off from us. She would also not mention your name.”
Monty wanted to rub the stab of pain in his chest Mary’s words made him feel.
“Who did she meet at the White Swan?” Zach asked. “As clearly you went and got her home safely.”
“Two men were in the room. One was a hired thug, and the other from our world if I had to guess. I could not see his face. The man questioning her wanted Iris to give them access to her husband’s papers and, more specifically, some bound in a black ribbon. The ones she gave me. He knew of some secret drawer in Challoner’s desk. She threw them off by stating Renton had gone through everything, and they should ask him.”
“Very smart thing to say,” Zach said.
“Very. The man threatened her son and left, saying he wanted those papers, and she did not have long to get them to him. We talked about handing them over, but even then, I’m not sure that will help. I think they will see Iris as a loose end.”
“I agree,” Gabe said. “We need to find who these Brothers of Faith are. This is the connection. The symbols all align, and your parents, and the other deaths too.”
