“I came as soon as yer messenger found me,” Violet said, taking a sip of whisky. She grimaced and coughed a little. “Brother, where has yer taste in liquor gone?”
“I daenae need any guff about that,” Leo shot back, but he allowed himself a laugh.
He hadn’t realized how much he missed his sister. After his wife died, she had been a constant at his side, but there came a point when her life and his own had to take different paths. He hadn’t seen her for months, and having her sipping his booze and shaking her head at the things he said was comforting.
Effie will be happy to see her, too.
Though he was sure she wasn’t going to be happy to see him anytime soon.
“Ye ken what ye’re doing, do ye?” Violet asked.
“About takin’ a new wife?”
“About tryin’ to deceive the council.” Violet finished the whisky and set the glass down next to her. “It might nae be over just because ye wedded this one. If ye daenae produce an heir or the council gets wind of what ye’re plotting?—”
“There’s nae a man on the council who kens what we’re planning,” Leo interrupted.
Violet sighed in response. He could see exactly what she was thinking:famous last words.
She reclined in her chair. “How’s Effie, then?”
“A mischievous little imp. Like her auntie used to be.”
Violet let out a sharp, throaty laugh, the same laugh he had known his entire life. He could still see her as a little girl laughing at him and shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe anything her ridiculous older brother was doing.
“Does Allistair ken ye’re here?” he asked.
“I didnae think he needed to. Should I go see him?”
Leo shook his head.
There was no love lost between Violet and Allistair. She didn’t trust him as far as she could throw him, and Allistair had more than a few choice words for how he felt about her. The last thing Leo wanted was the two of them antagonizing each other, considering how fine a job of that he was doing himself.
“I did actually hope to see him because I was curious about the decree,” Violet admitted. “Did ye have a solicitor read through it? Do ye think it was all licit, the way they put it out? Never mind the marriage, how can the elders legally force ye to produce an heir?”
“Tyler read it. The whole council seemed to agree it?—”
Violet pushed to her feet, standing nearly as tall as Leo. “Aye, but the council is full of bampots and dobbers.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and pulled a face, and it reminded him of Effie.
Aye, there’s a strong resemblance between Effie and Violet.
They both had the same smirk, the same odd sense of humor. He hoped Effie never got Violet’s sharp humor, though.
I wouldnae be able to handle it coming from me child.
“I wish they’d let ye on the council, Violet,” Leo sighed.
Violet flapped her hand as if clearing smoke out of the room. “The last thing I want to do is spend me time blatherin’ on with a bunch of men who daenae ken their arses from the holes in the ground.” She held out her glass and shook it at him. “Pour me another one, brother. I’ve had a long journey. I deserve to get pished.”
“On me terrible whisky? Now there’s a change of heart.”
He poured her another glass, watched her lift it to the light and swirl the amber liquid like she was searching for something init. After a moment, she swallowed down half of it and sighed happily.
“Whatever the reason, it feels good to be here,” she said, bypassing him and topping up her glass. “And if it’s all the same to ye, I might pay Allistair a little visit while I’m around.”
“Causin’ trouble already.”
