“We warned him to play least in sight,” Charlie said. “I hope he does.”
“He will.” Mr. Layton straightened his sleeves. “I wrote him a letter when he was harassing your soon-to-be sister-in-law Clara a few years ago, warning him that his behavior toward the ladies of thetonwas being whispered to their husbands and fathers and brothers. He rushed to Town but was unable to salvage his standing. It seems instead of choosing to mend his ways, he has decided to continue his harassments here.”
“But you think he’ll stop now?”
“The Gents discovered something about his family years ago that we’ve kept in our pockets in case using it became necessary.” Mr. Layton stood, suddenly looking entirely intimidating.
“What are you going to do?” Charlie asked.
“He has been hurting your father’s daughters. I am going todestroyhim.” On that pronouncement, Mr. Layton left the room.
Has been hurting your father’s daughters.
For so long, Charlie had felt like his father had abandoned them, that he hadn’t been there when they’d needed him, like he’d promised to be. But he had been.
He had been there through the Gents’ quiet efforts on his behalf.
He had been there through those he had adopted into this family.
He had been there through Mater’s unwavering love and support.
And he was there, living on in each of the Jonquil brothers.
He was there.
And he always would be.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Watching the Jonquil brothers withtheir children and nieces and nephews, Artemis saw the undeniable reflection of her Papa in each of them. She missed him and mourned him—she felt certain she always would—but there was a bit of comfort in realizing she was now connected to him and, in a very real way, surrounded by him.
This was the last night all of the Jonquil siblings and honorary siblings would be at Lampton Park. The first wave of the exodus had begun a couple days earlier with the departure of all the Gents, except for Mr. Layton. They, in fact, had been gone by the timehersiblings had descended on the estate. Mr. Layton would be leaving in the morning, along with Stanley’s, Jason’s, and Corbin’s families. The Lancasters would be leaving in the morning as well, each to their own homes, but with a promise to gather again soon.
Charlie and Artemis could not delay their departure forever. How Artemis prayed she was not mistaken, that Brier Hill would not return to the place of struggle it had been in those early weeks. She sat on a sofa in the drawing room with her hand in Charlie’s. A tenderness had grown between them in this house so filled with love.
“I propose,” Philip said, rising as if about to make a royal decree, “we spend our final evening engaged in a game of questions and commands.”
His suggestion was readily accepted by all. For her part, Artemis grew a little nervous. They had played this game once before, and it had not been a pleasant experience for her.
“Please promise me this will go well,” Artemis whispered to Charlie.
“Trust me, dear.” He’d asked that of her earlier that day when she and Rose had been offered the opportunity to live an impossible dream. Her faith in him had not been misplaced then, and she would allow herself to believe that it was not misplaced now.
A hat was procured and names written on slips of parchment.
“What is the forfeit?” Sorrel asked.
“Same as our last game,” Layton said, “but with a slight change. Any couples called up together still have the option of a kiss. But for everyone else, rather than offering something kind to say about the one we are partnered with, we will, instead, offer a memory of any person in the room.”
Everyone agreed, and the game began.
Layton’s name was drawn first, with Harold chosen to offer either a question or a command.
“What is a favorite game you played with Father?” Harold asked.
“He and I enjoyed playing battledore and shuttlecock. We once were able to achieve a twelve-turn volley. He was so excited. I remember him telling everyone in the house. ‘A full dozen! A full dozen!’ He was more excited even than I was.”
Mater laughed quietly. “Lucas loved games.”
