Avaline gripped Vivian's hand tightly.
"Charles," Vivian said with a smile. "What is this about?"
Charles regarded them with a furrowed brow. "I will not repeat myself."
Vivian shot up to her feet. Avaline held on to her sister's hand, trying to pull her back down. Vivian wouldn't budge.
"Very well," Vivian said, "in that case, tell us, what did Dr. Howard say?"
Avaline frowned. What was Vivian doing?
Their brother remained unfazed. "Answer my question."
"No." Vivian shook Avaline off and stepped closer. "You answer our questions. We aren't going to be passively waiting for you to tell us what's going on."
Avaline stared at the colorful rug below her feet. Her leg bounced up and down. This was the last thing she expected to hear from Vivian.
Charles sighed. "Vivian."
Vivian crossed her arms. "Charles."
"You're changing the subject," Charles said.
Vivian let out a mirthless laugh. Avaline stared wide-eyed at her sister. Vivian pointed to Charles.
"You get to interrogate us on what we do, and yet we can't interrogate you? No, brother. That stops now. If you want answers, you must give them first." Vivian sat back down. "What did Dr. Howard say?"
Charles glanced at Avaline. "And you. Do you feel the same?"
Avaline shivered. She stared at both siblings, her jaw clenched.
"Um, let's calm ourselves first," she began.
Vivian gave her a pointed look. "Are you on his side?"
Anger flared up in Avaline's chest. She rose to her feet.
"Enough, both of you!" she snapped. "I'm not on anyone's side. Bickering isn't going to get us anywhere." Avaline let out a breath. "Now, Charles. You first. What did Dr. Howard say? We have a right to know what's happening to Mother."
Charles pinched the bridge of his nose. "Mother needs treatment. Some facilities treat veterans and those who - "
"We're not sending Mother away for treatment," Vivian interrupted.
Avaline sat down and nudged her sister with her foot. "Vivi. Let him talk."
"The facility is run by the royal family after the prince came back from war," Charles continued. "They're even treating victims affected by war and lost their families. Mother attacked someone last night."
"She didn't mean to," Vivian said. "It was an accident."
"How's Marie?" Avaline asked. "Did she get treatment?"
"She was burned," Charles said. "I gave her time off with pay. Elaine volunteered to look after Mother."
"She might not come back," Avaline muttered.
Vivian crossed her arms. "Marie has been with Mother since she was a girl. She'll come back."
"So, what can we do for Mother?" Avaline asked. "Should I ask someone to come and treat her here?"
"It'll be expensive," Vivian told her. "We can't afford it."
Charles gave her a look. "We can handle that burden."
"Can we?" Vivian shot back.
"Vivian," he said, "The bank hasn't come looking for payments. We've got nothing to worry about."
Avaline frowned. "What about Mr. Williams then? Why was he here?"
Charles stood and paced around the room. Avaline and Vivian shared a glance. Shaking, Avaline stood and walked toward her brother. She placed a hand on his arm.
"Brother, what did he want?"
Without looking at them, Charles said, "The bank is increasing the interest on the loan."
"What?" Vivian shot up to her feet. "How could they do that now?"
Charles sighed. "It's within their right. Our account manager had left the interest rate alone even after we went past the due date for the initial amount. Mr. Williams found out and is going to rectify that."
"That toad," Avaline growled.
"Greedy parasites," Vivian spat out. "After spending our dowries, how are we going to make any further progress-!"
Avaline's eyes widened. Vivian's hand flew to her mouth. Both girls paled. Blood pounded in Avaline's ears. Charles wasn't supposed to know that.
"What?" Charles grabbed Avaline's arm. His fingers dug into the skin. He turned Vivian. "What did you say?"
Vivian's eyes were wide, and her mouth opened and closed.
Avaline wrung her fingers together. "When father died-" her voice shook "-there were so many letters from the bank. They were going to seize the house. So, we, um, we used our dowry money to pay some of the debt and accumulated interests."
Vivian licked her lips. "It was a lot of money. We have to combine our dowries to make enough of a dent in the loan payment so they wouldn't come collecting."
Charles didn't speak.
"We didn't touch the twins' money," Avaline whispered. "It was only ours."
"The nerve!" Charles shouted.
The girls flinched. Charles had never raised his voice before.
"How dare both of you go against my back? Did you think I couldn't take care of this family myself? That I wasn't worthy?"
"No, Charles," Vivian began.
"I don't want to hear it. We're going to the bank-"
Avaline placed a hand on his brother's hand. "And what, Charles? Have them give us back the money? If we do that, we lose everything. We'll be out on the streets. Is that what you want?"
"It wasn't your decision to make!" His face reddened.
"Swallow your pride, Charles!" Vivian shouted. "We know you can take care of us, but we didn't want you to carry the burden alone. We need to help each other. Not bicker."
"And let me guess," Charles spat, "the rumors are true?"
The girls frowned. "What rumors?"
"That my sisters are call girls," he said.
Vivian nearly doubled over. "We would never sully our family's reputation!"
Avaline shook free of Charles's hold. "Who dares slander us like this?"
"It isn't true?" he asked.
"No!" they said.
Charles regarded them with a cold stare. "If there is something you need to confess, do it now, or so help me, Sol..."
Vivian shook her head at Avaline. The youngest, in turn, licked her lips. Since Vivian already betrayed them, it was Avaline's turn.
"Vivian works as an accountant, and I'm a seamstress." Avaline hunched her shoulders. "It's to help with our expenses."
A tic worked on Charles's jaw. "How could you have lied to me?"
Avaline reached for her brother, but he moved away. "You wouldn't have let us get a job."
"You shouldn't have to!"
Charles walked toward the other side of the room. Vivian rushed to Avaline's side. They held hands, watching their brother's back.
"I forbid you from working any longer," Charles began.
The girls looked at each other. Vivian's eyebrows were pushed together. Her lips had started to redden from all her biting.
Cold sweat dampened Avaline's brow. Charles had every right to be upset, but they couldn't stop working now.
"Brother," Avaline said. Her voice scraped against her throat. "You know I've always done what you've asked of me, but this time I cannot." She took a deep breath. "Vivian and I are putting our skills to good use, so we have food on the table. Or are you thinking of asking Elaine's family for money?"
Charles flinched. Avaline hated using that against him, but he had to see that she and Vivian could help their family. It was the only way.
"Get out," he said. "Both of you."
Vivian grabbed Avaline's hand and pulled her toward the door.
"Come on," she said.
Reluctantly, Avaline followed Vivian out. If only there were some way for Charles to understand, they did what they had to.
***
With a few candles lit, Avaline sat at her desk. Her nightgown hung loosely on her shoulders. It belonged to Vivian at some point. Any other night, Avaline would have taken the time to adjust it, but tonight she couldn't focus. Charles's harsh words rang in her mind nonstop. Was she wrong to help her family?
Sighing, she carefully folded the fabric and wound up the loose ribbons. Unable to sit still, Avaline organized the fabric in her drawers, gathered the buttons in a jar, and collected all the pins on the wrist cushion. She moved through her bedroom, organizing until the candles burned low and her stomach growled.
Her forehead throbbed. It had been a long day from the sermon to Needle Point, and Nightingale Manor...Charles. Avaline glanced at her bed. Perhaps it would be better to sleep.
A shadow crossed her window.
She swirled around. Could it be? Licking her lips, Avaline rushed to the window. She had only opened it slightly when Belle darted inside. A note was tied to her leg. Biting her lip, Avaline debated reading it tonight. She wanted to sleep, and yet, she didn't want Lord Nightingale to think she was being rude.
Sighing, Avaline pulled her bathrobe on and returned to her desk. Belle happily chirped.
The note said:
Good evening, Lady Stark,
Apologies for reaching out so late. I may have overstepped, and I apologize. I understand if this has caused you to reconsider teaching Delilah. Rest assured, I will bear no grudges if this were the case.
With my mistake and Lady Whitaker's words, I am truly remorseful.
May Sol shine brightly upon you,
Lord Sebastian Nightingale
Avaline stared at the note for the longest time. Overstepped? Apology? Was it because she teased him? She sat back in her chair. Why had she teased him? Had she caused him to misunderstand her? Was it a misunderstanding?
Drawing her legs up on the chair, Avaline rested her chin on her knees. He was attractive, but what blood-born men weren't? Even if she had helped him during the sermon, she was the one who overstepped. She was the one who spoke boldly.
Avaline rubbed her neck. Should she draw a line? Did she have that right? Hadn't she removed that line to begin with? Lord Nightingale was her employer. It wasn't fair if she gave him false signals.
Judging by what Charles had said, Avaline doubted he'd let her leave the house any longer. She wouldn't be able to teach Delilah or see her. If anything, Avaline would have to quit.
One thing she was certain of, she couldn't let him think she resented him. Lord and Lady Whitaker wouldn't be the only ones who would criticize her in the future. Even Avaline's siblings had something to say about it. Rumors weren't kind, and she didn't want to be the cause of harming Lord Nightingale's reputation.
Sighing, Avaline rubbed her temples. It would be best to keep a proper distance from him, but first, she had to tell him he wasn't at fault.
She quickly wrote,
Lord Nightingale,
Please do not be affected by this incident on my behalf. I appreciate you speaking out. Lord and Lady Whitaker won't be the first and last ones to insinuate such things. It's best to ignore the ignorant masses lest you lose your peace of mind over it.
Avaline bit her lip.
I must also apologize if I overstepped. It was inappropriate of me to jest about such things. You are my employer. I should not have spoken what I said. It would be best if we maintained a professional relationship going forward.
May you find blessings under the moon,
Lady Avaline Stark
Avaline tied the note to Belle and sent her on her way. Yawning, she stretched. Lord Nightingale may not reply tonight. It was for the best. If she got entangled with Lord Nightingale...she couldn't bear to cause him any trouble. Not after what he did to help her.