After finishing her conversation with Charles, Avaline went out into the garden. The warm air reminded her that summer was near. Shielding her face with a hand, Avaline started down the crooked path. She found her siblings in the garden wearing old clothes and leather gloves.
Anna and Brian giggled as they ripped up the tall weeds, sending soil everywhere. Avaline gave them a wide berth and went to find Vivian. The eldest sister murmured darkly as she squatted near the beds. A wide-brimmed hat obscured her face.
"What's gotten into you?" Avaline asked.
Dusting her hands, Vivian stood. "Nothing." Her voice was sharp.
Avaline nibbled her bottom lip. She'd wanted to share what had happened in Charles's office with her, but it didn't seem like it was the right moment. Avaline cast her gaze across the garden. In the daylight, it was a mess of overgrown weeds, grass, and rusted furniture.
Avaline gestured to the plant beds. "This isn't like you. What happened?"
Like Charles, Vivian wasn't one to bemoan their fate. As early as she could remember, Vivian had never complained about their lot in life. After their father's funeral, even less so. It was time to remedy that.
Avaline walked to her sister and grabbed her arm. "Vivi, what's wrong? What happened?"
Vivian let out a long sigh. "Pulling weeds is preferable to pulling hair," she said cryptically. She patted Avaline's arm. "It's nothing for you to worry about."
Brian let out a shriek. Both girls swirled around and saw Anna chasing Brian while holding a wiggling, worn pinched between two fingers. The sisters stared at each other and laughed.
Vivian pulled Avaline closer. "I heard your suitor has returned."
Whether it was the heat of the sun or her embarrassment, Avaline's cheeks flushed red. "A bit too early," she muttered.
Vivian raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell you..."
Avaline shook her head. "I told Charles of my choice. I've yet to have the courage to speak with Lord Ross about it."
Vivian folded her arms. "I hope you know what you're doing."
Avaline turned to her younger, laughing siblings. I do too.
Brian spend toward Avaline and his behind her. His soiled, gloved hands held tightly onto her skirts. Avaline gasped as the dirt smeared across the fabric. They barely had any soap for the laundry this week. Anna rushed forward and stopped at the look on Avaline's face. The worm dropped from her fingers.
Brian jerked away as if burned. "I'm sorry, Ava," he said. "It was an accident."
Avaline shook her head. "N-no, it's not your fault." Her lip trembled. "It's fine."
Vivian touched Avaline's shoulder. "It'll wash out."
Anna dusted her hands off. "When are we going to see Delilah again?" she asked, trying to change the subject.
Taking a deep breath, Avaline said, "She's sick at the moment. I'll tell you when she gets better."
With a strained smile, Avaline hurried inside. It wasn't her skirts that caused her to make haste. It was Vivian's suspicious look. After all, how would Avaline know about Delilah's illness if there hadn't been any letters for her?
***
After changing her clothes and spot treating it, Avaline spent most of her afternoon writing letters: one to invite Lady Yolanda for tea, one to thank Lady Poppy for her time, and the other to Lord Nightingale for sending the money he owed her. It was used to pay Dr. Howard for treating Madam Olivia the other day.
Avaline didn't have to wait long for Lady Yolanda to visit her after receiving her letter. They planned to meet a day later. Sebastian had sent a message through Belle asking for more time, considering Delilah had started to get better, but wasn't well enough yet.
The day Lady Yolanda was to visit, Vivian had gone to work, and Elaine and Marie bathed Madam Olivia Charles had agreed to let Marie return on the condition that she was more careful.
When the Vann siblings arrived after lunch, Lottie brought them to the drawing room, where the twins ran up to Christopher. Pale white curtains were drawn to let in the bright sunlight. The three children gathered at the far table, where they played with a deck of cards. They sat in the shade.
As the children played, Yolanda and Avaline sat on the couch. White plumes of steam curled from the tea Lottie had poured only minutes ago.
"Tell me everything," Yolanda said. She nibbled on the sweet cookies she'd brought.
Sighing, Avaline sipped her tea and recounted the heavily modified version of how she and Lord Nightingale had confessed their feelings. She left many parts out, and it all came down to how they shared feelings, but Lord Ross's reappearance changed everything.
Yolanda smiled into her teacup as Avaline finished. "I don't think there's an issue."
The tension that had stiffened Avaline's shoulders was back. "Have you not been listening?"
"You're overthinking it." Yolanda placed her cup down. "If Lord Nightingale is committed to being with you, have him formally meet Charles."
Avaline plucked a cookie from the plate. The sweetness burst in her mouth, momentarily making her forget her troubles.
"His sister," Avaline began.
"Does a young girl truly have a say in who her brother courts?" Yolanda shook her head. "I don't understand why you're having these thoughts."
Avaline leaned back. What if Delilah didn't approve? She didn't want the young blood-born to hate her. Sure, they had gotten along just fine, but that was before the relationship between her and Sebastian had blossomed into something more.
"We still have to court each other in the open," Avaline whispered. "Or all of Blackburry will think this is a fling."
"Yes. That is true." Yolanda rested her head on her fist, her elbow against the couch. "However, regardless of how it's done, between a blood-born and you, won't they still think it's a fling?"
Avaline turned to her friend. "You're right." With a sigh, Avaline sat up. "Now, enough of my troubles. How have you been?"
Yolanda scooted closer. "Let me regale you with tales of how my brother, Dominic, is causing me to grow older by the day."
Avaline listened intently as Yolanda spoke of how the oldest of the Vann siblings had changed the color of the tablecloths five times in the last three days. He hadn't decided on the menu either and refused to let anyone else help. Avaline comforted her with a few lines of wisdom- plan behind his back.
Between tea and sugar, the girls laughed and tasted the afternoon hours away.
***
That evening, Avaline received an invitation from the Sol Church. She sat with her family in the lounge as Charles read the evening paper and Vivian read a book to the children. Elaine sat next to Charles, embroidering a pair of socks with little bees.
After receiving the letter from Jonna, Avaline sat by a candlestick holder and read Sister Tucker's handwriting. She used the official letterhead for the invitation.
' . . . on the basis of forming a committee . . .'
The date was set for six days from now. That would be enough time to invite someone to come with her, but would Lord Nightingale reply? Would Delilah be well enough to be left alone? Lord Nightingale had also helped in developing the plan. It would be rude not to include him.
"That's concerning," Charles muttered.
"What is?" Elaine asked. Her hands stopped moving.
"The number of patrols around Blackburry has increased."
Vivian's voice faded and stopped. Avaline turned to Charles. Even the twins looked at their brother with large eyes. Brian's chin trembled.
"Have there been sightings?" Avaline dared to ask.
The air grew heavy. She gripped Sister Tucker's invitation tighter. What if they had to evacuate? Their extended relative lived in the capital, and the only way to get there was by ship. Madam Olivia wouldn't make it. They couldn't pay any transportation fees either.
"No," Charles said. "It's a precaution." He cleared his throat. "With the increase of military personnel in Blackburry, it was proposed to use them as a way to reassure the people."
"You mean Lord Nightingale's men," Avaline said.
As they stared at her, Avaline's face grew hot.
"It makes sense," she said. "When he retired, men in his company would retire too. While many would return to their covens, some had nowhere to return. Lord Nightingale has been hosting them at his mansion."
Vivian gave her sister a look. "You're awfully knowledgeable."
"He told me," Avaline said in a small voice.
"The conversation just came up?" Vivian asked.
Avaline shrugged. "We talked. That's what people do."
"There you have it," Elaine suddenly said. "It'll make the journey to Sol church safer."
Before Vivian could try to ask Avaline anything more, she excused herself and went upstairs. She had two letters to write. One for Sister Tucker and another for Lord Nightingale. Belle was absent from her room, so Avaline had to send it through regular postage. With any luck, she would see both of them at the meeting.