They were in the front parlor of 11 Crabbett Close, the family home, where most days there were at least one or two members—though they lived elsewhere—in residence, alongside the younger members who had yet to leave. Today,Leo, Bram, Alex, and Mungo were discussing more investment opportunities for the money they’d inherited after finding the Pavlov fortune months ago. Mungo was involved in every facet of this family, no matter how much he’d told them he didn’t want to be.
“You’re family and will be treated like one, for all you feel the need to serve us,”Bram had said to him once many years ago, and that had been that.
Mungo chose to work in the household and drive the family around in their carriage, as he’d never been one for idleness. But he never doubted these people considered him as one of them.
“What aren’t you telling us?” Bram continued. “We are here for you as you are for us. If you’d like to speak to me in private?—”
“I’ve no wish to say anything, here or in another room,” Mungo said in a tone that should stop further questioning, “because there is naught to say. Now back to the discussion at hand. I think we need to fund another veterans’ home.”
“Agree about the veterans’ home, and bollocks to you having nothing to say,” Bram snapped back at him. Unlike others, he was never one to take a step back from Mungo when he was in a foul mood. “Everyone is avoiding you, Mungo. Even Mrs. Douglas asked me what’s amiss, as you were crankier than a wet hen when she saw you on Monday.”
The two friends then glared at each other.
“If I wanted ye tae ken, I’d hae told ye already.”
“And yet, you’ve your nose in all our business,” Bram snapped back.
It took a lot to rile Bramstone Nightingale, but Mungo had always excelled at it.
He wasn’t someone who felt comfortable talking about himself or sharing his problems. In fact, just the thought of it made his back itch.
He’d tried that a few times in his youth, but his family had made it clear that wasn’t something they did. You dealt with your problems yourself unless it was dire.
“So there is something to discuss?” Leo insisted.
“Leave it.” Mungo’s words came out as a low growl.
“That’s not how our family works,” Bram said with a patience his eyes told Mungo he was far from feeling.
This man probably knew more about him than anyone, but not everything. Mungo had a vault inside him that held things no one else would know. Things that had shaped the man he was today, which was possibly why a wife and children would never be in his future. He was a selfish bastard in many ways, though he’d die for the people in this room. Not that he’d ever tell them that.
“You’ll get nae word oot o’ him— tight as a whelk, that one.”
Alex’s attempt at a Scottish accent was so bad, Mungo would have snorted, but he didn’t have one in him.
“That was terrible, nephew,” Bram said. “You need more practice.”
“He’ll not be bastardizing my native tongue anymore,” Mungo muttered. “And you two are bloody adults and have wives. Some of you even have children. Go away and annoy them,”he added.
“When we leave here, we can be adults,” Leo said. “But when you walk into your family home, that’s when you can be relaxed and comfortable. You can always be yourself. That’s important for us, Mungo. You remember the people we once were, after all, and the life we lived.”
A heavy silence settled around the room, and he knew they were remembering the life they’d been forced to live after their father’s perfidy. Mungo silently cursed himself for being the one to remind them.
“Fine,” he snapped after the silence became too much for him.
“Fine?” Bram raised a dark brow.
“You’ll not make more of what I tell you than need be.”
“Oh, we will,” Alex said.
“My niece came to London. I’ve been meeting with her for the months she was here,” Mungo said quickly, like the words tasted foul.
The silence that followed was thick with unspoken questions. He looked first at Bram and saw the disappointment and hurt there.I should have told him.
“Why didn’t you invite her to see us?” Leo asked. “We are your family, Mungo.”
“I don’t bring my past here.”
