Pippa and the Prince of Secrets by Grace Callaway

36

Her heart fluttering beneath the bodice of her new silver-grey gown, Pippa arrived at her parents’ house. She had come early, hoping to talk to her brothers before the guests arrived. Cull was making his way separately; strangely, she hadn’t heard from him all day…but he was likely just busy. She’d been as well, helping Charlie to formulate the plan for unearthing Julianna Hastings’s remains.

She and Charlie had spent the day surveilling the funeral grounds and making note of the obstacles. The place had a regular patrol to deter graverobbers. Moreover, digging up the grave would be a demanding physical task. To get the job done efficiently, the Angels would need Hawker’s help, but he wasn’t due back from an assignment for several days.

Pippa told herself to worry about the case tomorrow. Tonight, she had other concerns. She found Garrett and Hugh drinking whisky in the drawing room.

“I want your promise that you’ll be nice to Mr. Cullen,” she said.

Her brothers looked at one another.

Garrett, a tall blond Adonis who took after their mama, quirked a brow. “Our dear sister must be talking to you, Hugh. Since I don’t do nice.”

“Neither do I. Nice is for namby-pambies.” Hugh’s charismatic personality and looks came from their papa. Crossing his muscular arms, he said, “If this Timothy Cullen wants to get on my good side, he will have to earn it. Maybe I’ll test him out in Papa’s boxing ring. See if he can keep up.”

Pippa rolled her eyes. “There will be no sparring at Mama’s birthday party.”

Even though Garrett and Hugh were in their twenties, they still acted like boys. Everything was a match to prove one’s manhood. Neither had met a competition that they didn’t like.

“You cannot blame us, Pippa,” Garrett said. “As your brothers, it is our job to make sure the fellow is good enough for you this time.”

This time.Her chest tightened as she sensed the seriousness behind her brothers’ joking. Like Papa, her brothers thought they’d somehow failed to protect her from the mistake of her marriage. When it had never been their responsibility. For all their neck-or-nothing ways, Garrett and Hugh were good boys…good men.

“We just want you to be happy,” Hugh added.

“I promise you that, this time, I truly am.” On impulse, she got on tiptoe and kissed each of them on the cheek. “Thank you for your concern.”

“Have a care, Pippa. It took my valet hours to perfect my cravat,” Garrett groused.

But his cheeks were ruddy. As were Hugh’s. The boys would take any comers, Pippa thought with amusement, but at the mere hint of sentiment, they wanted to bolt.

Taking pity on them, she changed the subject. “Where are Mama and Papa? Shouldn’t they be down by now? The guests will be here soon.”

“Mama was down here earlier. She had on a new dress,” Hugh muttered, “and you know how Papa gets. Garrett walked in on them…”

“For the love of God,” Garrett burst out. “I already had to wash my eyes out with soap. Must I be forced to relive that scene in my head which, I might add, cannot be scrubbed clean?”

Pippa felt her lips quiver. Their parents had a habit of being affectionate with one another, and Garrett, for some reason, had a propensity for walking in on them during inopportune times. He liked to joke that he was scarred for life.

Yet Pippa’s experience had taught her that passion and love were naught to be ashamed of.

“True happiness is rare. We should be glad for Mama and Papa,” she said softly.

“I am glad, in theory,” Garrett retorted. “I just don’t want to see their happiness in action.”

Hugh burst into laughter, and Pippa joined in.

“What has our lovely children so amused, I wonder?”

Mama floated into the room, a vision in a gown of azure silk. Diamonds sparkled at her neck and ears, but what made her truly shine was the glowing love in her eyes as she gazed at Papa. He had an arm around her waist and a look of satisfaction on his face that…well, Garrett was right. It was best not to think too keenly on the cause of it.

“We’re just happy to be together,” Pippa said sincerely. “And to celebrate your birthday with you, Mama.”

Mama came over, hugging them each in turn while the boys groaned.

“You are the best presents any mama could wish for,” she told them.

“Papa, will you save us from these sentimental women?” Hugh groaned.

“The stronger a man, the gentler he can afford to be.” Papa cuffed Hugh on the shoulder. “But, as it happens, I want a private word with your sister. Would you accompany me to the study, Pippa?”

Pippa felt the flutter of nerves. For months, she’d avoided private talks with her father because she already knew how he felt about her life choices. And she’d been angry enough at herself that she didn’t need him to add fuel to the fire. Yet her talks with Cull had helped her to make peace with the past. What remained was mending the relationships with the people she loved.

She took her father’s offered arm. “Of course, Papa.”

As they headed out, Mama gave her an encouraging smile.

Entering the study, Pippa was assailed by memories of her childhood. Of the hours she and her brothers had spent playing here. While Papa had a larger-than-life presence, with his family he’d always shown a gentler side. For her, the scent of leather, cigars, and her papa’s sandalwood cologne were associated with security and happiness. Both of which she had willfully abandoned.

“I’m sorry.” The words rushed from her.

Papa quirked a brow. “I thought that was my line.”

“I made a bad choice, Papa.” She gripped the back of a chair. “And I know you’re disappointed in me, but I promise I’ve learned from my error. Mr. Cullen isn’t like Longmere—”

“We’ll get to Cullen. After I say what I want to say.” Papa’s broad chest heaved. “I was never disappointed in you, Pippa. Only in myself, that I had allowed such unhappiness to befall you. You’re my only girl, my poppet, and the way that self-important popinjay treated you…” His hands fisted at his sides, and he clearly struggled to rein in his temper. “No one treats my daughter that way.”

“I brought him into our lives…saddled you all with his condescension and snobbery.” Her eyes burning, she remembered all the times Edwin had refused to attend her family gatherings, all the excuses she’d had to make for his absence. “I let him get between me and everyone I love.”

“Nothing can get between us Hunts,” Papa declared.

She realized those were the words she needed to hear. That some part of her had feared she would never hear again. Then Papa was there, his arms enfolding her in a hug, and with flooding relief, she hugged him back. And she knew that everything would be all right.

When the embrace ended, she sniffled, “I’m sorry it took me so long to talk to you, Papa.”

He passed her his handkerchief. “You’ve always been an obstinate thing,” he said complacently. “You take after your mama.”

“Am I the only one who thought I was easy-going and patient?” she pondered aloud.

Papa barked out a laugh. “Well, you are easy-going when you get what you want. And patient when you’re biding your time to get it. In those ways, you take after me.” His tawny eyes grew serious. “Now, poppet, you’re certain Timothy Cullen is what you want?”

“Yes,” she said definitively. “Cull is a good man, Papa. I know he seems a bit rough around the edges, but he has a noble heart…you should see him with the mudlarks. In truth, the Nest is run quite similarly to the Hunt Academy.”

“I know all about the Prince of Larks. What I want to know is how the man treats you, Pippa. Is he deserving of my girl…or do I need to pound him to a fare-thee-well?”

“Cull loves me.” She didn’t hide the wonder she felt. “He treats me like a princess.”

“He had better.” Papa’s words held a warning edge. “I sat on my laurels once, and I’ll not do it again. Anyone who makes you unhappy—who disrespects you in any way—will answer to me.”

One by one, the guests arrived.

It was a small party consisting of family and her parents’ closest friends. Mama’s brother, Uncle Paul and his wife, Aunt Charity, were the first to show up. Pippa was happy to catch up with them and hear how her cousins were faring. Then came Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Kent, who’d traveled from their country estate to wish Mama many happy returns. Finally, the Marquess and Marchioness of Harteford arrived. Pippa knew them as Uncle Nick and Aunt Helena, the former being Mama’s brother in spirit if not in blood.

Aunt Helena, a beautiful curvy brunette, drew Pippa aside.

“How are you, my dear?” Aunt Helena studied her with concerned hazel eyes.

“I’m better, Aunt Helena,” Pippa said truthfully.

“Mourning takes a toll,” Aunt Helena continued with a sigh. “It is unfair that someone as young as you had to go through it. I felt the same way about Thomas.”

Thomas, the Earl of Hawksmoor, was Aunt Helena’s eldest and a widower.

“How is Hawksmoor?” Pippa asked.

“Oh, the same. Not that one would know,” Aunt Helena said dryly. “He gets his stoicism from his papa. Still, I worry about him and wish he would move on…” She caught herself, saying with a smile, “Here I am rambling on when I want to hear about you, Pippa dear. I’m told you have a…friend coming this eve?”

Seeing as Mama and Aunt Helena were as thick as thieves, the latter likely knew all about Cull.

“Yes,” Pippa said. “I hope you like him.”

“If he makes you happy, then I will,” Aunt Helena said warmly. “I cannot wait to meet him.”

Pippa pushed aside a pang of unease. Cull had not yet arrived, and it wasn’t like him to show up late. But maybe he’d just been detained by business.

Another half-hour came and went. As the guests chatted over preprandial drinks, Pippa participated half-heartedly. Where was Cull? Had something happened to him? Seeing her papa’s darkening countenance and her brothers’ scowls, her worry grew. Her family had been burnt before. If Cull didn’t arrive soon and have a good explanation for his lateness, they would hold it against him.

When the door to the drawing room opened, she exhaled. Finally. Yet her relief proved short-lived: it was only the butler.

“What is it, Jeffries?” Mama asked.

“A note arrived, ma’am. For Lady Longmere.”

Pippa went over, taking the note from the silver salver. Her hands trembled as she unfolded it and read the words.

Please convey my apologies. I won’t be coming tonight. I will be in touch when I can.-Cullen

She read the note again. It didn’t take long. Three lines…that was all he thought she merited?

Her disbelief morphed into rage.

Mama came up to her, murmuring, “Is everything all right, my darling?”

Aware of the eyes on her, Pippa tamped down her fury. She fixed a smile on her face and said the words she’d been forced to say so many times before.

“Perfectly, Mama,” she said. “My guest sends his regrets, so we mustn’t wait on him. Let us go in for supper.”