“Where have you looked, Calder?
“Mungo?” Bram appeared in the doorway.
“Bramstone Nightingale, my brother, Calder,” Mungo said—naming the one bound to him by blood, and the other by everything that truly mattered.
“Bring him inside the house, then, Mungo,” Bram said, not an ounce of the shock he was no doubt feeling showing on his face.
“My niece is missing, Bram. We need to find her.”
“The niece you told us you’d visited with?”
“Aye.”
“Please come inside, Calder. I have waited a long time to meet a member of Mungo’s family,” Bram said. “We can discuss what is to be done.”
“We need to find her. That is what needs to be done!” Mungo growled. Fenella, his sweet niece who had sought him out and then slid into his heart, wasmissing.
“And we will,” Bram assured him.
His brother entered.Brother.
“Have you just arrived in London, Calder?” Bram asked.
“Aye, this morning.”
“So, you’re exhausted. Come, you are with friends now who will help you. But you need some food to replenish your strength.”
Bram took Calder’s arm and urged him inside as Ivy arrived.
“Hello,” she said, smiling.
Any visitor was treated the same in this house. Wealthy or poor, they received a smile, and tea.
“Ivy, my love, can you ask Bud to prepare tea for Mungo’s brother, Calder?” he said.
“Mungo’s brother? How wonderful!” Ivy clapped her hands in excitement.
Theo and Charles appeared next.
“What is going on?” Charles asked.
“Collect Flora and Ram at once, Charles. I think you’ll find some of the other family members outside, too, as they went for a walk. Theo, you retrieve paper and a quill and then collect your sisters. I’ll write a note to Gray and direct him to come here as soon as he can. Mungo’s brother, Calder, is here because his daughter is missing.”
“Oh no,” Ivy whispered. “The daughter you met, Mungo?”
He nodded, words failing him as thoughts of what Fenella could be going through filled his head. Mungo had seen the dark side of life many times, and he never wanted that for anyone he loved, but especially not the sweet, young, innocent Fenella.
“Good lord, are you really his brother?” Theo said. “I will be most interested to hear how he was as a child once we have your daughter back safe with us, sir.”
“Go, Theo!” Mungo thundered, and the young man turned and ran up the stairs.
“It is wonderful to meet you, sir,” Ivy said, moving closer to Calder. “I am just saddened it is under such circumstances. I’ll add that your brother is one of the most wonderful men I know.” She squeezed Calder’s hand before moving to where Mungo stood, stopping to kiss his cheek. “We will find her, my friend. This time we shall be there for you.”
He watched Ivy walk away, a lump of emotion nearly choking him. Mungo stomped it down.
“Is Mother well?” Mungo asked his brother.
“She is, as is everyone else,” Calder said. His voice was different now. Deeper.
