Page 98 of Hearts of Locke Hill

“Ah, but you see, Cyril insisted that he never, as a male, get in the way of your musical progress again. I could not convince him otherwise.”

Violet stuttered, her thoughts whirling. “But—But Mr. Worthing. He told me all kinds of horrid reasons Cyril had quit. He said I’d been too aggressive and Cyril couldn’t take the humiliation of being bested by a girl.”

Mama frowned. “You did not tell me this.”

Violet shook her head. “I was too mortified. I was stricken. And furious. And you seemed to take Cyril’s quitting in stride.” She dropped inelegantly onto the nearest chair. “But of course our competition wouldn’t have bothered Cyril.”

“No,” Mama said quietly. “It wouldn’t have.” She sighed.“Not all things are as they appear. Youaremore like Cyril than you believe.”

“No,” Violet said. “I’m nothing at all like him.”

“Oh? And what would you have done if your places had been reversed? Allowed Cyril to be shaded?”

Violet knew she wouldn’t have. Not then. “I would’ve been louder about it.”

“Inarguably.” Mama lifted Violet’s chin with a gentle finger and held her gaze a moment, soft and penetrating at the same time. “Are you certain this is what you want?”

Violet nodded. Of the choices before her, this was the correct one.

Mama gave her a slow smile. “You are so precious to us, darling.”

Violet’s brow rose, fighting emotion. “Us? Even Father?”

Mama nodded. “Not all things are as they appear.”

Violet blew out a shaky breath. “Well. Isn’t that a sad thing?”

Mama’s thumb caressed Violet’s cheek. “One of the saddest,” she whispered. Then she lifted her skirt and strode from the room.

Chapter 24

Days passed. Cyril sat with his mother, watching his father’s chest lift with shallow rises and falls. He blinked fatigue away from his eyes and sat up, giving them a rub. He checked his watch by the lamplight.

Three in the morning. He’d spent his hours between intense focus on his father’s wavering condition, seeing to his family’s needs, concern for the future, and replaying those moments, those words in the tower with Violet. The memory of their kiss, and the passion in it, crept up on him unexpectedly and repeatedly. It was infuriating, as he’d find himself flushed and under scrutiny by a sibling or two. He’d no sooner banish Violet from his thoughts than she’d come sneaking up on him, as if concern for his father weren’t enough to fill his mind and heart with anxiety.

Her words when he’d asked her what she wanted haunted him, bold and unrepentant.

I’m not sure I’d be allowed to voice it if I did.

He knew that prison. Had felt it to his core the moment he’d first pressed his hand to his pounding heart after a girl with honey hair and freckles had said something nonsensical and likely inappropriate. Had bested him at darts when she’d touched a feather to his ear and his aim had gone wide. When he’d painstakingly torn up a letter he’d poured his heart into as he’d ridden thetrain to university, after leaving her there in that meadow. Their meadow.

A touch at his shoulder brought him out of his tangled memories. He found Ruby at his arm, sitting in the other chair on his side of the bed. Several had been brought around so they could have turns being near the man they all adored so well.

Ruby leaned into him and spoke softly. “How are you holding up, brother?” She pulled her shawl more tightly around her.

“Are you cold?” he asked, ignoring her question. He took his own discarded coat from the back of his chair and settled it over her shawl.

Her gaze was already drawn to their parents. Mama had fallen asleep, her head on a small pillow, her hand over her husband’s. “Do you think we shall find love like that?” Ruby asked.

The question settled deep in his core. He frowned in thought. “As a boy, I was certain of it. Like the sun rising.”

She turned to him. “Truly?” she asked quietly. “Until two or three years ago, I’d have shuddered at the notion of giving my heart to aboy.”

“I believe the blame for that lies with each and every one of your siblings.”

She smiled at him and nudged his shoulder. Her smile, though, was fleeting. “You were certain then, but what about now?”

“I amcertain, my dear sister, that you shall find a love to rival theirs.” He nodded to their example of holy matrimony.